Purchasing Your 1st Instrument
Purchasing an instrument is a big step for all parents. We’ve put four children through band ourselves and know full well what this decision entails. We recommend starting with www.1800usaband.com ; they offer new and used/reconditioned instruments with a 30 month same as cash payment option. In addition they will also include an instrument maintenance kit, beginning band book, (Standard of Excellence, Book 1), and a folding wire stand for your child to use at home. These instruments also come with a service agreement that will cover having the instrument repaired if something goes wrong and you are still paying on the instrument.
There are two local music stores that offer rent to own programs on new and used instruments. One of the benefits of having a local service contract on the instrument is when something goes wrong you just take it back to the store and they fix it.
Saied Music Company (North Little Rock) http://www.saiedmusic.com/
Arkansas School Band Services (Benton) http://www.arschoolband.com/
When you start looking at instruments, you will find the brands we request you purchase are more expensive than some others. Suffice it to say it’s like anything else; you get what you pay for. A cheap instrument is just that, “cheap”. A student can’t learn to play an instrument that is broken all the time or just not fixable.
We ask you do not purchase from department stores, discount giants, record stores, etc., or brands that are not listed on the instrument page. They are likely VERY POOR quality and what’s more the repair shops will not even work on them when they break. If it says, “made in China” Leave it there.
You can sometimes find very good instruments at local pawn shops, and advertised in newspapers but look for the brand names we have listed and bring them to us to check prior to making a final purchase. If the seller is not willing to either hold it so we can come by and check it or allow you to bring it to us, there is likely something wrong with the instrument. Please remember these people are not experts in the field of music, they are out to make money and sell the things in their stores.