Quality Brand Instruments

Below is a list of quality brand instruments recommended by the West Chatham Middle School Director of Bands.  Brands not listed may be of inferior quality and should not be purchased without first getting advice from the director.  This list is offered to help parents make well informed decisions when securing an instrument for their Beginning Band student.  This is not an all encompassing list.  If your brand is not listed, please ask the Band Director before making any purchases.

WARNING!

• Do not rent or purchase instruments that are colored.  They look nice, but are generally of not good quality.  These instruments are usually metal or plastic that have been painted red, blue, green, black, white, pink, or purple.

• Quality instruments are usually only offered in the following colors:

  • • Flute - silver or nickel plated.  Upper level instruments may offer gold keys, springs, or lip plates

    • Clarinets - resonite (black plastic) or wood

    • Oboe - resonite (black plastic) or wood

    • Saxophone - Gold lacquer or silver plated

    • French Horn - Gold lacquer, silver or nickel plated

    • Trumpet - Gold lacquer, silver or nickel plated

    • Trombone - Gold lacquer, silver or nickel plated

    • Baritone - Gold lacquer or silver plated

    • Tuba - Gold lacquer of silver plated

• Depending on the type of instrument, quality brand student woodwind and brass instruments usually cost between $850.00-$3000.00 retail to purchase.

• Portman's Music has the right to refuse acceptance of any instrument needing repair based on:

  • • • Instrument brand

      • Instrument quality (usually Chinese made or "toy" instruments)

      • Instrument not purchased or rented from Portman's Music Superstore

      • For questions regarding instrument repair, call 912.354.1500

Flute

• Gemeinhardt

• Yamaha

• Benjamin

• Armstrong  or Artley

• Selmer or Bundy

Clarinet

• Yamaha

• Buffet

• Benjamin

• Selmer or Bundy

• Armstrong or Artley

Oboe

• Fox

• Buffet

• Yamaha

• Selmer or Bundy

Saxophone

• Yamaha

• Conn, Armstrong, or UMI

• Benjamin

• Selmer or Bundy

• Jupiter

French Horn

• King

• Holton

• Yamaha

• Bach

Trumpet

• Yamaha

• Bach

• King

• Jupiter

• Benjamin

• Blessing

• Benge

• Conn

• Selmer or Bundy

Trombone

• Yamaha

• Bach

• King

• Jupiter

• Selmer or Bundy

• Blessing

Baritone

• Yamaha

• King

• Bach

• Jupiter

• Weril

Tuba

• Yamaha

• Jupiter

• King

• Bach

Percussion Kit 

• Pearl Percussion Kit (PK series with bells, practice pad, stand, sticks, mallets, and case)