MS Band Director
For music educators - By music educators
Preferred Brands of Beginning Instruments
Directors,
This is a forum to tell of great success stories (or not) regarding certain brands of instruments (model numbers as well). I can tell you that in my band handbook we strongly discourage any instrument that our local repair shop will not work on because they can not guarantee their work. These brands have included brands sold by Wal-Mart, BJ's, Sam's Club and K-Mart. I would love to know what brands directors prefer.
We use the standard Yamaha and Bach beginning trumpets, trombones and tubas, but we tend to favor the Jupiter and Yamaha Baritones. Beginners have also benefited from the St. Petersburg Tuba as the cost is right and the cases (extra $) have held up a bit better than the Yamaha cases.
As for woodwinds, I have a list on Charms music of preferred brands. Yamaha and Gemeinhart Flutes, Buffet and Leblanc Clarinets, Yamaha and Selmer Saxes as well as Jupiter Bass Clarinets and Tenor Saxes. We stick with the Yamaha and Jupiter Bari Saxes and have had good luck with them. Oboes, Yamaha and Selmer work fine and the Fox Bassoons have been great.
This is a forum to tell of great success stories (or not) regarding certain brands of instruments (model numbers as well). I can tell you that in my band handbook we strongly discourage any instrument that our local repair shop will not work on because they can not guarantee their work. These brands have included brands sold by Wal-Mart, BJ's, Sam's Club and K-Mart. I would love to know what brands directors prefer.
We use the standard Yamaha and Bach beginning trumpets, trombones and tubas, but we tend to favor the Jupiter and Yamaha Baritones. Beginners have also benefited from the St. Petersburg Tuba as the cost is right and the cases (extra $) have held up a bit better than the Yamaha cases.
As for woodwinds, I have a list on Charms music of preferred brands. Yamaha and Gemeinhart Flutes, Buffet and Leblanc Clarinets, Yamaha and Selmer Saxes as well as Jupiter Bass Clarinets and Tenor Saxes. We stick with the Yamaha and Jupiter Bari Saxes and have had good luck with them. Oboes, Yamaha and Selmer work fine and the Fox Bassoons have been great.
Views: 19
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Aimee Page on -
Russ,
Regarding horns, I'm a Conn player, and when I teach, I guide students to Conns or similar models. Not only do they produce a consistent quality of sound, the 8-D's are heavier and can take just a little bit more normal wear and tear of a student's life. The only aspect I am adamant about it that the student ALWAYS buy a double horn when buying a horn. Single horns are sold just to make money and parents that aren't familiar with the brass instrument world are taken advantage of.
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Permalink Reply by Russ Weaver on -
Aimee,
It sounds like insisting on a double horn might become the next msbanddirector.com "Best Practices" for MS band directors when it comes to french horn students. I know that we don't currently own any single french horns, however the last school I was at did and many of the schools in our district still own (and use) them. Thanks for this great posting.
Russ
Aimee Page said:Russ,
Regarding horns, I'm a Conn player, and when I teach, I guide students to Conns or similar models. Not only do they produce a consistent quality of sound, the 8-D's are heavier and can take just a little bit more normal wear and tear of a student's life. The only aspect I am adamant about it that the student ALWAYS buy a double horn when buying a horn. Single horns are sold just to make money and parents that aren't familiar with the brass instrument world are taken advantage of.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew B. Spang on -
Hello,
I'll add my $0.02 in regards to low brass:
Euphonium/Baritone:
The best beginner/intermediate euphonium available, in my opinion, is the Yamaha YEP-321 (a 4-valve, non-compensating euphonium). It's best to get four valve instruments, for the ability to play C (and B-natural) in tune more than anything else, whenever possible, but if you simply cannot afford it, the 3 valve Yamaha YEP-201 is an excellent choice. For small beginners (think Elementary School), I think not enough credit is given to the only readily available true baritone, the Yamaha YBH-301S. It's small size and light weight makes it ideal for the youngest students.
For tubas, I realize that price is a serious concern. I will advocate even more strongly for 4 valve instruments, here for intonation (low C, B-natural, low F, low E-natural) as well as the extension register. So the following are inexpensive instruments that play quite well:
The Weril J680 (a 4-valve, 3/4-sized tuba). This is a Brazilian copy of the Yamaha YBB-621, and I have four of them at my school. The 3-valve version is the Weril J370 (a 3-valve, 3/4-sized tuba). The YBB-105 is an excellent 3-valves, 3/4-sized tuba, as well.
More expensive choices would include the Yamaha YBB-621 (a 4-valve, 3/4-sized tuba) and the Jupiter 582L (a 4-valve, 4/4-sized tuba).
You will notice a dramatic increase in tone size when a student moves from a 3/4-tuba to the 4/4-tuba. If your student can hold it, get them playing the 4/4-size tuba as soon as possible. I am a big fan of the Baltimore Brass Tuba Rest, designed by Baltimore Symphony tuba player David Fedderly (faculty, Julliard and Peabody Conservatory). My students use them, I use one, they are nearly indestructible, and much safer than the corner of a chair.
Avoid convertible tubas whenever possible. They are far too fragile for the everyday middle school student. Now, if you have a marching program, of course they are better than sousaphones, but if you don't have to get a convertible tuba, don't.
One last point: it used to be thought that rotary valves were inherently better than piston valves. This is an antiquated idea; now it is merely a matter of player preference. In fact, I prefer piston valves when playing, and definitely when recommending instruments to schools where the director, or especially ambitious student, is responsible for maintenance. I recommend piston valves to all directors as well as my private students.
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Permalink Reply by Russ Weaver on
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Andrew,
I wonder how many directors are not aware of the Weril brand of tubas? Normally, the rule of thumb with new brands, for me, involves an endorsement from our local repair guys. How are your Weril's holding up along these lines? Sounds like they might be doing great!
I would like to add my endorsement for the use of true baritones for beginners. We also have had great success with the Yamaha YBH-301S with our beginners. It seems the valves on these are outlasting the valves on the YBB-105S tubas as well as the Yamaha YBB-621S models, and our students put more miles on the true baritones!
Would you agree that purchasing 4 valve instruments should become one of msbanddirector's "Best Practices"?
Thanks for an incredible post, I know that I will be checking out the Weril's this year as we purchase new tubas. And it will be because of your thoughtful post on this forum.
thanks,
Russ Weaver
Andrew B. Spang said:Hello,
I'll add my $0.02 in regards to low brass:
Euphonium/Baritone:
The best beginner/intermediate euphonium available, in my opinion, is the Yamaha YEP-321 (a 4-valve, non-compensating euphonium). It's best to get four valve instruments, for the ability to play C (and B-natural) in tune more than anything else, whenever possible, but if you simply cannot afford it, the 3 valve Yamaha YEP-201 is an excellent choice. For small beginners (think Elementary School), I think not enough credit is given to the only readily available true baritone, the Yamaha YBH-301S. It's small size and light weight makes it ideal for the youngest students.
For tubas, I realize that price is a serious concern. I will advocate even more strongly for 4 valve instruments, here for intonation (low C, B-natural, low F, low E-natural) as well as the extension register. So the following are inexpensive instruments that play quite well:
The Weril J680 (a 4-valve, 3/4-sized tuba). This is a Brazilian copy of the Yamaha YBB-621, and I have four of them at my school. The 3-valve version is the Weril J370 (a 3-valve, 3/4-sized tuba). The YBB-105 is an excellent 3-valves, 3/4-sized tuba, as well.
More expensive choices would include the Yamaha YBB-621 (a 4-valve, 3/4-sized tuba) and the Jupiter 582L (a 4-valve, 4/4-sized tuba).
You will notice a dramatic increase in tone size when a student moves from a 3/4-tuba to the 4/4-tuba. If your student can hold it, get them playing the 4/4-size tuba as soon as possible. I am a big fan of the Baltimore Brass Tuba Rest, designed by Baltimore Symphony tuba player David Fedderly (faculty, Julliard and Peabody Conservatory). My students use them, I use one, they are nearly indestructible, and much safer than the corner of a chair.
Avoid convertible tubas whenever possible. They are far too fragile for the everyday middle school student. Now, if you have a marching program, of course they are better than sousaphones, but if you don't have to get a convertible tuba, don't.
One last point: it used to be thought that rotary valves were inherently better than piston valves. This is an antiquated idea; now it is merely a matter of player preference. In fact, I prefer piston valves when playing, and definitely when recommending instruments to schools where the director, or especially ambitious student, is responsible for maintenance. I recommend piston valves to all directors as well as my private students.
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Permalink Reply by Ed Nagel on -
Aimee, I could not agree with you more. The single F horn is not much use. I also like to point out resale value for when their student upgrades. The single horn is worth next to nothing. The one argument I have heard about 8D's is that they may be to large for a middle school player. I think this is mostly in reference to the bell throat. I understand the argument, but I not quite sure I agree. I started in middle school on a Reynolds Contempora, and I think the bells are very similar. I don't recall having any problems, as a matter of fact, I missed it when I got to high school and all they had was an old single horn.
Aimee Page said:Russ,
Regarding horns, I'm a Conn player, and when I teach, I guide students to Conns or similar models. Not only do they produce a consistent quality of sound, the 8-D's are heavier and can take just a little bit more normal wear and tear of a student's life. The only aspect I am adamant about it that the student ALWAYS buy a double horn when buying a horn. Single horns are sold just to make money and parents that aren't familiar with the brass instrument world are taken advantage of.
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Permalink Reply by Russ Weaver on
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Andrew!
Hey thanks for the suggestions. We actually changed our capital outlay plan for the district to include some of your recommendations. I asked around about the Weril J680 and folks are saying the same thing. Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you how much my program appreciates your contribution to this forum. Got any picts of your program to upload? How about videos that you use to teach with. Mine are up and more to come.
Russ
Andrew B. Spang said:Hello,
I'll add my $0.02 in regards to low brass:
Euphonium/Baritone:
The best beginner/intermediate euphonium available, in my opinion, is the Yamaha YEP-321 (a 4-valve, non-compensating euphonium). It's best to get four valve instruments, for the ability to play C (and B-natural) in tune more than anything else, whenever possible, but if you simply cannot afford it, the 3 valve Yamaha YEP-201 is an excellent choice. For small beginners (think Elementary School), I think not enough credit is given to the only readily available true baritone, the Yamaha YBH-301S. It's small size and light weight makes it ideal for the youngest students.
For tubas, I realize that price is a serious concern. I will advocate even more strongly for 4 valve instruments, here for intonation (low C, B-natural, low F, low E-natural) as well as the extension register. So the following are inexpensive instruments that play quite well:
The Weril J680 (a 4-valve, 3/4-sized tuba). This is a Brazilian copy of the Yamaha YBB-621, and I have four of them at my school. The 3-valve version is the Weril J370 (a 3-valve, 3/4-sized tuba). The YBB-105 is an excellent 3-valves, 3/4-sized tuba, as well.
More expensive choices would include the Yamaha YBB-621 (a 4-valve, 3/4-sized tuba) and the Jupiter 582L (a 4-valve, 4/4-sized tuba).
You will notice a dramatic increase in tone size when a student moves from a 3/4-tuba to the 4/4-tuba. If your student can hold it, get them playing the 4/4-size tuba as soon as possible. I am a big fan of the Baltimore Brass Tuba Rest, designed by Baltimore Symphony tuba player David Fedderly (faculty, Julliard and Peabody Conservatory). My students use them, I use one, they are nearly indestructible, and much safer than the corner of a chair.
Avoid convertible tubas whenever possible. They are far too fragile for the everyday middle school student. Now, if you have a marching program, of course they are better than sousaphones, but if you don't have to get a convertible tuba, don't.
One last point: it used to be thought that rotary valves were inherently better than piston valves. This is an antiquated idea; now it is merely a matter of player preference. In fact, I prefer piston valves when playing, and definitely when recommending instruments to schools where the director, or especially ambitious student, is responsible for maintenance. I recommend piston valves to all directors as well as my private students.
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Permalink Reply by Dan Bell on -
I am a trumpet and horn player, and swear by the 8D for middle school kids. It's an excellent instrument, and the case is pretty good (although the latches can be a pain).
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Permalink Reply by Russ Weaver on
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We have been using the Yamaha's, and they work great, but I will be checking out the the Conns on the next go-around.
You guys are awesome!
Russ
Dan Bell said:I am a trumpet and horn player, and swear by the 8D for middle school kids. It's an excellent instrument, and the case is pretty good (although the latches can be a pain).
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Permalink Reply by Russ Weaver on
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After hearing this year's Florida All-State auditions in the Flute room, I had to stop and ask a few of the flute players what type of flutes they were using. It turns out that they were all using the "Sonare" model flutes from Powell. What an amazing sound was coming out of these instruments. Our adjunct Flute teacher at OCSA, Irene Pruzan, ordered a couple of them to check out and I played them myself, and for $1300 a beginner can get an amazing instrument that can get them literally to college from an entry level instrument. I was blown away by their craftsmanship and how close they come to my professional Powell. I am thinking about selling my Powell and picking up a Sonare, it's really that close and I believe they come with the original Powell head-joints on them. Highly recommended and we will be using them until something better comes along. Way to go Powell.
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