Band instruments
- Thread starter CrimsonMaiden
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CrimsonMaiden
Pretty in Pink
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The letter said they would spend the first few weeks trying out the instruments, so I'm not going to buy anything until after that. It'll give her a chance to either cement in her mind that what she wants to play now (which just has to be the more expensive one) is really what she wants or to change her mind for something else.
There was no mention in the letter of the school providing any instruments; it just said not to buy an instrument before the rental meeting. Since this is my oldest child, it's my first experience with this (things were different when I was a kid). I just want to get all my research done ahead of time, so if we need to go an alternative route from the rent to own, we'll know what options there are.
There was no mention in the letter of the school providing any instruments; it just said not to buy an instrument before the rental meeting. Since this is my oldest child, it's my first experience with this (things were different when I was a kid). I just want to get all my research done ahead of time, so if we need to go an alternative route from the rent to own, we'll know what options there are.
G
Guest
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Excellent.
The school may not advertise providing instruments, though. They can't provide for everyone so they'll keep it kind of quiet.
But it sounds as if you're doing everything right, Crim.
Great idea!
CrimsonMaiden
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I'll start checking our local selling guide (I guess it's something similar to freecycle or craig's list. It's just a little booklet with stuff listed for sale. It lets you list stuff for free.)
Gizzmotick
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I had pretty serious Orthodontic work while playing the clarinet... and it didn't hinder me at all. I was never that great... but I still play from time to time. The only time Orthodontics, me and the clarinet didn't get along were the day or two immediately following adjustments.
G
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I've gotten a couple of PMs asking me about brand names so I'll post this here.
These are trustworthy brands.
Armstrong, Artley, Bach, Besson, Benge, Blessing, Bueshcer, Bufffet Crampon, Bundy, Conn, Eastman, Emerson, Fox, Gemeinhardt, Getzen, Glaesel, Holton, Jupiter, Keilwerth, King, Knnilling, Leblanc, Wm Lewis, Lidl, Martin, Scherl & Roth, Scheibner, Schroetter, Selmer, St. Petersburg, Strunal, Yanagisawa, Vito, Yamaha
Sears, Walmart and Kmart do sell band instruments (none of these brand names). I'm not kidding.
(Wish I were.)
These are trustworthy brands.
Armstrong, Artley, Bach, Besson, Benge, Blessing, Bueshcer, Bufffet Crampon, Bundy, Conn, Eastman, Emerson, Fox, Gemeinhardt, Getzen, Glaesel, Holton, Jupiter, Keilwerth, King, Knnilling, Leblanc, Wm Lewis, Lidl, Martin, Scherl & Roth, Scheibner, Schroetter, Selmer, St. Petersburg, Strunal, Yanagisawa, Vito, Yamaha
Sears, Walmart and Kmart do sell band instruments (none of these brand names). I'm not kidding.
(Wish I were.)
tickledkitty
Precious.
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Sears, Walmart and Kmart do sell band instruments (none of these brand names). I'm not kidding.
(Wish I were.)
I actually don't think one of these would be that bad for a kid just starting out. You get what ever you can afford, and you don't know if the kid will stick with it anyway.
G
Guest
Guest
No.
What you don't realize is that those instruments are so cheaply made that they break early and often.
And music stores will not repair them.
Music store technicians guarantee their work and there is no way to guarantee that these cheaply made instruments will stay functioning.
And to a beginner just starting out - it is horribly frustrating. They cannot make their instrument work, can't get a note out, everyone else in class is getting that note out, so the child believes the problem to be their own ability.
Frustration leads to failure in a month or two.
Besides, these well-meaning parents have sunk $300 into a sub-standard saxophone, then what do you do? Instrument won't work, can't stay repaired because the metal bends too easily, no one in town will repair it anyway, you can't afford anything else -
It's just disaster.
Avoid. You're much better off buying a name brand from a pawn shop or a garage sale.
The_Fool
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I always thought trumpets were cheap. I soon realized that was not so when I found out a serious player needs more than a B flat.
Crim, in this circumstance, I am not sure I would recommend a trumpet, not with orthodonics. It can work and it can be painful.
Crim, in this circumstance, I am not sure I would recommend a trumpet, not with orthodonics. It can work and it can be painful.
tickledkitty
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Oops. Ok, I take it back. I haven't ever actually seen any of the cheapies in action, so...yeah. What she said.
G
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Oops. Ok, I take it back. I haven't ever actually seen any of the cheapies in action, so...yeah. What she said.
Can you tell I've seen that problem more than a few times firsthand? A bit - um - emphatic?
tickledkitty
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Can you tell I've seen that problem more than a few times firsthand? A bit - um - emphatic?
Sure. Can you tell I haven't been around for a number of years? K-Mart didn't sell musical instruments back then. At least, I don't think they did.
G
Guest
Guest
Sure. Can you tell I haven't been around for a number of years? K-Mart didn't sell musical instruments back then. At least, I don't think they did.
No, they didn't. Neither did Walmart.
But Sears did. I remember seeing them in the catalog.
And at that time, they didn't have a brand name. Just - Sears Trumpet!
CrimsonMaiden
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SunrockSin
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some more instrument info
If you are buying a used clarinet you will probably need to figure on replacing some or all of the pads and it is best to get it overhauled... at a cost of $125 (that was 10 years ago). For a clarinet, you must, must, must get a quality mouthpiece, even a fine clarinet like a Buffet will sound better with a good mouthpiece (that means setting the mouthpiece that comes with the clarinet aside and buying one). When my kids were in school they were instructed to get a VanDoren V-45 mouthpiece, regardless of the clarinet they were using. PS, figure on getting the clarinet overhauled at least once a year and if they continue in high school probably several times a year, especially if they are in marching band (rain, etc). When my daughter made marching band, we actually got a second clarinet, one for marching, one for concert.
If you get a clarinet you must consider the cost of reeds. We were paying $15.95 for a box of 10 for clarinet reeds ten years ago, so I am sure the price will go up. If your kids continue playing into high school you will probably switch to the hand select reeds which will cost $10 to $15 dollars more per box of 10. Buy the VanDoren reeds or better, skip on the cheap Rico's etc. Even with the Van Doren's you will probably throw out three or four reeds per box once the musician discovers the difference in reeds.
The schools in our district will have the students provide the smaller instruments ie: Clarinet, Flute, trumpet, oboe and alto sax, for the bigger instruments ie: alto Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, etc. the school would rent the instruments to the students for a nominal fee. Considering a decent bass clarinet or bassoon for a high school level musician can cost well over $15,000 it simply is too much to expect students to purchase these (although some who are planning to pursue music into college will buy them.)
If you are buying a used clarinet you will probably need to figure on replacing some or all of the pads and it is best to get it overhauled... at a cost of $125 (that was 10 years ago). For a clarinet, you must, must, must get a quality mouthpiece, even a fine clarinet like a Buffet will sound better with a good mouthpiece (that means setting the mouthpiece that comes with the clarinet aside and buying one). When my kids were in school they were instructed to get a VanDoren V-45 mouthpiece, regardless of the clarinet they were using. PS, figure on getting the clarinet overhauled at least once a year and if they continue in high school probably several times a year, especially if they are in marching band (rain, etc). When my daughter made marching band, we actually got a second clarinet, one for marching, one for concert.
If you get a clarinet you must consider the cost of reeds. We were paying $15.95 for a box of 10 for clarinet reeds ten years ago, so I am sure the price will go up. If your kids continue playing into high school you will probably switch to the hand select reeds which will cost $10 to $15 dollars more per box of 10. Buy the VanDoren reeds or better, skip on the cheap Rico's etc. Even with the Van Doren's you will probably throw out three or four reeds per box once the musician discovers the difference in reeds.
The schools in our district will have the students provide the smaller instruments ie: Clarinet, Flute, trumpet, oboe and alto sax, for the bigger instruments ie: alto Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, etc. the school would rent the instruments to the students for a nominal fee. Considering a decent bass clarinet or bassoon for a high school level musician can cost well over $15,000 it simply is too much to expect students to purchase these (although some who are planning to pursue music into college will buy them.)
EmeraldKitten
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Hey Crim,
Yay for your kid wanting to do band. I started in 7th grade, (my 6th grade year the disctrict had done budget cuts and not offered it) and was a band dork the rest of my school career.
Our school had instruments people could use. Now, there wasn't enough of everything for everyone, but they had some.
That 7th grade year my mom made me swear I'd do band for the rest of my life, and she bought me a wood clarinet that was $2000. Now I can't even think of the brand name of it.
Anyhow, once I got to high school, the wood clarinet being out in the elements was going to be kind of scary, especially since it had been so expensive.
Sooo, she asked the band director about getting a plastic one. He ended up ordering it from a supplier that sells to school- and he let my mom buy it at cost. I can't remember how much it ended up being, somewhere between $150 and $300 I think.
But maybe that's something the band director would be nice and do? I don't know.
I don't know of any place to get something cheap though, other than this last idea.
Also, if the child of yours does decide on clarinet, I know it's a stretch sometimes money wise, but it's cheaper buying reeds by the box. I think you get 10 or 12 for $16, when they're $2 or so a piece. Just a little tip.
Good luck with your search. Long live band dorks!
If I'd come across anything, I'll letcha know.
Yay for your kid wanting to do band.
I started in 7th grade, (my 6th grade year the disctrict had done budget cuts and not offered it) and was a band dork the rest of my school career.Our school had instruments people could use. Now, there wasn't enough of everything for everyone, but they had some.
That 7th grade year my mom made me swear I'd do band for the rest of my life, and she bought me a wood clarinet that was $2000. Now I can't even think of the brand name of it.
Anyhow, once I got to high school, the wood clarinet being out in the elements was going to be kind of scary, especially since it had been so expensive.
Sooo, she asked the band director about getting a plastic one. He ended up ordering it from a supplier that sells to school- and he let my mom buy it at cost. I can't remember how much it ended up being, somewhere between $150 and $300 I think.
But maybe that's something the band director would be nice and do? I don't know.
I don't know of any place to get something cheap though, other than this last idea.
Also, if the child of yours does decide on clarinet, I know it's a stretch sometimes money wise, but it's cheaper buying reeds by the box. I think you get 10 or 12 for $16, when they're $2 or so a piece. Just a little tip.
Good luck with your search. Long live band dorks!
If I'd come across anything, I'll letcha know.
The_Fool
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It's Imp with the orthodonics issue.
You can tell life is a haze right now. My oldest is trying to make a career out of trumpet playing. Going for his masters in performance. We will see.
G
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You can tell life is a haze right now. My oldest is trying to make a career out of trumpet playing. Going for his masters in performance. We will see.
And he's verrrry good.
And his nice daddy bought him a very expensive pro trumpet for Christmas not so very long ago.
The_Fool
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And he's verrrry good.
And his nice daddy bought him a very expensive pro trumpet for Christmas not so very long ago.
Baby, he has so many expensive trumpets I had to take out a rider on insurance policy...
Lets see, counting on fingers, I think it is four trumpets now. It might be five, I disremember.
G
Guest
Guest
Of course!
And extra mouthpieces.
But you need those trumpets in different keys for orchestral playing! Heavens!
(Of course, us F horn players? We've learned to transpose on sight so we don't need to switch instruments. Ahem. Just saying.)
The_Fool
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Of course!
And extra mouthpieces.
But you need those trumpets in different keys for orchestral playing! Heavens!
(Of course, us F horn players? We've learned to transpose on sight so we don't need to switch instruments. Ahem. Just saying.)
I think one horn is about the price of two trumpets. And horns don't get used too much for jazz.
As for switching instruments...
You certainly haven't lost your chops, baby...
G
Guest
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I think one horn is about the price of two trumpets. And horns don't get used too much for jazz.
As for switching instruments...
You certainly haven't lost your chops, baby...
Oh! My!
That just made me blush down to my toes and right up to the tips of my ears.
Um, what was I saying? OH, yeah. Jazz and horn.
Some Rob McConnell charts are fine and fun but we're not big jazz players, true.
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