If you are renting, I highly suggest the "rent to own programs." Most will also take that instrument in as a trade for an "upgraded" version if your child remains in band for several years. I also highly encourage you to take part of the repair options. Band repairs are RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE and happen often even with the best care from the student. You will pay a tiny fraction of the real costs with the repair programs. TRUST ME, do not exclude this!
FULL Instrument Specific SERVICE SHOP specializing in band/orchestra Instrument Rentals, Private Lessons, Instrument Repairs, Instrument supplies, books, etc. Competitive (usually the lowest) prices!
DIRECTOR HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Cadence music sends an educational representative to all Charlotte county bands on a weekly basis. Our educational reps bring supplies, pick up repairs, deliver instruments...you name it free of charge. You don't have to do anything more than give them a call or order online. You do NOT EVER have to go to the actual store in Ft. Myers unless you want to. (It's a cool store...take a trip!) Cadence also offers online store purchasing with credit cards. (Anything ordered will be delivered to PCMS FREE of charge.)
Provides instrument rentals, limited supplies/books and repairs. Private lessons are available. (This store specializes in drums and drum related equipment. Private lessons are available and instructors are also fantastic!)
Provides instrument rentals, supplies and repairs. Private lessons are available and instructors are also fantastic!
First…DON’T BUY NOW. Seriously. I know it seems purchasing is cheaper than renting, but it wont be in the long run when a cheap instrument breaks beyond repair. (And it will. Trust me.) I suggest renting, and wait a year to see if they stick with it. As much as I’d love to say no kids quit band, some do. Second, if you really want to buy something, I can not stress, do the rent-to-own option. If your child decides after a year they don’t’ want to do band anymore, you can return a rent-to-own instrument and be done. No need to try to sell the instrument. If they stick with it (YAY!), the rent-to-own option guarantees a high quality instrument worth spending money on and you have a long time to chip away at it with monthly payments.
The last few years the market has been flooded with inexpensive, terrible quality instruments. I'm not kidding, these things are GARBAGE. Band directors have given them a nickname of “Instrument SHAPED objects” or “ISO’s” They are extremely low quality, poorly made “instruments” that are scamming parents and kids because they have attractive colors and low price tags. Even Walmart is selling cheap/crappy band instruments online. RUN AWAY!!! You are wasting your money!!!! Repair shops won’t fix them, I can’t fix them, the parts to “repair” them don’t exist. The instrument will break within weeks, guaranteed, and once it’s broke…it’s done. You now have a shiny door stop. That’s all it’s good for. These “ISO”s are all over Amazon. Please, please, please…if you absolutely want to buy an instrument, send me a link via email of what you’re looking at before you buy. I’ll let you know if it’s good or junk. I have no reason to try to upsell you, I just want something of quality in your child's hands so they sound great. I have a small list of brands to avoid below, but it’s not all of them…it’s impossible to keep up. Instruments are not cheap if they’re made properly. Instruments are not toys. If it’s inexpensive…there’s a reason!
Student Model Flutes: Starting at $450 or higher (Best Brands: Armstrong, Yamaha, Geminhardt, Jupiter, Pearl)
Student Model Clarinets: Starting around $450-$650 or higher (Best Brands: Yamaha, Jupiter, Buffet)
Student Model Oboes & Bassoons: Email me, too hard to list here.
Student Model Alto Saxes: Starting around $1,500 or higher (Best Brands: Yamaha, Selmer La Voix, Jupiter, Series III)
Student Model Trumpets: Starting around $550-$1,500 or higher (Best Brands: Bach, Yamaha, Jupiter, King, Conn)
Student Model Trombones: Starting around $900-$1,300 or higher (Best Brands: Bach, Getzen, Yamaha, Jupiter, King)
Drums: Just ask me…way to hard to list here.
**Cadence may have better prices on these models. This the “going rate” on reputable instrument dealers online.
***For all of these, there multiple "models" of each instrument geared to different ability levels of the musician. I'll help you here, too. It turns into a bit of an A-B-C- Soup. I've got your back.
If It’s $300 bucks or under…RUN AWAY! Don’t care how many “stars” it got from fake reviewers…RUN!!!!!!!
Cecilio (Super "popular" on Amazon...Yuk! They use the bright colors to swindle you.)
Glory (Super "popular" on Amazon...Yuk! They use the bright colors to swindle you.))
Medini (Super "popular" on Amazon...Yuk! They use the bright colors to swindle you.))
Etude
First Act
Jean Paul
Broadway
WallMonkey
Allora
Prelude
Pampet
Hisonic
Windsor
Conductor
There are tons more, this is the most “highly recommended” on amazon. (Recommended by NON musicians trying to scam you…don’t waste your money, dont' read the reviews...please!!!)
There are more than likely some great deals on marketplaces like this, and you might find a steal of a deal. But, there are also a lot of people selling what they don't know or junk they're trying to offload. Send me a link to it, I'll let you know if it's worth your hard earned money. Send me as many as you want, I'll be more than happy to help you find a great deal!