The quality of the instrument you choose is very important. A musical instrument needs to be able to adequately stay in tune, be easy to play, and be repairable.

Can you play a musical instrument that is not a quality instrument?
Can you play basketball with a flat ball? Sure, you can try - but it's very difficult. You would have a hard time dribbling and after you shot the ball it would just roll on the ground. Air the ball up and things are much better, but if it doesn't hold air you soon have the same problem again. If you were just learning to play basketball, it would be very frustrating - and you would probably quit.

Quality is also an important issue when your child is learning to play a musical instrument. If your child's instrument is difficult to play and won't stay properly tuned and adjusted, they could become very frustrated - and would most likely quit.

Selecting an instrument for your child may seem like an overwhelming decision. You may have never played an instrument yourself or even been in a music store in your life. That's okay! Tarpley Music and your child's director will help you make the right decisions.

Issues to consider when choosing an instrument

Director approval. Is the instrument band director approved? Ask your child's band director his or her preference for brand and model of instrument. Normally a band director has had many years experience with various brands and is aware of quality issues. There is a good chance they have a detailed sheet listing their preferences. Tarpley Music only carries high-quality, director-approved musical instruments.

Brand name. Is the instrument you are considering a "brand name?" Be wary of instruments produced by unproven companies. Many are made from low quality materials and built with poor quality workmanship. This often makes them very difficult to play and can cause your child to quickly become frustrated. Using a difficult instrument is not the best way to learn to play and enjoy music. In addition, most repair shops will not work on these instruments, because parts are unavailable or difficult to get, the metals used cannot handle soldering, and once fixed they often cannot hold proper adjustment. To see a list of the brand name instruments our repair shop will work on, click here.

Reputable source. Is the company you are buying from a music store? Does it service musical instruments? Does it have a repair facility, or access to repair facility? How long has the company been in business? Tarpley Music has been in business since 1927 and we service all of the products we sell.

Other issues to consider. If you are buying from an individual, definitely ask your director about the instrument. The instrument you select must be able to contribute to the success of not only the individual student, but the full band or orchestra. In addition, be sure the instrument is completely paid for. Many beginner instruments are bought on rental plans, so if the individual has not completely paid off their instrument it may actually still be the property of a music store.

Of course, we would like you to purchase or rent your instrument from us. But more important than where you get it is making sure you buy or rent a quality instrument for your child. Give your child the best opportunity to succeed and enjoy the benefits of being in band and learning to play a musical instrument.