OT - Band instruments options in Indianapolis

[spaceacewannabe]

My oldest daughter also plays an alto sax!
She started in the fourth grade, but the elementary school she attended was a music magnet that had enough school instruments for the kids, so I did not have to rent one or buy one at first.
For Christmas during fifth grade we went ahead and bought her a new student level alto- I think the brand is Jupiter for about $900.
Now, she is getting ready to start her Senior year and she is still playing the same horn. I would say that I got our money out of it....She has grown out of it and needs a higher level horn, but I still havent brought myself to pay the $4000 plus for the instrument she wants.... She wants a Selmer super action 80.....ouch.....that is the cost of a used car......

If it makes you feel any better, that Super Action 80 will retain its value better than the car! In 10 years, provided nothing disaster does not befall it, it will still be worth $4000...probably more since they usually gain value with inflation when they are well maintained.

In regards to buying used, see if you can buy used from a local music store with an in-house repair shop---they'll usually have done any necessary repadding. Tell them how much you can spend and see what they can do. Pawn shops and the internet are a bad, BAD idea unless you are VERY knowledgeable about buying instruments on eBay, and even then you sometimes get burned. A crummy instrument can really sour the whole band experience for beginners.

Re: the $23 viola---violins and violas are always WAY cheaper to rent than winds, and alto saxes are one of the priciest rentals anyway. So OP, you're not getting ripped off.

I would probably just rent, especially since it sounds like you're music store does rent-to-own (a very good thing).

BTW, I teach elementary beginning band

 

[torinsmom]

Most new instruments you buy will have a warranty, whether they are Yamaha or less expensive brands like my Blessing. They even took the dents out of my son's sax that were absolutely his fault. I bought at Music and Arts and they were even nice enough to give us a rental for DS's band concert when there was a problem with his sax. On the other hand, with the rental, I had to pay extra for accident insurance(around $10/month) Of course I got it, because with kids, you can never be too careful.

Our band director had never heard of the Blessing brand before, even though it has been around a long time(and is an American company) She was very pleasantly surprised by the sound and quality. At $600, it was definitely a good deal for me, which we have now passed on to another family.

Marsha

 

[mrsmom]

I used paige when we lived near indy and got a trumpet it's now 10 years old my dd used it and now my son has been using it, never had a problem with it .Since we moved now i go to Buddy rogers here in Cincinnati.

 

[goofyisinphilly]

Well I work at Music and Arts so let me give you some info.

On average for an alto sax you are going to pay about $50 a month for a rent to own program. A sax is a more expensive instrument and it costs more to repair. If damage coverage if offered GET IT. Repairs start at about $65 an hour. GET the damage coverage. Just b/c your child is responsible doesn't mean the one sitting next to them is...or the one on the bus is either.

If you get an instrument at a pawn shop or from a family member, make sure that your local repair shop will service that brand. A lot of shops won't take unfamiliar brands for the simple reason that they can't get parts and if something goes wrong during a servicing they won't be able to fix it. And please don't buy an instrument at Sam's or Costco. These instruments won't be repaired by a local shop.

For reeds you might get Vandorens or Rico Royal. Don't get the plain Ricos as they won't give you a good sound.

I hope this helps some. As a musician my degrees are in Piano Pedagogy and I play oboe and have 10 years classical vocal training. There is nothing worse than trying to learn on a subpar instrument. Even the child does not stick with it at least give them a good foundation to start on! Good luck!

 

[WishIwerethere]

I both rented and bought from Paige's for two kids. The rental (at least for the viola) was about the same cost as a purchase over a two-year period, if I recall correctly. If you are certain your child will pursue this instrument, I'd recommend buying immediately because it definitely will be cheaper in the long run. I paid a ridiculous sum in rental fees before I wised up.

Paige's sometime has brand new instruments for sale or rent which are student grade which work well for kids that age (not so much, though, if your child becomes serious about the instrument). They also sell used instruments (or at least they did a couple of years ago). I really liked working with them, despite what I viewed as high prices, and even sold the viola back to them this year (for $60).

Incidentally, if you buy a used instrument, be sure you get a good case. I spent $75 just replacing the case for my child's used viola after he damaged it irreparably. Most kids are really, really hard on the cases. Paige's also has insurance available to cover breakage and theft. I didn't do it, but I know others who did.

I second the comment, though, that the band/orchestra director probably will have the best recommendation on where to obtain an instrument. If the director is Mr. Chrismore, you are very lucky!!!!!!