Posted by Rick Denney on May 27, 2003 at 10:10:18:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Ok, I've got an F, what do I do now?? posted by Don MacIntosh on May 27, 2003 at 00:59:14:
I took my F tuba, at the request of the conductor, to a wind-band performance when the other tuba players were unavailable. I explained to him that I was still uncomfortable on the instrument, and he said there would be no problem.
So, he calls up Entrance March of the Gladiators, which we'd never rehearsed, and I was faced with a highly technical part in five flats (not a comfortable key on F tuba) that I'd already learned on Bb, but years before. It was a disaster for me.
Thus, I'd be pretty hesitant to encourage someone to take something they are unsure of to a gig. There is a professional responsibility there, it seems to me. The gig-master ain't paying you to "put yourself under pressure."
Rick "thinking some advice needs the disclaimer: for solid pros only" Denney