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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.
The Rainbow Instrument Rundown (Amazon Instruments)
You might come across the prettiest pink flute on Amazon and think, “This is perfect for my student!” And if that’s the direction you choose, your student is absolutely still welcome in band, colorful instruments included! I simply want to share some information about why I generally don’t recommend Amazon instruments, so families can make the most informed decision possible.
In the band teacher world, many low-cost online instruments are jokingly called “Instrument-Shaped Objects.” Brands like Mendini, Glory, Allora, and Eastar look the part, but they’re often built with very inexpensive materials and inconsistent quality control. While the price tag can be tempting, these instruments sometimes arrive needing repairs, wear out quickly, or break more easily than expected.
For beginning players, that can be frustrating. When an instrument isn’t responding the way it should, students often assume they are the problem — not the instrument. That discouragement is one of the main reasons I usually recommend renting a reputable student model during the first year.
Another challenge is durability. Because of how these budget instruments are manufactured, many repair shops can’t fix them or don’t carry the parts they need. Speaking from experience, I’ve purchased Amazon instruments myself in the past. One arrived broken, and another bent beyond repair and needed constant makeshift fixes.
In contrast, student models from established brands cost more primarily because they’re designed to last. They’re built with stronger materials, can be repaired when needed, and hold up better to the bumps and drops that naturally happen in middle school band.
That said, not every Amazon instrument experiences these issues, I've had students with a Mendini trumpet that has had not big issues. It's no guaruntee that these instruments will "crash out," but just something to be aware of the likelihood.
However, no student of mine will ever be excluded or made to feel out of place for having a colorful or Amazon-purchased instrument. If someone walks in with a purple saxophone, I’m still going to tell them it looks awesome. My goal is simply to help families understand the potential challenges so they can plan ahead. Amazon instruments aren’t necessarily a long-term solution, but they can be a starting point for students, and every student is welcome in band, no matter what they play.
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/Saxophone)
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 stranger's 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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