An expert’s

An expert’s guide to buying woodwind and brass instrumentswoodwind and brass instruments

A word from the editor

When buying a woodwind or brass instrument, as with any important

purchase, you do your research and ask questions. But what

questions do you ask and how do you know if the answers are current

or even correct

Unfortunately most people ask a salesperson at their local music

store and the answers they get usually represent what the store

needs to sell, simple as that. You’re generally dealing with someone

who has never played at a high level of expertise, doesn’t know

anything about the mechanics of the instrument and is probably not

even old enough to remember the first episode of “Friends”.

Music is a journey that will develop many positive characteristics in

your child & when you see your child perform in a band situation for

the first time, you’ll know you made the right choice to encourage

them into the school music programme. But getting through the

initial stages of instrument choice, the ongoing maintenance and care

of a precision piece of equipment in the hands of a child, not to

mention trying to keep your child excited enough to practice daily,

can be just plain stressful!

Look, the journey doesn’t have to be that difficult. If you ask the right

people, you’ll get useful answers. This book has been written to give

you the information you need for a solid beginning. Geoffrey has put

lots of technical stuff in it and there are useful checklists to print off

and take with you when you go shopping for a new instrument.

This journey of music is one that is always giving, long after your child

has left school. Speaking as a mother who has put three children

through Queensland Instrumental Music programmes, I can tell you

that it’s so worth it!

Have fun,

Sherryl-Lee Secomb

Editor

HOT AIR

Editor

Sherryl-Lee Secomb

Contributing editor

Geoffrey Secomb

Designer

Sherryl-Lee Secomb

© Geoff Secomb Music 2012

Geoff Secomb Music

+61 7 3893 0983

studio@geoffsecombmusic.com.au

www.geoffsecombmusic.com.au

Brisbane | Queensland | Australia

This eGuide is the copyright property of Geoff

Secomb Music. Please copy it for your own use but

we encourage you to be mindful of your paper

usage, and recommend our website to others so

they can make their own copy. This eGuide is free

to you but please don’t alter it in any way; and

selling it is definitely out of the question.

Playing a musical instrument will allow

your child to learn things they’re going

to need in the big wide world.

It increases the capacity of your memory. Studies have shown that learning and playing

music improved not just academic performance,

but also memory, reasoning, working as part of a

group, time management and the ability to think

in the abstract.

It improves concentration and self

expression. Playing music improves children's reading and

verbal skills through improving concentration and

self expression. They also learn to handle

‘performance pressure’ making them less

stressed.

It improves ability to think Learning and playing music builds or modifies

neural pathways related to spatial reasoning

tasks, which are crucial for higher brain functions

like complex maths, and sciences.

Helps underperforming students

improve Early primary students who were struggling,

caught up with their peers in reading and passed

them in maths after seven months of music

lessons.

High school students who are part of the

instrumental music programme in their school are

far less likely to be involved in drugs, crime or

have behavioural problems.

For a detailed look at the benefits and the studies

conducted, go to the Effective Music Teaching website

article at - http://www.effectivemusicteaching.com/articles/directors/18-

benefits-of-playing-a-musical-instrument/

Geoffrey says … Since 1984, I’ve seen thousands

of children (and many of their

children) enter Queensland

School Instrumental Music

Programmes, recognized as

arguably the best in the country!

I’ve taught in the system and our

own children have learnt to play

musical instruments in it. Take

advantage of what it has to offer,

and get involved in your school’s

music programme. You have

more to offer than just being the

family taxi driver!

And here’s the worst mistake …

Mistake #Three

“I’ll buy a cheap instrument first so that if

my child gives up I won’t have wasted too

much money.”

Well, if you buy a cheap instrument, you

can pretty well guarantee that your child

will barely make it through the first year.

Why? Because they will be unable to

progress and make a good sound on a

cheap, mechanically poor instrument. Even

a top musician has to work hard to produce

a good sound from some of the rubbish

available on the market today.

If you buy the best instrument your budget

can afford (you can also rent) and look after

it well, it will hold good resale value.

If you find a second hand instrument in a store or online and you’re not sure about its potential, talk to Geoffrey. A little bit of free advice could save you from making an expensive

mistake.

Over the last 30 years, we’ve helped

thousands of people navigate instrumental

music and we’ve come to understand

some of the mistakes people make when

making choices about a musical

instrument for their child.

Mistake #One

“I’ll buy a bargain online or at my local

second hand store.”

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with

buying a woodwind or brass instrument

online or second hand – if you know what

you’re looking at. When buying online you

can’t play the instrument or see the

condition of pads and key work and a

second hand dealer has no idea what he’s

selling. That “bargain” ends up being a

cheap import that will cost you far too

much to maintain.

Mistake #Two

“I’ll buy an expensive instrument because

it will be better”.

Sorry, but this is a big fat NOT. Woodwind

and brass instruments have differing levels

of excellence, yes, but level of expense is

no longer the sole indication of quality.

Once upon a time you could depend on a brand name to produce high quality no

matter what. Now, due to the expansion

of the Asian markets that guarantee no

longer exists. Traditional European and

American brands are now manufactured in

China and other Asian countries. It’s

difficult to keep up to date with

information about brands so be careful when getting a well intentioned

recommendation from a ‘professional’.

I’m big on research. I like to be prepared and informed before I make a major purchase and I’m

guessing you’re the same. For instance I don’t really understand how a car converts fuel into the ability

to go forward but I know that it needs certain features, must have certain performance standards and, of

course, being the stereotypical female, the colour is important.

So I ask questions of people I respect and know

have a lot of knowledge of cars. I know I can trust

the answers I’m getting and they know I really

don’t have any idea what torque is - but that’s ok.

I’m armed with information. When you’re about

to spend anything from hundreds to thousands of

dollars on a woodwind or brass instrument, of course

you’re going to want to do the same thing. So

Geoffrey has prepared the relevant information you

need to be armed with when you begin looking for

that right instrument.

And here’s what Geoffrey says about colour…

Don’t buy a coloured clarinet! It might seem really

cute in the store but your child is going to stand out

in the school band for all the wrong reasons. Stick to

traditional black. It might seem boring but it’s less

expensive to repair and it’s part of blending in with a

band and being a team player.

Coloured clarinets tend not to be good quality

anyway and, remember, your child does not need to

have unnecessary attention drawn to them while still

a relative beginner.

I’ll guarantee your child won’t want to be playing a

coloured clarinet when they get to high school!

Arm yourself! Information you need to be armed with when you go shopping

for a woodwind or brass instrument.

Know • What you’re looking at.

• The reason for the range of prices.

Know • Branding.

Know • How to get value for money.

Turn the page for detail on all these

important points …

o what you’re looking at

Let’s have a basic physics lesson. No, don’t do what I do and let your eyes roll back in your head. Bear with me here – it’s worth it. Geoffrey says …

What is a musical instrument?

The answer to this might seem obvious, but try

this definition. “A musical instrument is a

mechanical device for producing a musical sound.”

This might be a simplification, but hopefully, by

considering an instrument in this way, we can take

some of the mystery out of choosing one. By

considering the mechanical aspects of an

instrument in much the same way as you would a

car, it is much easier to find out if an instrument is

of good quality or not.

Any wind instrument is a tube, and needs a

vibration made at one end to create the sound.

Different instruments make the vibration in

different ways. Clarinets, saxophones, oboes and

bassoons use a reed (made of cane) to make the

vibration; on a flute air is blown across a hole (like

blowing a note on a bottle); and brass instruments

(trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, french

horn) make a buzz with the lips (a bit like blowing

a raspberry.) The tube is made shorter or longer

to make the notes higher or lower.

Woodwind instruments (clarinet, flute,

saxophone, oboe, and bassoon) have joints which

must fit well together without being too loose or

too tight, and key work which controls the

opening and closing of holes to lengthen or

shorten the tube. Key work must work reliably,

with precision, and be sturdy. Pads attached to

the key work seal against holes to make them

airtight.

Brass instruments (trumpet, trombone,

euphonium, french horn, tuba) work differently in

that the tube is fully sealed along its length, with

devices for making the tube longer or shorter. On

the trombone, this is two parallel pairs of

telescoping tubes. All the others have at least

three valves which when activated add more

tubing into the length. The quality of materials

used, particularly in valves and slides, and the

precision of fit between parts contribute greatly to

ease of use and maintenance, and the quality of

the sound.

o the reason for the range of prices Good grief. Have you started the rounds of the music stores yet? It’s mad! You can pay anything from $300 to $3000 (and beyond) for an instrument. Personally, it’s at this point in the shopping that I’d find a café and ponder the problem over a latte (everything looks better after coffee!). Geoffrey says …

If you think about what has been described in the

previous section, you can understand that it is

possible to build a musical instrument very well or

very badly and many places in between. However,

we also have to add to the mechanical

considerations an acoustic one. That is, the design

of the inside of the instrument also must be

considered.

In order for an instrument to work really well, the

shaping of the bore (the inside) the size and

positions of the holes (on woodwinds) and the

ability of the instrument to seal properly are vital.

On top of this, the place where the sound is made

(the mouthpiece) is also critical in its dimensions.

Therefore, for an instrument to be good, it must

• be very well designed

• be carefully made

• out of quality materials

• to very fine tolerances.

It should also be noted that the better made an

instrument is, the less it will cost to maintain. I’ve

seen surprisingly good instruments come from the

most unexpected quarters. How much you pay is

no longer a solid indication of a good student

quality instrument. So try to put price a little

further down the priorities list for a moment and

look for the following in these instruments …

Woodwind/Reed Instruments (Clarinet, oboe, flute, bassoon, saxophone)

� Good quality mouthpiece (or on flute, the

head joint)

� A bore which makes the instrument play in

tune with a good sound

� Sturdy, well designed key work

� Properly fitting screws which hold the keys

securely and precisely

� Good quality, well installed pads which seal

well

� A sturdy, well padded case to protect the

instrument when not in use

Brass Instruments (Trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba, baritone,

euphonium)

� Good quality mouthpiece

� Well designed bore to help develop good

playing habits and create a good sound

� Valves which work smoothly and precisely,

made of durable materials

� Slides which work smoothly and easily, but

are not too loose

� Playing slide (trombone) which works freely

without any roughness

� A sturdy, well padded case to protect the

instrument when not in use

o branding Have you ever bought an expensive brand name piece of clothing and got it home only to find that it was made in China and the buttons aren’t sewn on properly? Brands used to be a great way of recommending musicamechanically sound or that “brand” was great value for money. overseas manufacture and company mergers, you can’t necessarily trust brands anymore.

Geoffrey says …

With the rise of manufacturing in China and other Asian

countries, it is now much harder to be sure where an

instrument has come from. Many factories churn out

instruments for whoever comes along, and this includes

some long established brands as well as the guy down the

street with some cash and a logo. And there are factories

which cover the full range from downright dodgy, to

world’s best practice.

So while a well established brand is a

guarantee; and similarly, there are some small and recent

brands which have some great instruments. If you can

answer most of these questions satisfactorily, you will

most likely find an instrument worth buying.

� Is it a well established brand?

� Does the company own its own factories, or are

the instruments made by someone else?

� Where are they made?

� Who owns the brand?

� What warranty do they provide?

� Is there good spare parts backup?

� Is the owner of the store selling the instrument

willing to personally back the quality?

Have you ever bought an expensive brand name piece of clothing and got it home only to find that it was made in China and the buttons aren’t sewn on properly? Brands used to be a great way of recommending musical instruments. This “brand” was always mechanically sound or that “brand” was great value for money. But with outsourcing, overseas manufacture and company mergers, you can’t necessarily trust brands anymore.

With the rise of manufacturing in China and other Asian

countries, it is now much harder to be sure where an

instrument has come from. Many factories churn out

along, and this includes

some long established brands as well as the guy down the

street with some cash and a logo. And there are factories

which cover the full range from downright dodgy, to

So while a well established brand is a guide, it’s no

guarantee; and similarly, there are some small and recent

brands which have some great instruments. If you can

answer most of these questions satisfactorily, you will

most likely find an instrument worth buying.

Does the company own its own factories, or are

the instruments made by someone else?

What warranty do they provide?

Is there good spare parts backup?

Is the owner of the store selling the instrument

personally back the quality?

Have you ever bought an expensive brand name piece of clothing and got it home only to find that it was made in China and the buttons aren’t sewn on properly? Brands used to

l instruments. This “brand” was always ith outsourcing,

overseas manufacture and company mergers, you can’t necessarily trust brands anymore.

o how to get value for money Geoffrey says …

We all know the old saying. “You get what you pay for.” This is certainly true when buying musical

instruments. It costs manufacturers more to use good quality materials, build with precision, maintain

high standards consistently, and provide good backup service.

It is certainly possible to buy instruments at low prices, especially on-line but at what cost in higher

levels of maintenance required, lost time, and poor performance?

YOU PAY FOR AND GET WHICH MEANS

Good quality materials Durability Long lasting and less repairs

Lower quality materials High levels of wear, breakage. Doesn’t last, needs frequent

repair

Precision mechanism Good pad seals Easier to produce sound

Poor fitting mechanism Poor pad seals Poor response and difficult to

play

Superior parts fit and finish Smooth operation Better technical (finger

movement) development

Poor parts fit and finish Inconsistent operation High frustration level

Good acoustic design & good

quality mouthpiece

Easier to produce good sound.

Plays better in tune Easier to progress quickly

Poor acoustic design or low

quality mouthpiece

Harder to produce good sound &

harder to play in tune Harder to progress quickly

Warranty and parts backup Protection of your investment Peace of mind

Lack of warranty or parts back up No protection High cost to replace or repair

Part of the buying process is to consider the ongoing costs involved in owning an instrument.

Like all mechanical things, instruments need

regular cleaning and servicing to ensure that

they keep on performing at their best. This

has a direct influence on how well children

can progress, the ease with which they can

play, and the sense of achievement which

can lead to continued enjoyment of music.

On the other hand, a poorly maintained

instrument can cause the frustration which

can lead to giving up.

Because wind instruments are blown into,

they all get wet inside, and need regular

cleaning by the player. But they also need a

deeper clean from time to time to remove

dirt and other built up stuff which the player

can’t get at easily. Seals and silencers also

wear and need to be replaced sometimes,

and mechanisms need to be cleaned and

lubricated. These services should happen

every twelve months.

As with any new activity, when children are

beginning to learn, there are a great number

of things to take in and remember. Whilst

it’s never too late to learn, is a good idea to

get a lesson on how to put the instrument

together properly and how to clean it from

the very start.

Unfortunately, this can’t happen at school

because unless the teacher actually plays the

instrument your child is learning, they don’t

really know what to teach and usually don’t

have the time.

Expect big things If you decide to buy a new instrument you

should expect good, long term follow up

support. There are a number of things that

should be included in your purchase.

Such as …

� A free service at 18 months. Make sure

it’s a full service by a technician,

including pads. Most stores only offer a

quick check in the room out the back of

the shop and call it a full service.

� Quick and easy adjustments as required

– you should only have to pay if they are

the result of deliberate damage.

� Full manufacturer’s warranty.

� A free check up service in the first 6

months to make sure your child isn’t

developing any habits that will devalue

the instrument and hinder their

progress.

� Make sure it’s an expert advising you –

not a sales clerk who doesn’t even play

the instrument.

It won’t be a teacher or a programme that your children remember and thank for helping them commit to their music long enough to see results.

It will be

YOU!

Practice is a dirty word! As the parent of a music student, you’ve probably

experienced the practice “blues”. The daily struggle

between parent and child, the bribery, the coercion, the

frustration, the gritted teeth as you hear the same piece for

the twentieth time.

Do you want the good news or the bad news? The good news is that you are the parent. The bad news is that you are the parent!

Whether you know it or not, you have a huge impact on

your child’s musical education. It doesn’t matter if you

can’t read music, you are your child’s inspiration to keep

going long enough to enjoy the benefits of being good at

something.

If you sometimes (or always) find yourself “strongly

encouraging” your child to practise you are like every single

parent of music students, particularly beginners. Our

children, for instance, live in a house full of music, their

musical tastes are wide and varied, they’ve attended

orchestral concerts in wonderful concert halls, their father

is a professional musician who has played internationally …

and I still have to “strongly encourage” my children to practise! It’s just what kids do.

But stick at it! As your child improves and realizes they are

good at this music thing; as they meet and talk with more

advanced musicians; as they come to enjoy the feeling

playing music gives them; they reach a point where they

will practise and play because they want to. But that comes

with age. Give them time.

I’m onto my third child through Instrumental Music and I

know from experience that it’s worth it!

There are many things you can do to inspire your child in

their music studies. One way is to get involved with your

school music programme. If they don’t have a parent

support group, consider starting one. Your music teachers

would love the help and support.

Now you can enlist the help of

some of Queensland’s best

orchestral musicians to inspire

your child to get stuck into

their music.

The Inspire! project was

created by GSM in 2009 to

connect Brisbane’s top class

orchestras with young music

students by giving students an

exclusive Backstage Pass.

How does it work?

Become an Inspire! Member

and you will receive a

Backstage Pass for each child.

Inspire! will let you know when

our participating orchestras

are performing.

You simply buy your concert

tickets from the orchestra and

then “check in” at the Inspire!

desk when you arrive at the

venue. Your child’s name is

then

musicians after

The Queensland Wind

Orchestra and the Brisbane

Philharmonic Orchestra are

participating Inspire! orchestras

and the only orchestras you can

use your pass with.

Simply go to the Inspire!

Website and

your free VIP Inspire! B

Pass. It’s fun, it’s loud and it’s

definitely not boring!

You simply buy your concert

tickets from the orchestra and

then “check in” at the Inspire!

desk when you arrive at the

venue. Your child’s name is

then registered to meet the

musicians after the concert.

The Queensland Wind

Orchestra and the Brisbane

Philharmonic Orchestra are

participating Inspire! orchestras

and the only orchestras you can

use your pass with.

Simply go to the Inspire!

Website and register to receive

your free VIP Inspire! Backstage

Pass. It’s fun, it’s loud and it’s

definitely not boring!

When you start looking around for a

instrument, ask these questions at any store you visit.

be able to see the ones who are serious abo

nothing but the best!

Question

Is the person I’m dealing with

musician, teacher, and repair specialist?

Is the person I’m dealing with

understanding that my area of expertise is not necessar

music?

Does the person I’m dealing with

challenges of teaching music in the Qld public and private

education systems?

Does the store have a fully equipped

woodwind and brass repair workshop on site?

Does the store send its repairs out to a

workshop and then charge me a percentage on top of their

bill for this service?

When I buy an instrument from

and checked by a professional

When I have my instrument repaired in

is it play tested before it is returned to me?

Does this store/repair facility

my instrument that I can use when I sell my instrument

Does this store guarantee their repair services?

Don’t settle for ordinary. Expect the best!

When you start looking around for a woodwind or brass

instrument, ask these questions at any store you visit. You’ll soon

be able to see the ones who are serious about providing you with

Music

Shop 1

Is the person I’m dealing with a qualified, professional

repair specialist? ����

Is the person I’m dealing with the parent of a music student,

understanding that my area of expertise is not necessarily ����

es the person I’m dealing with understand, first hand, the

challenges of teaching music in the Qld public and private ����

have a fully equipped, full time specialist

woodwind and brass repair workshop on site? ����

repairs out to a full time repair

charge me a percentage on top of their NO

When I buy an instrument from this store is it play tested

by a professional before I get it? ����

When I have my instrument repaired in this repair facility,

is it play tested before it is returned to me? ����

es this store/repair facility provide a maintenance log for

that I can use when I sell my instrument? ����

ntee their repair services? ����

Don’t settle for ordinary. Expect the best!

You’ll soon

providing you with

Music

Shop 1

Music

Shop 2

Don’t settle for ordinary. Expect the best!

And finally …

At Geoff Secomb Music, all we do is woodwind and brass. We don’t water it down with the typical music store “stuff”. We want to offer you focused expert advice. We are committed to the development of products and services that make you and your child’s music experience more enjoyable and productive. Everything we develop is based on our philosophy of “how will this help musicians, students, parents and music teachers?” Geoffrey backs up his expertise with experience. He has toured internationally, played professionally for theatre and orchestral productions, and taught in Queensland State and Private Instrumental Music Programmes. Now, when not heading our specialist workshop, you’ll find him playing in classical and theatre orchestras, chamber groups, adjudicating for festivals and competitions or working as Musical Director for Brisbane theatre companies. His understanding of the importance of embouchure to the emerging musician and his expertise in the area of woodwind acoustics (Author of “Acoustics of the Clarinet”, 1981) have made him an effective teacher and he now provides specialist tutorials and immersion classes to schools.

Geoffrey is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium (Bachelor of Arts in Music, Performance; Graduate Diploma of Music, Performance), a Member of the Australian Music Association and a Life Member of the Queensland Clarinet & Saxophone Society Inc.

www.geoffsecombmusic.com.au www.facebook.com/GeoffSecombMusicQld

www.twitter.com/GSecombMusic

THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT SO MUCH

THAT EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE

THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT SO MUCH

THAT EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE TAUGHT,

AS THAT EVERY CHILD

SHOULD BE GIVEN

THE WISH TO LEARN.

-JOHN LUBBOCK

THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT SO MUCH

TAUGHT,

JOHN LUBBOCK