| Many people find themselves thrown into the | | | | start. Don't let the numbers throw you here, the |
| world of musical instruments they know nothing | | | | second mouthpiece is the bigger one. The bracket |
| about when their children first begin music at | | | | indicating numerology is the company that makes |
| school. Knowing the basics of good instrument | | | | the mouthpiece, suggested here only for |
| construction, materials, and choosing a good store | | | | comparison. |
| in which to rent or buy these instruments is | | | | Trumpet: 7C, 5C (Bach numerology - for strong |
| extremely important. So what process should a | | | | players consider also 3C) |
| parent follow to make the best choices for their | | | | Horn: 30C4, 32C4 (Schilke or Yamaha |
| child? | | | | numerology) |
| Clearly the first step is to choose an instrument. | | | | Trombone: 12C, 6½AL (Bach numerology - |
| Let your child have their choice. Kids don't make | | | | for strong players consider also 5GS) |
| very many big decisions about their life, and this is | | | | We have left Tuba off the suggested list because |
| a big one that can be very empowering. I can | | | | there are many factors that come into play for |
| also say from personal experience that kids have | | | | the student. Physical size plays a part, and often |
| a natural intuition about what is good for them. | | | | the condition of the instrument being used, as well |
| Ultimately, my strongest advice is to put a child | | | | as the size of the instrument. These vary so |
| into a room to try no more than 3-5 different | | | | greatly from one student to the next that a |
| choices, and let them make their choice based on | | | | personal consultation with your qualified music |
| the sound they like best. | | | | retailer is strongly recommended. Kids generally |
| This information is intended to broaden your | | | | start on the small mouthpiece (24AW is one in |
| horizons, not to create a preference, or to put | | | | the Bach numerology), but don't get off that |
| you in a position to nit-pick in the store! Most | | | | even though they should. There are a number of |
| instruments are extremely well made these days, | | | | really excellent mouthpieces available, but it is hard |
| and choosing a respected retailer will allow you to | | | | to beat the Perantucci Mouthpieces. A PT48 or |
| trust recommendations. Ask your school and/or | | | | PT50 works well for the advancing student, as |
| private music teacher where to shop. | | | | well as the professional, but remember that as |
| Brass instruments are made all over the world, | | | | students grow and change, so may their |
| but primarily in the USA, Germany, France, and | | | | mouthpiece needs. |
| China. When we talk about brass instruments, we | | | | As with instruments, it is a very good idea to try |
| are referring to members of the Trumpet, Horn, | | | | 3-5 at your local retailer. |
| Trombone, and Tuba families. | | | | When or for what reason should I not buy a new |
| MATERIALS | | | | mouthpiece? |
| There are two basic kinds of materials used in | | | | Kids often look for the short-cut. Not being able |
| brass instrument construction. The first is clearly | | | | to play high or low enough is a challenge and |
| brass, and the second is nickel-silver. | | | | often the kid looks for a quick answer, or has |
| Brass used for instruments is available in three | | | | seen a colleague playing something different. |
| types: | | | | Often, when your child approaches you about a |
| Yellow Brass (70% Copper, 30% Zinc) | | | | new mouthpiece, it may very well be the time |
| Gold Brass (85% Copper, 15% Zinc) | | | | for it. Be sure you ask lots of questions about |
| Red Brass (90% Copper, 10% Zinc) | | | | what they do and do not like about their |
| These types of brass are all used for instrument | | | | mouthpieces so you can find out from your |
| construction. Each also carries a certain tendency | | | | retailer if this is a good request. Be sure you |
| towards a particular quality of sound - but this is a | | | | know what they already have. The best changes |
| very subtle distinction, and should not be used as | | | | to make are the subtle ones. Small differences in |
| an exclusive gauge for choosing your instrument. | | | | a mouthpiece design can help get the desired |
| Yellow brass is most common and can be used | | | | result, and not sacrifice some or all other areas of |
| for most parts of your instrument. It has a very | | | | playing. The students that make the big changes |
| pure quality of sound, projects best of the three | | | | just to get high notes often pay the biggest price |
| alloys, and holds up very well at high volumes. | | | | in their tone, tuning, and technique. |
| (Gold brass is also extremely popular, mainly due | | | | OTHER ITEMS |
| to its slightly more complex quality of sound, and | | | | For Trumpet, I recommend having 1st and 3rd |
| personal feedback. Usually a player hears | | | | valve slides with rings or saddles for fast moving. |
| themselves a little better using gold brass, but the | | | | These are helpful for tuning. |
| trade off is a very slight loss in projection. This | | | | For Trombone, for early beginners, a nickel-silver |
| more 'complex' quality is very attractive to the | | | | slide is a good idea, as slide repairs are costly. |
| ear, but can get harsh at high volumes if the | | | | For Horn, get a double horn. This has 4 valves, |
| player is not in control of all of their technique. It | | | | and offers way more choice to the player for |
| is like the transition to screaming from singing - | | | | good tuning, and development down the road. |
| there is a point at which you can easily go too | | | | Horn is tricky, so helping with this is a good |
| far. Gold Brass is not used for the whole | | | | endorsement of your child's chances. |
| instrument (in North America, but a lot in Europe). | | | | For Tuba, try to get one that fits your child, and |
| We primarily use it for the bell (where the sound | | | | on which all parts - including tuning slides - are in a |
| comes out), and the leadpipe (the first stretch of | | | | state of good repair. Push the school if it is a |
| tubing in your instrument). The leadpipe usage is | | | | good school instrument. If your child can handle a |
| becoming common for student instruments, as it | | | | big instrument, get one. |
| resists corrosion well, which is a concern for | | | | Brass instruments need consistent maintenance to |
| teenagers whose body chemistry is volatile, and | | | | function well. Be sure you know what lubricants to |
| for students who rarely clean their instruments. | | | | use on what parts of your instrument. Trumpet, |
| The same is true of Red brass. This is a very | | | | a relatively simple instrument, needs 3 different |
| complex sound, usually not used in student | | | | lubricants; tuning slide, 1st/3rd valve slide, and |
| instruments. Red brass appears almost exclusively | | | | pistons. I strongly recommend synthetic lubricants. |
| in the bell of an instrument. This is due to its less | | | | They will hold up slightly better against forgetful |
| stable nature in sound production at loud volumes. | | | | students who do not do the regular maintenance. |
| Having said that, it can produce a marvelous | | | | Cleaning. Once every 12-18 months have a |
| sound when well balanced against the rest of a | | | | professional cleaning. Otherwise clean at home |
| well designed instrument. A good example is the | | | | once a month using mild soap and lukewarm |
| famous 88H Symphonic Trombone, which has | | | | water (hot water will cause your lacquer to peel |
| been a staple of the north american market for | | | | of your horn), and a flexible brush from your |
| over 60 years. | | | | retailer. |
| The other material that is used to make brass | | | | Avoid cheap instruments. With musical instruments |
| instruments is nickel-silver. Interestingly, there is | | | | you get what you pay for. There are a lot of |
| no actual silver in this material. Most often it is a | | | | instruments coming from India and China now. |
| combination of Copper, Nickel, and Zinc, in varying | | | | Many are excellent, while many others should not |
| combinations. I like to think of it as brass with | | | | even have been made. Your local, respected |
| nickel added. Its name is derived from its physical | | | | dealer should have those that are reliable, and will |
| resemblance to silver, which makes it ideal for | | | | stand behind them. Your big-box Costco, |
| things like brass instruments, and the coins you | | | | Wal-Mart, BestBuy, and e-Bay has no expertise in |
| probably have in your pocket. | | | | these matters, and functions for their bottom line |
| This is a very important part of your instrument. | | | | only. Avoid these places. They cannot possibly |
| Unlike brass, it tends to be very hard. This makes | | | | offer you the continued assistance, service, or |
| it ideal for use on instruments to: | | | | repair that a developing and interested student will |
| Protect moving parts | | | | need. If you choose this route, ask for |
| Join two tubes together with a ring (called a | | | | american-made instruments (and Japan). This will |
| ferrule) | | | | be a major separator of good from bad. People |
| Put on parts of the instrument that come into a | | | | who make brass in the USA are generally very |
| lot of contact with the hands to protect against | | | | well trained and part of a history of excellent |
| friction wear from the hands. | | | | brass making, particularly those in the |
| Companies use nickel silver in various ways, and | | | | Conn-Selmer family of companies. Your local, |
| on various parts of the instrument. These | | | | trusted retailer will help to guide you in the choices |
| construction details are minimal, but here are | | | | available, and remember that just because it says |
| some suggestions to look for which can help the | | | | USA, or Paris on it, does not mean it was made |
| stability and strength of student instruments:o | | | | in these places. Manufacturers are now |
| The outsides of tuning slides. This is good, | | | | sometimes making these things part of the 'name' |
| because it protects parts that regularly need to | | | | of the instrument.((How much should I spend? |
| be moved from damage.o The inside tubes of | | | | That is the big question. Be aware that popular |
| tuning slides. Ideal for student instruments (and | | | | instruments, like Trumpet, are less expensive |
| common on european instruments), this protects | | | | because they are made in greater quantities. |
| against corrosion.o Joint between tubes. When | | | | Some instruments, like Horn and Tuba, are |
| used as a ferrule, this can be a variety of shapes | | | | challenging and time-consuming to make, making |
| and sizes, at the discretion of the designer. | | | | them more expensive. Below is a list of |
| Sometimes the inside of the ferrule is regulated | | | | acceptable pricing (at the time that this is being |
| to change shape (taper) through to a larger | | | | written) for new student instruments that works |
| consecutive tube. Some very basic student | | | | for both American and Canadian currency. |
| instruments just fit expanded ends of brass | | | | Trumpet: $400-600 |
| tubing together.o Parts that the hands touch. | | | | Horn: $1600 and up (Get a double horn, or you will |
| Brass is easily eaten away, albeit slowly, by | | | | be back to buy another, soon!) |
| normal body chemistry, so a student instrument | | | | Trombone: $400-$700 |
| that has these areas in nickel-silver is an asset for | | | | Tuba: $2300 and up |
| longevity. There are exceptions to this rule, | | | | When should I buy a better instrument, and Why? |
| particularly for Trumpets, whose valve casings | | | | 60 years ago, there were no 'student' and |
| are generally made of brass alone. | | | | 'intermediate' instruments. Manufacturers were |
| MOUTHPIECES | | | | just coming to the realization that there was an |
| Mouthpieces for brass are generally referred to | | | | emerging, post-war market that was changing to |
| as 'cup' mouthpieces, and are also made of brass, | | | | support a more commercial model of instrument |
| but plated in silver. Brass on its own can cause | | | | making. Today, instruments are engineered to get |
| irritation, and is mildly toxic to be in such close | | | | you to buy three times. First as a beginner, then |
| proximity to the lips, whereas silver is mostly | | | | as an advancing student, and finally as a |
| neutral. There are cases in which some people are | | | | professional. Clearly, this is a model that makes a |
| allergic to silver, but most often the allergy is | | | | lot of money for manufacturers. |
| caused by a dirty mouthpiece. The recommended | | | | For the right reasons, I often encourage parents |
| test for this is to use an alcohol based spray | | | | to start with the better instrument, or even a |
| cleaner, from your music retailer that is specifically | | | | good used intermediate or professional instrument. |
| intended for mouthpieces, and to clean the | | | | Starting on better equipment is like starting on |
| mouthpiece before and after each use. This is a | | | | that slightly larger mouthpiece; getting a bigger, |
| good idea, anyway. If the irritation persists, | | | | better sound is encouraging. The better |
| consider a gold-plated mouthpiece, or as a last | | | | construction and materials combination of these |
| resort, plastic. Note also that not all companies | | | | better instruments will also leave more room to |
| include a good quality mouthpiece with their | | | | grow. So what are the right reasons? Here is a |
| instruments. Be sure to check with your retailer | | | | list that works not only as guide for helping to |
| to make sure what you are getting is what you | | | | choose the right instrument, but for what you |
| should be using for your student. | | | | should watch for to help musical growth: |
| As with instruments, mouthpieces can come in a | | | | -Going to a school with a strong music program. |
| dizzying array of shapes and specifications. Things | | | | -Getting private lessons, or has asked for some. |
| that you have never heard of, such as Rim, | | | | (Check with private teacher for recommendations |
| Throat, inner diametre, Backbore, etc., may | | | | before buying, this will help.) |
| confuse you.((To make matters more complex, | | | | -Practicing without parental encouragement |
| there is no standard system for identifying sizing | | | | -Has at least 4 years of playing ahead of them. |
| in mouthpieces. This can be difficult for the parent | | | | These factors are good indicators of whether to |
| to digest, and even frustrating. How big or small | | | | buy, and whether to buy intermediate or |
| should the various parts be? | | | | professional. If the bulk of these are unclear, |
| Most often, schools start kids on small | | | | consider a rental for a year to see if they get |
| mouthpieces for the reason that it is easy to get | | | | any clearer, and supplement with regular (weekly) |
| a response out of them. The downside of this is | | | | private lessons. |
| that small mouthpieces can translate to a very | | | | Music is an investment that requires attention |
| bright sound, and can actually hold a student back | | | | from a variety of angles, and the instrument itself |
| from developing the free blowing of air that is | | | | is just a small step. Being armed with the |
| essential to developing a good sound. There is a | | | | knowledge of how to get the instrument is just |
| generally accepted order of progression from | | | | part of a process that a parent can - and should - |
| bare beginner to solid student. I recommend | | | | be actively involved in. Many parents don't know |
| getting the second mouthpiece right off the bat. | | | | anything about all of this, but now you do! Ask |
| This will produce a bigger/fuller sound, and will | | | | the questions you need to know, and you'll be |
| encourage more air to be used right from the | | | | just fine getting your new instrument. |