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So You're Buying An Instrument?
That's great! Buying an instrument is a great choice for anyone, especially anyone who knows they LOVE it! Here are some tips and tricks, and things to watch out for when purchasing.
Music Store!
There are a lot of local music stores that won't sell you low quality instruments, so everything you'd get from them can be reliable. They only have the best, and know what they're doing! This is Ms. Shinney's first recommendation, because there are experts who can make sure the instrument is right for you. Another positive thing is many of them have a rent to own program (See Instrument Rentals Page), or financing for the instrument, and they'll all be BRAND NEW. Local music stores that are great for buying band instruments are Burt Murdock, Summerhays, or Riverton Music.
Beware of Instrument Shaped Objects!
You might be scrolling on Amazon and see the prettiest pink flute you've ever seen and say, "This is the flute that I am buying for my student!" If this is what you choose to do, I won't stop you from living out your pink flute dreams, but let me tell you about Amazon instruments and why I don't recommend them.
In the band teacher community, we call Amazon or cheaper instruments "Instrument-Shaped Objects." This is because they are cheaply made and often don’t work as well as they should. (These brands are often Mendini, Glory, Allora, or Eastar.)
While these instruments usually come with a great price tag, you're sacrificing quality they simply don’t offer. Sometimes they’re delivered broken, break more easily, or wear down faster. Because students are still learning how to play, they often don’t realize their instrument is the problem. They assume they’re doing something wrong. That can be discouraging. (This is why I often recommend renting your first year.)
Durability is another major concern. These instruments are not built to withstand much of anything. Because of how they’re manufactured and the low-quality materials used, many repair shops won’t even work on them. Take my word for it! I’ve bought Amazon instruments before. One bent in half, and another arrived broken, so I spent years super gluing it back together.
By contrast, student model instruments from reputable brands are built tougher, because manufacturers know students are going to drop them. That’s part of why they have bigger price tags, they’re made with higher-quality materials that last longer and can be repaired when needed.
Now, I’m not trying to shame anyone who shows up to band with a red saxophone or any kind of Amazon instrument. If you bring a purple flute, I’m going to tell you that’s super cool! I just want you to know the risks and understand what might happen with your instrument. It’s not a permanent solution.
Buying Used
The flute, clarinet and trumpet that I own I bought used, from KSL Classifieds and from Facebook Marketplace. They are GREAT quality instruments, that were taken care of, I got for a good price. Buying used can be a great way to get high quality instruments, for a better price. While this can be a great option, there are some things you should watch out for when buying used.
It's all about the brand.
AVOID brands like Mendini, Glory, Allora, or Eastar. (These are Amazon instrument brands, above describes how they're okay to have, but I would never buy them used.)
You can't go wrong with a Yamaha.
Overall great quality on each instrument they produce. Is it the very best every time? No. Is it almost the best every time? YES.
These are THE student model instruments. They are built to handle junior high kids.
Other Good Brands (Not each brand makes each instrument.)
Pearl (Common Flute/Percussion)
Cannonball (Commmon Saxophone/Clarinets)
Bundy (Common Saxophone)
Jupiter (Common Brass)
Gemeinhardt (Common Flute)
Armstrong (Common Flute)
When in doubt, Google it.
Look at all of the pictures on the listing. Are there any obvious problems? Are there any big dents? Are there multiple pictures? (One picture is "pretty sus" if you know what I mean.)
If you feel good about the brand, take your student with to check out the instrument before you buy!
You're buying an instrument for them... You should take them, so they can test it out or look at it.
When you're looking at it, look for any cracks or dents. Dents won't impact the sound too much, unless it's large, or on slides. Cracks will impact the sound.
Check for any large discolorations. (Places where the lacquer has come off will look like not shiny metal. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Greenish spots are usually caused by the valve oil/slide grease, and can usually be professionally cleaned. If you see a large amount of reddish/pinkish spots, avoid that instrument. That is an indication of Red-Rot, which is irreversible damage.)
If your student tests it out, they should know if it's playable, or feels right to them.
If they aren't playing it, have them hold it, look in it, take off slides etc. (Some older instruments have been stored for a long time and smell "crusty dusty and musty" as I tell the students. This usually goes away after a good bath. My trumpet was a diamond in the rough, poor thing was stored in a basement for 20 years, so it was CRUSTY. Now that I play it and clean it regularly, it isn't crusty anymore. :) )
Be smart about talking to sellers, and stay safe! Use these "yard sale" options at your own risk.
When in doubt, send the listing to Ms. Shinney! I can tell you if it's a good one or not. You can also ask me to look, and I'll send you some listings that I would look at or buy. :)
This is a personal preference, but I would buy a new mouthpiece for a new-to-you instrument. (Don't buy a new mouthpiece for a flute, you're stuck with that one, and that's okay because there's no spit involved in that one.)
ALWAYS take in a newly purchased used instrument to a repair shop. This is so that they can clean/service it. (You don't want some strangers nasty germs, and you want to make sure that your instrument is working properly.) A quick initial service will ALWAYS cost less than an expensive repair down the road. This is usually just to clean off the must, or to make sure everything is working properly.
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