Purchasing an Instrument
As a parent investing in your child’s music education, it is very important to invest in a quality musical instrument. So called “bargain” instruments, available online or at discount stores, may seem tempting; however, experience has proven over and over again that these instruments are truly no “bargain” at all. Most often, the low price is the result of poor workmanship and lower quality materials. These instruments usually break more easily and are difficult, sometimes impossible, to repair. In many cases, they cannot be played in tune and the quality of the sound they produce is very poor. It is disheartening to see a child’s enthusiasm for music destroyed by an instrument that does not allow them to reach their full potential. A poor quality instrument also affects the overall sound of the band, tarnishing the experience for all.
It is with these concerns in mind that we provide you with this list of recommended band instrument brands and accessories. We have found over the years that these instruments are durable, easy to repair, and will give your child the best opportunity to succeed as a young musician. (The brands are not listed in any particular order.)
If the instrument you are considering is not listed here, ask the seller for the instrument specifications and consult with your child’s band director before you rent or buy.
Woodwinds
Flutes:
Gemeinhardt (e.g. 52SP, 2SP)
Armstrong (e.g. 104)
Yamaha (e.g. YFL221)
Accessories: swab, cleaning rod, polishing cloth (opt.)
Oboe:
Yamaha (e.g. YOB241)
Selmer (e.g. 1492B)
Accessories: 2-part silk swab, cork grease, Jones med. soft reed(s)
Clarinets:
Leblanc (e.g. 7214, 7212PC)
Buffet (e.g. B12, E-11)
Selmer (e.g. CL301, CL201)
Accent
Yamaha (e.g. YCL450N for wood clarinets)
Accessories: Hite Premier mouthpiece, swab, cork grease, Vandoren “2 ½ ” clarinet reeds (Box of 10)
Mouthpieces:
Beginners: Premiere by Hite, Pyne Polycrystal
Intermediate: Vandoren 5RVLyre, or Vandoren B45 or B46
Advanced Players: Rico Reserve, Vandoren M30 or M15, Vandoren Masters mouthpieces (CL4 or CL5)
Ligatures:
Beginners: Bonade
Intermediate: Luyben, Rovner
Advanced: Vandoren Optimum or Vandoren M/O
Reeds:
Beginners: Mitchell Lurie or Vandoren Traditional (2 1/2 strength)
Intermediate/Advanced: Vandoren V12, Rico Reserve (3.5 or 4 strength)
Saxophones:
Selmer (e.g. AS300)
Yamaha (e.g. YAS23A, YAS23)
Accessories: swab, cork grease, Rico Royal or Vandoren “2” alto sax reeds (Box of 10)
Mouthpieces:
Classical: Alto Saxophone
Selmer C*, Vandoren Optimum AL3, or AL4, Vandoren V5 A28, Rousseau 4R
Jazz: Alto Saxophone
Meyer Rubber 5M, 6M, 7M, or Meyer G, Morgan 7M, Selmer E or F, Vandoren V16 A5, A6, or A7, or Java A35
Classical: Tenor Saxophone
Selmer C*, Vandoren Optimum TL3 or TL4, Vandoren V5 T20, Rousseau 5R
Jazz: Tenor Saxophone
Otto Link 6*, 7, 7*, 8 or the "New Vintage", Berg Larsen 100/0, 105/0, 110/0 or higher, Morgan 7M, Vandoren T45, T55, T75
Ligatures:
Rovner, Vandoren Optimum, Selmer
Reeds:
Classical: Vandoren Traditional, Vandoren V12, Rico Reserve, Hemke (3-3.5 strength)
Jazz: Vandoren Traditional, Java, ZZ, Rico Select Jazz Unfiled, Lavoz, Rico Royal (3-3.5 strength)
Brass Players
Got Braces?
Morgan Bumper Company
www.morganbumper.com
Trumpet:
Holton
Selmer/Bach (e.g. TR300H)
Yamaha (e.g. 2335A)
Accessories: Bach 7C mouthpiece, slide grease, valve oil, mouthpiece brush, polishing cloth & cleaning snake (opt.)
French horn:
Yamaha (e.g. YFR314, YHR314 II)
Holton (e.g. H602)
Bach (e.g. 1101)
Conn (e.g. 14D)
Accessories: Bach 7S, Schilke 30, or standard 11 mouth-piece, slide grease, rotary valve oil, polishing cloth (opt.)
Trombone:
Bach (e.g. TB300)
Conn (e.g. 22H)
Yamaha (e.g. YSL354)
Accessories: Bach 6 ½ AL mouthpiece, slide grease, slide cream, mouthpiece brush, polishing cloth (opt.)
Baritone Horn:
Yamaha YEP201
Bach B1104
Accessories: Bach 6 ½ AL mouthpiece, slide grease, slide cream, mouthpiece brush, polishing cloth (opt.)
Tuba:
Bach
Yamaha
Accessories: slide grease, valve oil, mouthpiece brush, polishing cloth (opt.)
(Please purchase mouthpiece if using a school tuba)
Percussion
Kit - Ludwig M651R (rolling)
(No accessories needed; extra sticks or stick bag opt., metronome opt.)
As a parent investing in your child’s music education, it is very important to invest in a quality musical instrument. So called “bargain” instruments, available online or at discount stores, may seem tempting; however, experience has proven over and over again that these instruments are truly no “bargain” at all. Most often, the low price is the result of poor workmanship and lower quality materials. These instruments usually break more easily and are difficult, sometimes impossible, to repair. In many cases, they cannot be played in tune and the quality of the sound they produce is very poor. It is disheartening to see a child’s enthusiasm for music destroyed by an instrument that does not allow them to reach their full potential. A poor quality instrument also affects the overall sound of the band, tarnishing the experience for all.
It is with these concerns in mind that we provide you with this list of recommended band instrument brands and accessories. We have found over the years that these instruments are durable, easy to repair, and will give your child the best opportunity to succeed as a young musician. (The brands are not listed in any particular order.)
If the instrument you are considering is not listed here, ask the seller for the instrument specifications and consult with your child’s band director before you rent or buy.
Woodwinds
Flutes:
Gemeinhardt (e.g. 52SP, 2SP)
Armstrong (e.g. 104)
Yamaha (e.g. YFL221)
Accessories: swab, cleaning rod, polishing cloth (opt.)
Oboe:
Yamaha (e.g. YOB241)
Selmer (e.g. 1492B)
Accessories: 2-part silk swab, cork grease, Jones med. soft reed(s)
Clarinets:
Leblanc (e.g. 7214, 7212PC)
Buffet (e.g. B12, E-11)
Selmer (e.g. CL301, CL201)
Accent
Yamaha (e.g. YCL450N for wood clarinets)
Accessories: Hite Premier mouthpiece, swab, cork grease, Vandoren “2 ½ ” clarinet reeds (Box of 10)
Mouthpieces:
Beginners: Premiere by Hite, Pyne Polycrystal
Intermediate: Vandoren 5RVLyre, or Vandoren B45 or B46
Advanced Players: Rico Reserve, Vandoren M30 or M15, Vandoren Masters mouthpieces (CL4 or CL5)
Ligatures:
Beginners: Bonade
Intermediate: Luyben, Rovner
Advanced: Vandoren Optimum or Vandoren M/O
Reeds:
Beginners: Mitchell Lurie or Vandoren Traditional (2 1/2 strength)
Intermediate/Advanced: Vandoren V12, Rico Reserve (3.5 or 4 strength)
Saxophones:
Selmer (e.g. AS300)
Yamaha (e.g. YAS23A, YAS23)
Accessories: swab, cork grease, Rico Royal or Vandoren “2” alto sax reeds (Box of 10)
Mouthpieces:
Classical: Alto Saxophone
Selmer C*, Vandoren Optimum AL3, or AL4, Vandoren V5 A28, Rousseau 4R
Jazz: Alto Saxophone
Meyer Rubber 5M, 6M, 7M, or Meyer G, Morgan 7M, Selmer E or F, Vandoren V16 A5, A6, or A7, or Java A35
Classical: Tenor Saxophone
Selmer C*, Vandoren Optimum TL3 or TL4, Vandoren V5 T20, Rousseau 5R
Jazz: Tenor Saxophone
Otto Link 6*, 7, 7*, 8 or the "New Vintage", Berg Larsen 100/0, 105/0, 110/0 or higher, Morgan 7M, Vandoren T45, T55, T75
Ligatures:
Rovner, Vandoren Optimum, Selmer
Reeds:
Classical: Vandoren Traditional, Vandoren V12, Rico Reserve, Hemke (3-3.5 strength)
Jazz: Vandoren Traditional, Java, ZZ, Rico Select Jazz Unfiled, Lavoz, Rico Royal (3-3.5 strength)
Brass Players
Got Braces?
Morgan Bumper Company
www.morganbumper.com
Trumpet:
Holton
Selmer/Bach (e.g. TR300H)
Yamaha (e.g. 2335A)
Accessories: Bach 7C mouthpiece, slide grease, valve oil, mouthpiece brush, polishing cloth & cleaning snake (opt.)
French horn:
Yamaha (e.g. YFR314, YHR314 II)
Holton (e.g. H602)
Bach (e.g. 1101)
Conn (e.g. 14D)
Accessories: Bach 7S, Schilke 30, or standard 11 mouth-piece, slide grease, rotary valve oil, polishing cloth (opt.)
Trombone:
Bach (e.g. TB300)
Conn (e.g. 22H)
Yamaha (e.g. YSL354)
Accessories: Bach 6 ½ AL mouthpiece, slide grease, slide cream, mouthpiece brush, polishing cloth (opt.)
Baritone Horn:
Yamaha YEP201
Bach B1104
Accessories: Bach 6 ½ AL mouthpiece, slide grease, slide cream, mouthpiece brush, polishing cloth (opt.)
Tuba:
Bach
Yamaha
Accessories: slide grease, valve oil, mouthpiece brush, polishing cloth (opt.)
(Please purchase mouthpiece if using a school tuba)
Percussion
Kit - Ludwig M651R (rolling)
(No accessories needed; extra sticks or stick bag opt., metronome opt.)
Vendors
I recommend the following vendors.
Shivelbines Music is the music company that the school uses. I highly recommend them, they have helped our program grown and are a great resource for our program.
If you have any questions about renting an instrument, or getting a new horn, feel free to contact them.
Shivelbines Music Company
http://shivelbinemusic.com/
535 Broadway St, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Saxophone and Clarinet ONLY
SaxQuest
www.saxquest.com
2114 Cherokee St. MAP
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-664-1234
Before you buy any instrument please let me check over it for quality and for any needed repairs. Before buying an instrument on Craigslist, please contact me. I will help you screen these ads for good deals in order to avoid scams.
I would stay away from purchasing online in general though. Please do not buy instruments from box stores or other countries unless otherwise approved.
Shivelbines Music is the music company that the school uses. I highly recommend them, they have helped our program grown and are a great resource for our program.
If you have any questions about renting an instrument, or getting a new horn, feel free to contact them.
Shivelbines Music Company
http://shivelbinemusic.com/
535 Broadway St, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Saxophone and Clarinet ONLY
SaxQuest
www.saxquest.com
2114 Cherokee St. MAP
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-664-1234
Before you buy any instrument please let me check over it for quality and for any needed repairs. Before buying an instrument on Craigslist, please contact me. I will help you screen these ads for good deals in order to avoid scams.
I would stay away from purchasing online in general though. Please do not buy instruments from box stores or other countries unless otherwise approved.