I have been hearing a lot of really bad stories about band directors with students who buy a really cheap, piece of junk horn. The problem is the horn plays so poorly and out of tune, the kid drops out. Anyone experience anything like that?
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Cheap instruments in your bands
Started by Guest_schaned_*, Mar 12 2004 06:06 PM
11 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 13 June 2004 - 07:39 AM
Unfortuneately, my students must have their own instrument after their first year and many resort to buying instruments from Wal-Mart, CostCo, Sam's Club, etc. "BandNow" has some really crappy horns, too. I try to inform my students and parents as best I can that you get what you pay for. Most parents don't have a clue about the specifics of instruments just pick up anything. They think "shiny" means it plays well. 
I have not had the problem of the student wanting to drop out because of it. Maybe that is because so many of my students have crappy horns that all of them being out of tune at once actually keeps them in tune with each other.
I have not had the problem of the student wanting to drop out because of it. Maybe that is because so many of my students have crappy horns that all of them being out of tune at once actually keeps them in tune with each other.
Let God be true, but every man a liar-Rom. 3:4
To lead, the conductor turns his back to the crowd.
To lead, the conductor turns his back to the crowd.
#3
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Posted 18 June 2004 - 10:49 PM
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Unfortuneately, my students must have their own instrument after their first year and many resort to buying instruments from Wal-Mart, CostCo, Sam's Club, etc. "BandNow" has some really crappy horns, too. I try to inform my students and parents as best I can that you get what you pay for. Most parents don't have a clue about the specifics of instruments just pick up anything. They think "shiny" means it plays well.
I have not had the problem of the student wanting to drop out because of it. Maybe that is because so many of my students have crappy horns that all of them being out of tune at once actually keeps them in tune with each other.
I have not had the problem of the student wanting to drop out because of it. Maybe that is because so many of my students have crappy horns that all of them being out of tune at once actually keeps them in tune with each other.
U ain't said nothin' but a word, WM.
I do have one kid playing on a Wal-Mart trumpet. In a year or so, I'd love to see his mom upgrade to a Bach or something decent.
When I send home my packet to kids coming in the program this summer, I'm going to mention to parents not to buy cheap horns for the kids. You really do get what you pay for.
#4
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Posted 21 June 2004 - 08:43 AM
You know, I was talking to someone the other day about the issue of buying a $150.00 trumpet from a chain store. He made a great comparison: buying a cheap trumpet for your son or daughter who is joining band is like buying the cheapest pair of soccer shoes you can find for your kid who is joining soccer. If their feet hurt, and mom won't buy them good shoes, they won't like playing the sport and their first experience with soccer will be terrible and will most likely quit and not want to play again. The same is true with a cheap horn. It's hard enough for students to get a good sound on a GOOD instrument. Why set them up for failure before they even walk into the bandroom the first day of class? I think the soccer analogy would be a great one to tell parents, since it's something many of them will understand.
#5
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Posted 22 August 2004 - 08:27 AM
I realized that many of my students' parents have very little experience with music. They are just uneducated consumers. Most of them, when thinking about purchasing an instrument, either called me to ask questions or their child mentioned it in rehearsal/class. I immediately take the opportunity to try to educate them as much as possible. I have had a few "junkers" show up. Specifically a "FirstAct" Trumpet, "Symphony" Clarinet. It has been detrimental to my students' playing and self-confidence. None have yet quit though.
#6 Guest_ladyd_*
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Posted 22 August 2004 - 07:29 PM
At our school, we send a list out with the kids and to the parents that says what brands they can select from on the instruments. We still have parents that will occasionally purchase a horn that is not suitable, but since our letter is so direct, after we explain the disadvantages to having an inferior instrument, they usually will take the inexpensive horns back. In many areas, you may want to also be informed that the music companies will not do any types of repairs on some of those inexpensive horns because they cannot guarantee their work. That is also a point that should be made known to parents.
#7 Guest_SaraS_*
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Posted 23 August 2004 - 03:56 PM
Just a word of warning when talking to your students and parents about these new instruments showing up -- a friend of mine "moonlights" as a repairman and the word in their world is that some of these companies have already filed lawsuits against people who have come out publicly against these new horns. The thinking is they're just looking for a band director they can haul into court.
So -- proceed with caution!!!
So -- proceed with caution!!!
#8 Guest_Debbie_*
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Posted 29 August 2004 - 05:00 AM
Someone is now selling colored clarinets on Ebay for under $100. One of our parents bought one before asking about it. Now she is complaining that her daughter is upset that we won't let her play it. I wonder how many beginners are going to show up this fall with junk horns.
#9 Guest_Chris_*
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Posted 22 September 2004 - 02:28 PM
I had my first "First Act" Clarinet come into my beginning band the other day. She took
out the Clarinet on the first lesson, and two keys were already bent. The bridge key was
at a 45 degree angle, and the left side pinky keys were split apart. I was amazed at how
soft the metal was.
out the Clarinet on the first lesson, and two keys were already bent. The bridge key was
at a 45 degree angle, and the left side pinky keys were split apart. I was amazed at how
soft the metal was.
#10
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Posted 03 February 2005 - 10:47 PM
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I had my first "First Act" Clarinet come into my beginning band the other day. She took
out the Clarinet on the first lesson, and two keys were already bent. The bridge key was
at a 45 degree angle, and the left side pinky keys were split apart. I was amazed at how
soft the metal was.
out the Clarinet on the first lesson, and two keys were already bent. The bridge key was
at a 45 degree angle, and the left side pinky keys were split apart. I was amazed at how
soft the metal was.
I agree with Chris. I had a student bring me a FirstAct clarinet with a bent key. The key can be bent under normal finger pressure. I was amazed.
While I have tried to discourage use of these instruments, I make a greater effort to be sure parents are aware of the drawbacks from purchasing inferior equipment.
#11
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Posted 12 March 2005 - 04:22 PM
Our printed material to parents says to beware of Instrument Shaped Objects. They look pretty but don't play well.
Musical instruments needs to be sent to the repair shop for routine maintenance once or twice and year. I have surveyed the music stores in our area and they won't work on these instruments because of the cheap construction and poor materials used in making them. If the store fixes it and it breaks or gets out of adjustment in a day or two, the music store gets accused of not fixing the instrument correctly.
We have one or two of these instruments in our program and we are hopeful that the parent will move to better equipment soon.
Musical instruments needs to be sent to the repair shop for routine maintenance once or twice and year. I have surveyed the music stores in our area and they won't work on these instruments because of the cheap construction and poor materials used in making them. If the store fixes it and it breaks or gets out of adjustment in a day or two, the music store gets accused of not fixing the instrument correctly.
We have one or two of these instruments in our program and we are hopeful that the parent will move to better equipment soon.
#12
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Posted 20 June 2012 - 01:14 PM
BlackCalvinist, on 18 June 2004 - 10:49 PM, said:
U ain't said nothin' but a word, WM. I do have one kid playing on a Wal-Mart trumpet. In a year or so, I'd love to see his mom upgrade to a Bach or something decent. When I send home my packet to kids coming in the program this summer, I'm going to mention to parents not to buy cheap horns for the kids. You really do get what you pay for.
I do have one kid playing on a Wal-Mart trumpet. In a year or so, I'd love to see his mom upgrade to a Bach or something decent. When I send home my packet to kids coming in the program this summer, I'm going to mention to parents not to buy cheap horns for the kids. You really do get what you pay for.
