As your student takes the next step in his or her musicianship, it is time to consider the next level of horn. Though beginner level horns are good for those starting out, they can be a hindrance for those continuing into high school and beyond. Beginner horns are designed to accommodate beginning players, but can be a very real obstacle for developing musicians in terms of proper tone quality, intonation, and response, not to mention the lesser quality instruments necessitating repairs more often. Because of this, a student may feel that they are inadequate when really it is the quality of the horn and not the ability of the player.

Below is a list of high quality instruments that we know will help take your student to the next level and beyond. These recommendations are made with the goal of helping your student musician reach his or her full playing potential.

Woodwinds | Flutes:

• Altus
• Powell Sonare
• Wm. S Haynes Amadeus

Woodwinds | Saxophone:

    Brands:

• Yamaha Alto
• Selmer Paris

    Mouthpieces:

• Vandoren AL3 & TL3
• Selmer C*

Woodwinds | Clarinet:

   Brands:

• Buffet R13
• Yamaha CSVR
• Uebel Advantage
• Uebel Classic
• (Would not recommend marching with a wooden clarinet)

   Mouthpieces:

• Vandoren M30
• Vandoren BD5

   Ligature:

• Silverstein
• Rovner Legacy LG-1R

Brass | Horn:

   Brands:

• Conn 8D
• Yamaha YHR-661
• Yamaha YHR-671
• Holton H179

   Mouthpieces:

• Schilke
• Giardinelli
• Yamaha

Brass | Trumpet:

   Brands:

• Bach Stradivarius
• Yamaha Xeno Series

   Mouthpieces:

• Yamaha 14C4
• Hammond 5ML
• Bach 3C

Brass | Trombone:

   Brands:

• Yamaha Xeno Series
• Bach Stradivarius
• Conn 88HO
• Custom Shires
• (F Attachment and Large bore highly recommended)

   Mouthpieces:

• Schilke 51D
• Bach 5G
• Giddings Boreas