Instrument Questions

How do I pull out a trumpet mouthpiece?

DON'T! Brass instrument's mouthpieces get stuck sometimes. Very strong students and parents may think "I can pull the little bugger out," but they end up tearing apart soldered joints instead. 

We have a handy little device which pulls mouthpieces without damaging the horn. So, instead of trying to remove it yourself, just leave the mouthpiece in the horn, bring it to school, and take it to the band director.

The string on my guitar/violin broke. Now what?

You need new strings. You can find new strings online or in local stores (try the ones listed above). Some stores may be willing to help you re-string the instrument and our band director is willing to help. If you want to try on your own, watch a video to get an idea of what is required. 

        Guitar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6klYBJCjWI

        Violin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhsVdccVkF8

        Ukulele: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyv7uOiXsbM

What kind of instrument should I buy?

Each type of instrument is its own special breed. Due to differing student needs and skill levels, this is a question best asked on an individual basis; however, there are a few rules of thumb which can be added here.

For band instruments:

1. Not from Walmart. Walmart, Sam's Club, and department stores sell instrument shaped objects. If you purchase one, you may end up with an interesting piece of furniture or conversation piece.

2. Renting is a great option. Your child gets a brand new, or almost new, instrument with a small initial investment. Also, most rental programs are rent-to-own, so what money you pay can be used toward purchasing the instrument. Information on renting will be provided at the start of band rehearsals.

What kind of keyboard should I buy?

There are two questions I'd ask first: Are you looking for 1) an instrument which is as close to an acoustic piano as possible or 2) an instrument which is intended to be fun to play?

If you’d like to go route one, then the next question I’d ask is: do you want to provide your child with a introductory instrument which you may expect to replace should he or she develop more seriousness about the piano or would you rather provide an instrument which he or she will be satisfied using and will keep up with serious study for 10+ years? The reason for this question is that these instruments are designed to give you the feel and quality of an acoustic piano and are usually called “digital pianos." As an introductory instrument, the Yamaha P-45 or P-71 would be great! It’s a good choice for a beginner with potential which should keep up with him or her, certainly through high school. The P-45 shown here, https://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/yamaha-p-45lxb-digital-piano-with-stand-and-bench?rNtt=yamahap45&index=4#productDetail, includes a stand and bench, you’d just need to add a sustain pedal, https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/nektar-np-2-universal-metal-foot-switch-pedal, and I might recommend some headphones or a 1/4” to mini audio jack converter. The other option of looking for a more permanent instrument just has the caveat of, as I’m sure you knew, a higher price tag.

If you’d like to go route two, a keyboard from Sam’s Club will allow your child to play around with features like voices, features, playback, reverb, and accompaniments without connecting to another device. Honestly, that keyboard looks like more fun! A 76 key instrument is fine. I would be concerned if the key count dropped any lower. There are 64-key instruments and they really aren’t appropriate if your child is going to be taking lessons. My only caution is that I've looked at some of the keyboards in Sam’s and, while the sound is pleasant, it doesn’t have the feel and musicality of a piano that the P-45/71 should offer by way of weighted keys and key velocity. It is touch sensitive, but with only about 5 levels of sensitivity, it will feel clunky if you are looking for an expressive sound. Although, a sustain pedal will help with some of that and, at a lower price, it is enticing.

Either set up with give your child piano keys, so he or she will develop understanding of pitch relationships in melodies and harmonies—the part of music that we tend to lean heavily on keyboards to instill. 

Some must haves:

1. At least 72 keys. A full piano has 88 keys.

2. Piano key width. Many keyboards have keys which are wider than an acoustic piano. I recall learning on keyboards, then practicing on a piano and being unable to play until my hands got used to the narrower piano keys.

3. Touch-sensitive keys or Key Velocity. This means that the harder you press the key the louder the note, just like an acoustic piano. The more degrees of sensitivity per key the better.

4. Weighted Keys. It isn’t really necessary, but weighted keys give the keys a tactile response like an acoustic piano.

About brands, Yamaha has been a quality name for just about any instrument I’ve come across. When it comes to keyboards/digital pianos, Roland and Yamaha would be my first picks, in that order. If you can find a used Roland HP-500, jump on it! I have one and always enjoy playing it.

Check out this page for some good information: 

http://www.marthabeth.com/electronic_keyboard_features.html