Everything you didn’t know you need to know about buying a brass instrument
Embarking on the quest of buying a brass instrument can be a daunting task – even for professionals. Brass instruments come is various sizes, price ranges, brand reputations, degrees of quality. How on earth does a parent with no experience in the subject have a chance of identifying the perfect instrument for their child?
Many factors can influence whether or not you will get good value for money when buying a brass instrument. These include;
- the brand will strongly influence the resale price
- the quality of the instrument will determine its durability. A poor quality instrument may not even play in tune
- the price should reflect the above and take into account the condition of the instrument
Some poorly made instruments are designed so badly they are impossible for a young student to play. To give your child their best shot at learning an instrument, you should buy one that best suits their needs. Usually there is an option at various budget levels with some trade-offs.
The solution
Fortunately Josh Hughes, a colleague of mine, has put together a comprehensive guide which will help you to understand the trade-offs with this important decision. Josh covers various options including hiring, buying new or second-hand. You will learn what you should consider when you compare various models and brands. Josh makes specific recommendations for each instrument in each of these categories.
If you’re looking for an instrument for your child then don’t make any decisions until you’ve read what Josh has to say on the subject. It will be well worth your time.
Resources
You can view Josh’s buyer’s guide here.
Brass instruments don’t come with instruction manuals. My ebook How to Play Trombone covers that gap for trombone young players. Click here to download a copy.