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Now that your child has informed you that he or she is going to be in the school band, you find yourself in a position of having yet another school supply to find and a rather expensive one at that. The purpose of this little report is give you advice, guidance and yes, some of our own opinions that will help you to make the best choice for your child and for your particular situation.

 

Of course we would like you to choose Morgan Music as the supplier of your child’s instrument, but more importantly, we want every interested student to have the ‘best shot’ at success in what we consider to be a worthwhile** and rewarding part of school life. With that in mind, please read on to find out ‘Everything You Need About Starting School Band’.

 

Various Grades of Instruments

 

Professional Grade

These are instruments designed and built with the idea of appealing to the most discerning players. The emphasis here is on tone and feel and no expense is spared in obtaining the best of materials and finest quality craftsmanship...and that of course can make for a pretty expensive horn. Beginners do not require instruments of this caliber, but by the time they reach high school, many students have reached a level of proficiency where they both appreciate and benefit from a professional horn. So, parents of talented children, consider yourselves warned.

 

Intermediate Grade

Intermediate instruments also place an emphasis on tone and feel, but unlike the pro horns, some expenses are spared. However, the end result is a very good horn that has some of the appeal of a professional model but at a lower cost.

 

Student Grade

Designed to offer playability, serviceability, and affordability, these horns have been the mainstay of school band programs for many, many years. Although they lack the finesse of the higher-grade horns, the student instruments play in tune and are well constructed, so they hold up over the course of time. Equally important is the fact that when the instrument is out of adjustment, gets damaged, or is otherwise not working right, it can be repaired at any reputable band instrument repair shop.

Economy Grade

The main goal in the manufacture of these instruments is to have a low selling price often about the price of a student grade horn. Band directors generally discourage the use of these instruments for reasons of intonation, playability, and durability. Of even greater concern is that many repairmen consider most of these horns to be difficult or even impossible to service properly and decline to work on them.

*Well, almost everything I’m sure that I forgot something.

**Not only do we feel that way, but scientific studies have shown that participating in a music program can actually make your child smarter!

 

 

New or Used?

Nothing beats a shiny new instrument for getting a beginner excited about playing in school band. A new band instrument offers the latest innovations, and with reasonable care, will provide many hours of service before requiring an overhaul.

A lower-cost alternative to a new instrument is a used name-brand horn that is in good playing condition. This is especially the case if your budget tempts you to consider one of the economy-grade horns. Used student-grade horns in good playing condition may often be purchased for prices approaching that of the economy-grade new instruments. And, although a used horn may not have the glamour of a new instrument, the performance, playability, serviceability, and ultimately your long-term satisfaction of owning a good used student-grade horn will be much better than if you buy an economy-grade horn.

When buying a used band instrument, the key word is good playing condition. Instruments that have been idle for some time often need work in order to be ‘ready to play’. Necessary repairs can vary from minor to several hundred dollars, so it is a good idea to have a competent band instrument repairman inspect any used horn before you buy it.

 

Rental Plans

The uncertainty of whether their child will take a liking to band is the reason that many parents choose to rent an instrument. With a rental plan, a child can start on a quality horn without their parents having a heavy ‘up front’ expense or long-term financial commitment.

Depending on the instrument, rental rates vary from $20 to $60 per month, with most rental plans offering some type of option to buy the instrument. A key thing to compare is the actual selling price of the instrument as these can vary widely from plan to plan.

Repair & Maintenance

With kids being kids and band instruments being precision devices, repairs are inevitable. If you own your band instrument, you can have it repaired wherever you choose. However, if you rent and the program has a maintenance agreement, you usually are required to have the work done where you rented the horn. Do not underestimate the value of having a competent and speedy repairman ‘in your corner’ when you choose your rental company!

 

Private Lessons

Nothing can beat one-on-one instruction to help a beginning musician to progress at their fastest possible pace. Most band directors are happy to recommend private teachers that specialize in your child’s instrumentÖit only makes their band better!