Trombone or Euphonium?

[Thom]

I am a 64 year old comeback player, I was out for over a decade due to upper teeth removed and upper dentures. I started out on trumpet, but due to the palate of the dentures, I switched to trombone, then tuba. However, I found that my lung capacity was not what it was when I was younger, so I switched back to trombone. Then I had to have my lower teeth removed and I was out for over a year. I have comeback to trombone, but for being a lifelong tuba player that doubled on bass bone, I realized I am extremely valve dependent. I believe I play the Euphonium 3 to 4 times better than a tenor trombone. I am actually considering concentrating on the Euphonium, only, and getting rid of the trombone all together. My strength has always been reading music, I do not play by ear at all, I can sight read most parts at a good high school level the first time through, this has been pointed out to me by section leaders and directors. So, after all that, which barely covers the surface of my experience, my question is have any of y'all had a problem doubling on a straight slide trombone and given the trombone up?

[hyperbolica]

Given your situation I'd probably get a baritone horn. It takes less air than a euphonium and the sound is a bit brighter, but otherwise your euph skills will translate. It also depends on if your fingers hold up better than your arms and shoulders.

The problem with baritone/euph is that there aren't as many playing opportunities.

[Thom]

Given your situation I'd probably get a baritone horn. It takes less air than a euphonium and the sound is a bit brighter, but otherwise your euph skills will translate. It also depends on if your fingers hold up better than your arms and shoulders.

The problem with baritone/euph is that there aren't as many playing opportunities.

Yes, my shoulders have become problematic as well! Arthritis and tendonitis. I am also on a Euphonium site and there is an emerging counter culture of Euphoniums in jazz. Anyway, the Yamaha YEP-321 is a small bore and I have no problem filling it with air, IMHO.

[hyperbolica]

You might also consider valve trombone or Flugabone /marching euphonium. Different form factors can be fun.

[Thom]

You might also consider valve trombone or Flugabone /marching euphonium. Different form factors can be fun.

Thought about valve trombone, but my playing groups are either concert band or British style brass bands. I think doubling is detrimental to improving my playing/practicing. Besides, I am more comfortable with treble clef, too.

[JohnL]

Euphonium gets a lot more melody and melody-adjacent stuff in concert band. Way more solos, too. More than once I have observed that if band membership dues were pro-rated based on how much melody one plays, the trombone section would pretty much get a free ride.

A tangential question: Have you tried one of the small Yamaha tubas? The YBB-10x models are reasonably easy to fill up and sound surprisingly good.

[Pezza]

Wessex have a smaller compensating Eb tuba that play surprisingly well.

[Thom]

"A tangential question: Have you tried one of the small Yamaha tubas? The YBB-10x models are reasonably easy to fill up and sound surprisingly good."
"Wessex have a smaller compensating Eb tuba that play surprisingly well."

Tubas are sooo ........ expensive