The new Academic Year often provides a veritable minefield for parents wishing to set their child up with a new instrument. With so many brands to choose from, and such a variation in price and quality, often one feels the need for a qualification in the subject before even attempting a buy.
The main aim, in my opinion, is to try to keep things as simple as possible for beginner instruments, adhering to the principal need for good tone and quality. Each instrument will typically have a standard range of models that have proven reliable over a significant number of years – Jupiter, Buffet, Yamaha and Trevor James are but a few of the well respected woodwind names for example. They are both recommended and regularly used in lessons with the instrumental teachers across the country.
Many of the most reputable instrument manufacturers now offer introductory models at entry level prices. Whilst offering a reduced price range, these models are still proving to be very reliable and simple for beginners to begin playing on. Having spent over 25 years doing
instrument repairs and services, we have become all too aware of the increase in recent years of customers appearing with a "Bargain price" bought instrument that does not attain a good standard in quality, leaving the customer constantly bringing the instrument in for adjustments that will inevitably re-occur in a very short period of time. For this reason it is definitely worthwhile looking for an instrument from a well established, and respected, manufacturer.
With all Woodwind and Brass instruments, we recommend that they are serviced every year to 18 months to keep them running to their optimum level. With String instruments, it is usually a matter of regularly cleaning with a duster cloth and replacing strings whenever necessary. When the child has outgrown their
student violin, for example, it can often be brought back to the Music shop it was purchased from (depending on the Establishment’s terms) to part-exchange with the next size up.
