Posted by Christian Carichner on May 29, 2001 at 10:09:28:
In Reply to: Switching between C and BBb tubas posted by Tracy H on May 24, 2001 at 00:45:24:
I just went through this switch in September of 2000 and seem to be in the same situation as you are. I spent all this money on a C horn but still had to use the Bb for Marching Band. My biggest advice would be any Bb playing you have to do, memorize the music and do it quick, that way you're not looking at it to confuse the fingerings. Write in all the fingerings when you play the CC horn and your brain will adjust quicker. Practice tons (obviously) and it'll come quickly. After i made that switch, i didn't touch the Bb horn for 3 months, and now i can pick it up again, it's not that bad to adjust once you've learned the C fingerings. Dave Unland at Ithaca College told me when i switched start your practicing at 90% Bb and 10% CC just focusing on the tone of the C horn and getting used to the feel. eventually work down to 80-20, 70-30, you get the idea. it worked for me. best of luck!
-c2