You don't tend to hear as much about the euphonium as some other instruments, but it's a fabulous instrument to play, especially if you like something a little different. It has a beautiful mellow sound, and can play many roles within the band; sometimes it's a bass line instrument, sometimes it fills in some of the lower harmonies, and occasionally it can get to play a solo. It can even play in the orchestra from time to time. While it often sounds sweet, it can also sound strong and impressive if the occasion requires. It is sometimes called the tenor tuba - it works exactly the same way as a bass tuba, but because it's only half the size it sounds higher. And after all, how many instruments are cool enough to have an anime series of their own?
Here's how it sounds:
Here's an introduction to the euphonium:
Euphoniums with tubas:
You can see the size difference - can you hear the lower tuba sounds and the higher euphonium sounds?
And this video gives a brief snapshot of a typical euphonium student's progress over time