As the senior high Band Director, I'm often asked the question, "What kind of instrument should I buy if I want a better instrument for my child? How much should I spend?" I never know just exactly how to answer those questions, however here are some initial thoughts...

First you need to consider what you want. Do you want to purchase the top of the line instrument? Do you want the best looking instrument? Do you want the best quality? Is the name-brand an issue for you? Do you want the best sounding instrument? Or do you simply want to get the best instrument for your son or daughter that they can use and you can afford?

All of the above are serious considerations even if some of them sound a little funny. Buying an instrument is similiar to buying a car. You tell the sales people what you want and they will tell you what they have. Then you dicker about price. If you're lucky, or at least persistent you drive away with what you want. Just like buying a car, test-driving (playing) the instrument that you want is an important step in the buying process.

I've developed a list of some better instruments for high school students to step-up to from their beginning fifth grade instruments. You need to start somewhere and that is what I hope this list will accomplish...a starting point. Good luck!

FLUTES

I would recommend the Emerson E8B or E88B. Both are good open hole flutes of good quality. The E88B is bit more ornate. I would also recommend the Gemeinhardt 3SLB, 33SLB, or 3SSLB. All three are good flutes, the 33SLB is a bit more ornate and the 3SSLB is a solid silver flute which gives it a better sound. I would recommend the Olds NS75SB, or NS75SSB. There is a Yamaha model that is available at R.M. Sides Music, also.

CLARINETS

I would recommend two professional models and one semi-professional model for clarinets. The Buffet R13 is a wooden professional clarinet, and the Leblanc 1189 Concerto is also a good professional quality wooden clarinet. The Selmer 115 is a good wooden semi-professional clarinet.

SAXOPHONES

I recommend professional model Yanagisawa 2100A, or the professional Yamahas, or Selmer models. Its important to get a model with the high F# key.

TRUMPETS

The best brass instruments ever made I've always thought were the Bach Strad models ! However, lately I've recommended the Holton Symphony model TR 101S to Trumpet players with a lot of success. The kids seem to like the Holtons.

FRENCH HORNS

I would recommend the Holton Farkas Double Horn as a step-up, model H177. There are less expensive horns, but I think you will sacrifice considerable quality.

TROMBONES

The trombone recommendation is special to me since the trombone is my instrument. I recommend the Bach Stradivarious, model 42. As I said earlier this is the industry standard in brass playing. I play this model and have never regretted it. Howver, I've also had students play very successfully on the Holton models TR 159 and 158.

For a brief history of the world's greatest instrument, the trombone...Go To Page 2

To go to my homepage, The Music Factory...Go To The Music Factory

Music Industry Links

SABIAN Ltd.
The Selmer Company, Inc.
J. D'Addario & Company, Inc.
Flute World

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