RETAILER ASK THE WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON QUESTION YOU HEAR FROM NEW BAND PARENTS?
“The most common question we receive from parents is how to find the right instrument. We advise parents not to spend a lot on a high-end instrument in the early stages of their child’s musical education, but rather to start with a decent-quality student horn at a reasonable price. This allows parents to invest in a higher-quality instrument down the
“People don’t understand why instruments are so expensive. It seems like a huge investment for something their kid may or may not stick with. We have lots of conversations about why you shouldn’t buy on Amazon. We also talk a lot about why renting is a better option.” Angela McCroskey, Administrative Assistant Plum Grove Music Hebron, Indiana
line as their child’s skills progress. In addition, we always encour- age parents to bring their children to our woodwind and brass store often to try out mouthpieces and instruments. A student’s knowledge grows both inside and outside the classroom, and they can learn a great deal by immersing themselves in musical environments.”
“Parents are understandably very price conscious today so I often hear them ask, ‘Why pay $500 to rent a saxophone for the school year when I can buy one online for half the cost?’ I think one of the best things par -
Jon Baltimore, Owner Jon Baltimore Music Co. New York
“The most common question is, ‘If my student is a beginner, why rent an instrument from a store instead of buy a cheaper one from Amazon?’ The answer is always expertise and quality. A cheap instrument means that the student won’t sound as good as they should, despite how much they practice. Imagine all that hard work and feeling as if you aren’t getting better. It could be a small tweak like a mouthpiece or reed — or it could be the instrument itself. Music stores can help students navigate a new instrument in ways that encourage and support their musicianship for life.” James Landron, Co-Owner J Sharp Music Los Lunas, New Mexico
ents can do to set their kids up for success in music is to make sure they have a good quality, reliable instrument. My answer is typically that they absolutely can buy that cheaper instru- ment, but it might begin to break down after a few months. The cost to repair is often more than the instrument is worth.”
Max Larson, Manager Centre Music House Framingham, Massachusetts
“The most common question we get from new band parents is asking for help when needing to pick up an instrument and getting some other items but didn’t know where to start. We get asked, ‘My child wants to get started in their school band. What do we need?’ From there we normally ask, ‘Do you know what instrument your child wants to play?’ This helps us not only get their instrument of choice but also get the right accessories and books to make sure that the student has the best chance to succeed once they’re in the band room.” Rick Stokes, Buyer Gottschalk Music Center Merced, California
62 I MUSIC INC. I JUNE 2026
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