Choosing An Advanced Instrument
N-Tune Music and Sound will work with you to choose the best advanced instrument for your child, whether that is intermediate or pro-line.
What Is Different About an Advanced Instrument?
It’s a fair question, and one with different answers for different instruments. But, there are some qualities that an advanced instrument will provide your student regardless of which instrument your student plays. In basic terms, an advanced instrument is either an intermediate or pro-line instrument that features design or mechanical advantages over student-line instruments.
Advanced instruments offer:
Improved Tone
If you think of tone as the engine of a car. High performance engines feature different materials and craftsmanship than a stock engine. Advanced instruments play with incredible tone and resonance that a student-line instrument just can't duplicate. Again, this is due to the use of exceptional materials and craftsmanship.
Improved Response
As your child advances in band or orchestra, the music they play will become increasingly demanding as far as technique and intonation. Advanced instruments help them to play more technical passages due to their quick response, improved extreme ranges, and excellent intonation.
Additional Keys / Tubing
Many advanced woodwind instruments have additional keys that are used in intermediate and advanced music. Many brass instruments have thicker Metal (double walled). Trombones have an F attachment, to allow for quicker movement between slide positions. These are features that beginning students wouldn't encounter as they learn to play, but will become more important as they continue to progress.
Advanced Stringed Instruments
Advanced techniques require an instrument up for the task, and our Advanced stringed instruments help students to grow their skills
Is My Child Ready for an Advanced Instrument?
If you rented or purchased your student instrument from N-Tune Music and Sound, your student is playing on a quality instrument! However, it is more than likely an instrument that was designed to help your student be successful as a beginner. It is also true that some students play their entry level instrument all the way through high school and have great fun doing it.
At some point, sometimes as early as the end of the first year, your student will reach the potential of their beginner instrument. As the competitive phase of their musical journey arrives, many students will find their beginner instruments begin to limit their success.
Students with advanced instruments find an advantage to having an intermediate, or possibly a pro-line instrument. Whether it is in the characteristic sounds, the ability to play more technical passages easier, or additional design features, the intermediate or pro-line instrument will have the advantage over a student-line instrument.
Stop In And Visit With Us About Your student's Advanced Instrument. Our Staff Can Help.
Is It Really Worth It?
We believe music is a journey that provides a great return. The scientific community agrees, students actively advancing in music test better and perform better academically. To advance in music probably means an intermediate or pro-line horn as they outgrow the limitations of a student-line horn.
If your student plays on into higher education, an advanced instrument will be a must. Even if they don’t, N-Tune Music and Sound is convinced that an intermediate or pro-line instrument is a great investment into your student and their musical journey.
Watch This Advanced Flute Demo
Taylor explains the benefits of having an Advanced instrument and gives us a demonstration.
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Director Approved
Navigating the world of middle school, junior high or high school band can be tough for parents of young musicians — especially those of you who weren’t yourself an instrumentalist back in your glory days.
Instruments, reeds, strings, mallets, valve oil — there are many important things that school-aged band and orchestra members need in order to be successful. It goes without saying that having a quality, durable, well-made instrument is the foundation of a student’s success. So let’s take a look at five reasons why they may need to Advance!
1. You’re still renting their first instrument
At first, renting is a great way to put off a purchase while you get a feel for whether or not your child is going to stick with it. But once you know he or she likes playing that not-quite-so-beautiful sounding saxophone (squeak! honk!), it will be a better long-term investment to own a quality intermediate level instrument that will hold its value.
2. They’re a couple years in and they still have their first instrument
If your child is dedicated and already has a year or two of experience, they are likely playing harder music or even competing with other students for chair placement. Like clothing, it is absolutely true that you can outgrow an entry-level instrument. Now that the squeaks and honks are rarer, a better instrument will greatly improve the quality of sound that can be produced and help your child learn faster!
3. That rockin’ horn from your glory days is now their main “axe”
Many parents who were in band when they were students still have — and treasure — their instrument. Sometimes an older instrument in good condition can make for a great starter horn and save some money on a rental. But it might be a good idea to retire that old classic back to a safe spot in the hallway closet for a few reasons, such as if it doesn’t have modern mechanics or if the pads aren’t in good condition — or if you just can’t bear the thought of them banging it on one more music stand!
4. There’s an audition coming up
A fun and unique challenge for your child can be competing for a spot in the district honor band. Or maybe they’re graduating soon and considering majoring in music in college . Continuing to improve at this age includes plenty of time in the practice room, but that’s just half of the equation. The other half is the instrument itself, and getting them a professional-level one to play will help them maximize their talent.
5. They need an instrument that offers all the bells and whistles
There are many instrument families where the more advanced models not only offer your student greater room to improve, but also additional features. For example, Advanced model oboes have many optional keys that are important when playing advanced repertoire. Flutists will want a C# trill key and a B foot. Higher-end saxophones offer lacquer keys and a high F# key. Orchestral trombones will have an F-attachment and a larger bore size. French horn players will graduate from a single to a double horn.
In short, a better instrument can inspire your child to better develop their musical skills — and have more fun as they do so!