Band

Jen · 05-08-2007, 06:24 PM

UPDATE: Well, she has decided she wants to play the sax instead. Do you want to hear the good thing? DH played it too and my MIL still has it. It is a VERY expensive one at that and her band teacher was very impressed at how nice it is. It needs just some minor things to be done with it - not a big deal and she figured about $100-150.00 for it to be done. We can more then handle that then spending a thousand + on a clarinet. Her band teacher was also happy that Lex chose the sax b/c all the other girls wanted the clarinet or flute and she was going to have to limit how many per instrument. So this works out great. Lex is happy and we are happy... DH for the cost and me b/c I HATE the sound of the clarinet and yes I played it and was pretty good at it too. So all is good until lessons start this summer and I am wearing ear plugs around the house! :lol:

Lex wants to be in band. We have "parents" night for it tomorrow night. She wants to play the clarinet. Like there isn't enough noise in this house.

I played that awful sounding instrument and I now feel bad for my parents!

The thing is how much do they normally run in price? What about the ones they have for sale like at Sam's Club? Are they actually ok ones? I hate to spend lots of $$ if she doesn't stick with it after a few years. I am NOT renting on... that is $30.00 a month. Don't think so.

Any others btdt yet?

Kris · 05-08-2007, 07:01 PM

I played the clarinet in high school and college. I was *very* good - an All State Musician. Band was my best subject in school. =)

Once I graduated, I worked in a shop that specialized in band/orchestra instrument sales and rentals. I would NOT buy a clarinet from Sam's Club.

I would strongly suggest renting for a short while, just to make sure she really likes it and wants to stick with it. After that... it would be worthwhile to purchase something of quality.... that will last.

Yamaha makes superior student model plastic clarinets. I can research this a bit for you, if you'd like! =)

I still have my wooden clarinet. It was horribly expensive when I got it.... I traded my plastic model for wood my senior year of high school, once the marching band season was over.

mwunder · 05-08-2007, 07:06 PM

If you look at it like this:
a used clarinet from eBay costs about $60-70 while renting costs $30 even if she sticks wth it for nine weeks (or two months) you'll still be ahead considering you could resell it or pass it down. Some music stores (like family owned ones) around here offer a rent to buy program tht you could check out. Hope that helps!!!

Kris · 05-08-2007, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwunder

If you look at it like this:
a used clarinet from eBay costs about $60-70 while renting costs $30 even if she sticks wth it for nine weeks (or two months) you'll still be ahead considering you could resell it or pass it down. Some music stores (like family owned ones) around here offer a rent to buy program tht you could check out. Hope that helps!!!

While that's very true, if the instrument that you purchase off of Ebay is a piece O' junk - it COULD inhibit her ability to play it correctly - which could be very discouraging and cause her to lose interest in something she might otherwise be very interested in.

Plus, clarinets are NOT cheap to repair. Repadding is VERY expensive. You could purchase a $70.00 clarinet on ebay that requires a $300.00 repadding.

Just food for thought.

Emma · 05-08-2007, 07:26 PM

I played the clarinet and oboe in high school, my sister played the flute, and my brother played the sax. I believe my parents took advantage of a rent to own program at a small shop. My sister and I stuck with it, while my brother quit after the first year. Can you add extra insulation to the garage and set her up in there to practice?

Pautzie · 05-08-2007, 08:51 PM

I was a "band geek" too. I'd buy an inexpensive one if it were me. I played the flute and piccolo. I still have my piccolo and the very expensive flute my parents bought me (after 6 years of playing). I love that flute, I still get it out to look at it every now and then.

I am such a geek!!

Koloe · 05-09-2007, 12:13 AM

I agree with the rent to own program if you can find one. Or ask around and see if anyone has one they no longer use and would be willing to lend or give you. You could check out Free Cycle and post a request there. Completly possibe someone has one in storage they would love to get rid of.