BAND SEASON – A Fact List for Students and Parents

Band Season is almost upon us!

This can be an exciting beginning to a life-long love of music and performance. To some, it can be a frustrating experience. I hope this list helps you to have a worry-free time at any local store!

1. Instrument Brand Requirements – The quality of musical instruments can vary wildly. Musicians need consistency – especially at a formative level. Students may mistake a fault in an instrument as a fault in their ability. The band directors from your local schools, most lifelong musicians themselves, are most familiar with brands that have reputations for quality instruments. Yamaha and Selmer tend to be the two most widely-requested in the area, followed by Jupiter. There are many other brands that could potentially offer a quality instrument, though they could just as often be more of an unknown. Unbranded, or extremely cheap instruments struggle with consistent tuning, and replacement parts may not be available.
2. Rentals – Trojan City Music is an affiliate of Kincaid’s. We can facilitate new and used rentals, returns, exchanges and repairs at our store. The rental is a month-to-month agreement, though it is designed to be rent-to-own. Upgrades are available for those interested in continuing into high school and college. Your initial rental includes some accessories, including the book needed for school, and a music stand.
3. Books – Books are typically purchased by the student. Your band director will provide specific brand and level. We typically have most brands in stock, all year round.
4. Accessories – Many band directors require specific accessories – reeds and mouthpieces for woodwinds, mouthpieces and valve oil for brass, mallets and sticks for percussion, marching flip-folders, and cleaning and care supply kits. We do our best to carry the brands required by the local band directors. If it’s convenient, bring a printout or take a screenshot of the list that your director sent you.
5. Purchasing Used / Borrowing Instruments – Used instruments need to be cleaned and adjusted. This is doubly so for anything that has sat for lengths of time. The saliva blown into them can create a perfect environment for mold. Please bring in your used instruments before they are played, so we can help you provide a safe and productive instrument for your child.

If you have any other questions regarding band instruments, or would like to reserve an instrument for rental, please give us a call, or stop by! No appointment needed.

(937)-335-2406 / 106 E. Main St. Troy, Ohio 45373