The information on this page was generously provided by Mr. Keith Shasteen, Director of Bands at Christopher High School, and the acting commander of the 144th Army Band. You may find his website at the homepage of Christopher Bearcats Band in Christopher, IL.
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Recommended Instrument, Mouthpiece, Head-joint, and Reed Upgrades |
A high quality mouthpiece or headjoint is the first step toward achieving a more mature sound on your instrument. If your student musician is playing on the mouthpiece they started with in beginning band, it is time for a step up.
Often the overwhelming factor in keeping a student from developing as a player is the instrument. The instrument a student learns with as a beginner is outgrown by high school.
An intermediate or advanced instrument is designed with a more mature player in mind, helping to achieve a better tone, improved sound in the higher and lower registers, and more ease in technical playing.
Be cautious of instruments that are priced very low, seem to good to be true, or are not brands recognized by music repair shops, private teachers or band directors. In these cases, a new instrument can sometimes turn out to be a bigger challenge than they are worth!
The most important item to keep in mind when purchasing an instrument is knowing that it plays well. While surprising your student with a new instrument under the tree is a thoughtful gesture, it is always better to play test several instruments before renting or purchasing.
My recommendations are listed below.
MOUTHPIECE, REEDS, STICKS, & MALLETS:
Clarinet
Hite Premiere
Rovner Dark Ligature
Vandoren Reeds
Saxophone
Yamaha 4C mouthpiece (good starter professional mouthpiece)
Hite Premiere mouthpiece
Selmer C* mouthpiece
Selmer S-80 w/ C* Tip opening mouthpiece
Vandoren AL3 (alto sax) mouthpiece
Vandoren TL3 (tenor sax) mouthpiece
Vandoren (blue box) 3.5 (classical) reeds
Vandoren V12, 3 (classical) reeds
Vandoren Java 3 (jazz) reeds
Vandoren 3-3.5 reeds
Rovner Dark Ligature
Trumpet
Bach 3C
French Horn
Holton Farkas MDC (around $35)
Trombone
(be careful when ordering trombone mouthpieces, as the shank size can be different)
Bach 6 ½ AL (around $40)
Yamaha 48 (around $35)
Bass Trombone
Bach Stradivarius Bass Trombone
Yamaha Xeno Series Bass Trombone
Euphonium/Baritone
(be careful when ordering baritone mouthpieces, as the shank size can be different)
Bach 6 ½ AL (around $40)
Yamaha 48D, 51D (around $35)
Schilke 51D (around $50)
Tuba
Conn Helleberg 7B (around $55)
Percussion
Innovative IP 200 Mallet
Innovative Percussion IP1 Concert Snare Drum Sticks
Vic Firth SD1 Snare Drum Stick
Balter Contemporary Series Birch Marimba Mallets (medium)
Innovative Percussion Fundamental Series Mallet (hard xylophone)
Vic Firth Single Sided Practice Pad
Stick/Mallet Bag with Shoulder Strap
INSTRUMENTS:
Flutes
Instruments with open tone holes and/or sterling silver headjoints
Yamaha 300 or 600
Clarinets
Wood instrument
Buffet R-13 or E-11
Buffet Crampon R13 Professional
Alto Sax
Selmer 52
La Voix II
Tenor Sax
La Voix II
Selmer 54
Bassoon
Fox 220, 240
Trumpet
Bach Stradivarius
Yamaha 1805
Yamaha Xeno
French Horn
Conn 8D, 9D
Yamaha 668, 667, 569
Trombone
Bach Stradivarius
Conn 88H
Yamaha 400, 640
Euphonium/Baritone
Yamaha 321
Tuba
Yamaha YBB- 641
Often the overwhelming factor in keeping a student from developing as a player is the instrument. The instrument a student learns with as a beginner is outgrown by high school.
An intermediate or advanced instrument is designed with a more mature player in mind, helping to achieve a better tone, improved sound in the higher and lower registers, and more ease in technical playing.
Be cautious of instruments that are priced very low, seem to good to be true, or are not brands recognized by music repair shops, private teachers or band directors. In these cases, a new instrument can sometimes turn out to be a bigger challenge than they are worth!
The most important item to keep in mind when purchasing an instrument is knowing that it plays well. While surprising your student with a new instrument under the tree is a thoughtful gesture, it is always better to play test several instruments before renting or purchasing.
My recommendations are listed below.
MOUTHPIECE, REEDS, STICKS, & MALLETS:
Clarinet
Hite Premiere
Rovner Dark Ligature
Vandoren Reeds
Saxophone
Yamaha 4C mouthpiece (good starter professional mouthpiece)
Hite Premiere mouthpiece
Selmer C* mouthpiece
Selmer S-80 w/ C* Tip opening mouthpiece
Vandoren AL3 (alto sax) mouthpiece
Vandoren TL3 (tenor sax) mouthpiece
Vandoren (blue box) 3.5 (classical) reeds
Vandoren V12, 3 (classical) reeds
Vandoren Java 3 (jazz) reeds
Vandoren 3-3.5 reeds
Rovner Dark Ligature
Trumpet
Bach 3C
French Horn
Holton Farkas MDC (around $35)
Trombone
(be careful when ordering trombone mouthpieces, as the shank size can be different)
Bach 6 ½ AL (around $40)
Yamaha 48 (around $35)
Bass Trombone
Bach Stradivarius Bass Trombone
Yamaha Xeno Series Bass Trombone
Euphonium/Baritone
(be careful when ordering baritone mouthpieces, as the shank size can be different)
Bach 6 ½ AL (around $40)
Yamaha 48D, 51D (around $35)
Schilke 51D (around $50)
Tuba
Conn Helleberg 7B (around $55)
Percussion
Innovative IP 200 Mallet
Innovative Percussion IP1 Concert Snare Drum Sticks
Vic Firth SD1 Snare Drum Stick
Balter Contemporary Series Birch Marimba Mallets (medium)
Innovative Percussion Fundamental Series Mallet (hard xylophone)
Vic Firth Single Sided Practice Pad
Stick/Mallet Bag with Shoulder Strap
INSTRUMENTS:
Flutes
Instruments with open tone holes and/or sterling silver headjoints
Yamaha 300 or 600
Clarinets
Wood instrument
Buffet R-13 or E-11
Buffet Crampon R13 Professional
Alto Sax
Selmer 52
La Voix II
Tenor Sax
La Voix II
Selmer 54
Bassoon
Fox 220, 240
Trumpet
Bach Stradivarius
Yamaha 1805
Yamaha Xeno
French Horn
Conn 8D, 9D
Yamaha 668, 667, 569
Trombone
Bach Stradivarius
Conn 88H
Yamaha 400, 640
Euphonium/Baritone
Yamaha 321
Tuba
Yamaha YBB- 641