Comments on: What are the Benefits Of Choosing A Quality Musical Instrument?

By: Andrew Ritenour

Andrew Ritenour — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:53:28 +0000

I agree. As a tuba player, I have played my share of 30-year-old-corroding tubas. This is one of the reasons that my teachers had trouble getting people to play. Besides the sheer size of the instrument, a junior high student will almost always choose the shiny trumpet over a dull,corroding tuba. Great article!

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:46:30 +0000

Great great points. It is so easy to feel a pull to buy the cheapest instruments, especially if, as a teacher, you are not given a large budget to work with. But there are times when it is worth while to spend the extra money for better quality, and this is certainly one of those times. It’s important to remember, playing music is about enjoying it, and that’s a lot easier to do with good equipment.

By: cd

cd — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:33:01 +0000

Also holds true for your percussion section — music directors who choose quality investments for their line and then have the patience to cultivate young percussionists who respect the equipment will reap the benefits in ensemble sound.

By: LB

LB — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:33:18 +0000

Good article. I remember hearing lectures from various music teachers on this same subject. As you grow as a musician, you learn to appreciate and understand the value of an instrument. At the age of 19, I’ve already gone through 5 flutes, and it’s incredible how different they all are, and how they’ve each helped me grow.
I think you could add another reason to your list of benefits (though it corresponds with care) – excited to play! If you give a student an old, beat up, dull looking instrument, no matter how it sounds, they’re going to be less willing to play it than if it were shiny and clean! Of course students want to play an instrument that looks awesome!