You are defenatly going to want to get you arms in shape for the thing!!! Dont get scared when you first start drill, youll be fine, if you hit some one theyll live, I think i nailed about four people last year, each dent in that horn i have a story fory mostly because each dent in the horn i put in ... I was so scared that i would kill the horn during the first week of tour... anyway its going to be ruff the first couple of weeks but the pain just turns in to annoyance after awhile... its all mental, I i could do it any one defenatly can!!! as to the sousa question... The contra is alot better i hate the sousa... the only thing i can complain a bout the contra is that your blind on your left side so you should wach real carefully... hope this helps good luck!!!