Purchasing Your Horn
the purchase of your horn is, obviously, important. the quality of your instrument greatly affects the beauty of the music you play, especially if you are a moderate to advanced player.
beginners. a beginner need not bother with a super expensive instrument. if the beginner is playing in a school band, then likely there is a purchase plan worked out with a local music retailor. a beginner wants an inexpensive horn so that he can get used to it; it would be a shame to blow a few thousand bucks and then decide that soccer is a lot more important than a trombone.
when is it time to buy a more advanced horn? that really depends on your interest and monetary income. if you know that you love music and you really want to devote yourself to it, you want to buy a really good horn anywhere from two years of playing on. if you can afford it, get it as soon as possible. the difference between a moderate/professional horn is amazing.
trombones, when you get an upgraded horn, you really should get a trombone with attachment. not only will this make your Cs and Bs in tune, it will give you a bigger set of tubing to blow through, and thus a bigger sound. (there are a few eccentric professionals out there who play pea-shooters, but they're good enough so that they can do waht they want; they don't need advice from some tuba playing teenager) there are two types of F-attachments... the more common kind is where all the tubes are kind of compacted together. that's the kind i play. i think the response is a little less satisfactory than on the other kind of attachment, the body-overwrap. BO (no not body oder) has less curves and bends, and thus it is more free blowing. it is a lot easier to squeal out high notes on it, for me anyway. Jessica's personal recommendation: Bach 42B or 42BO, for around $1200.
euphoniums: there is no point in buying your own personal euph unless it has four valves. the fourth valve serves around the same purpose as the trigger on a trombone. also an upright bell is a good idea... i don't know too much about euph buying, i don't really play euph (though i have marched it two different seasons). Jessica's personal recommendation: hmm... either a yamaha YEB-321 is a 4 valve non compesanting one, or the YEP-641 or a besson, or willson are all good compensating professional euph's.
tuba: what a joke. who can really afford their own tuba? i know i can't. hrmph. if i had a few thousand to spare maybe i could... but anyway, for any freaks out there who actually can, make this decision very carefully. first decide if you want rotary or piston valves. that's really a matter of personal preference. then decide if you want a four valve BBb (best for band and ensemble type stuff) or a five valve CC (for those oddballs who actually LIKE playing in an orchestra.) But i am being too harsh on CC tubas, i really shouldn't be. i'm just mad because i can't afford one. CC is the best overall, in terms of tone and quality and monetary value... don't go out and buy your own BBb and then realize you're going to a college with an orchestra. and of course when you do buy your tuba make sure to get a good gig bag. i know it costs a lot but it's worth it. hard cases are. without exception, big and cumbersome. a well made gig bag can protect your new tuba well enough. it also looks pretty cool, carrying one of those tings around. Jessica's personal recommendation: hmm, i haven't thought too much about this, i mean there's no point, unless i want to buy a tuba and then spend the rest of my life in extreme poverty. however... if you're gonna buy it, don't be stingy. go all the way. get a perantucci or a miraphone. don't settle for a high school yamaha. have a little class.