Getting a Quality Band/Orchestra Instrument without Breaking The Bank

It’s the beginning of another school year. Your child wants to be in the school band. In order for him/her to participate in the program, you’re going to have to buy a few things, the instrument being the most crucial.

With such a wide price range of new and used instruments ranging from $100 to thousands of dollars, how do you decide which one to get? Some of you might be thinking “just get the cheapest one because I don’t know if my child is going to stick with it the whole year.” While on the surface, this may seem like a rational decision, buying the cheapest instrument will most definitely cause a great deal of unnecessary aggravation and headache for you, your child, and the band director. The main reason for this is because inferior components are used in manufacturing these economical instruments, which contributes to frequent repairs and inability to play proper notes on the instrument. It’s hard enough for a beginner to develop the proper wind technique necessary to get a good tone out of a high quality band instrument. And these “economical” instruments are typically set up so poorly by the manufacturer that even professional players have a hard time getting a decent sound out of them.

So, if these economical instruments are no good, does that mean you have to spend thousands or even hundreds of dollars just to get a decent instrument for my child? Not necessarily. For example, there are violins that you can purchase brand new starting at $200 dollars that are decent enough and durable enough for the first year student. Other instruments, such as a flute, or trumpet you can find brand new at a similar quality level for about $350. Also, you can sometimes find a great quality and name brand used instrument for a very low price. But like a used car, there can be many intricacies and unknown history with these instruments. So if you choose to go the used route, I would highly recommend you find out everything you can about the instrument, such as how old is the instrument, who was the owner, why is it for sale, etc. I would also strongly encourage you, if possible to have the instrument checked out by a music store, and/or a music instructor.

So you might be asking, how do I know what a good quality instrument is? The internet has a wide array of resources describing the criteria for this. For details on various instruments, you can goto www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/instruments/index.html

If you are not one for mundane details, here are a couple of basic tips to determine what makes a good instrument: Find out what kind of materials are used. Are parts made of plastic, wood, or metal? Do they feel flimsy and seem prone to bending easily or do they feel durable? How much hand crafting is done when instrument was made (particularly crucial for violins)? When instrument is put together, do you notice any gaps or loose parts. Do pieces connect smoothly? When you press down keys for notes, do the pads cover the holes completely and do they move freely and evenly?

So, if you want to insure you are getting a good quality instrument for your child, keep these two things in mind. One, you usually get what you pay for. And two, in the long run, it may be better to spend a few dollars extra and help guarantee your child success in the music program.