Thirty Years Ago, My Dad Took Me to Get a New Trumpet. Everything Since Then Has Been Different
by Drew Holmes
Has your child been in band or orchestra for a year or two and is enjoying making music? If so, they understand how their instrument works, how to make better sounds, and are really grasping the fundamentals of musicianship. But have they reached a plateau where it seems like making a better sound just is not happening?
It may be time to upgrade your instrument, and our semi-annual step-up event on November 19, 2022, is the ideal time to do it.
First, let me make one thing clear: better equipment will result in better sound, but that alone will not make someone a better musician. Your student will still need to practice regularly and put in the time to develop their music making skills. The good news is that with our experts giving your student one-on-one consultation (more about that later) we can drill down and discover what has been holding them back. Maybe a new mouthpiece or bow is the answer right now and a new instrument will come later. If your child is willing to put in the work, we will make sure you have the right gear, whatever that may be.
Please keep in mind stagnation in progress is not your child’s fault! Beginner instruments are built for durability and not the ease of playing and quality of sound of their step-up cousins. Some step-up instruments may have extra features like upgraded strings, extra keys, or different materials used to make the instrument. Now that you have a progressing player these differences will become clearer.
I will state the obvious: the last couple of years have been hard. Since 2020 we have faced challenges and obstacles that no one could have foreseen. Unfortunately for the advancing musicians of Northern Colorado, that has meant reduced opportunities to learn and perform music. Music making is more important than ever and our semi-annual step-up days have been a great opportunity to put professional quality instruments into the hands of advancing students.
So why step-up at all? Professional quality instruments are engineered to create better sounds, or they will have extra features that would be inappropriate or costly to provide on a beginning instrument. Plus, there is a pride of ownership in having a new instrument which inspires a lifelong love of music and music making. Supporting your child’s interest in music has countless benefits later in life. Upgrading their instrument is the next step on that journey.
What is the downside? Worst case scenario is they graduate high school and put the instrument away. Having purchased a quality instrument means it will be waiting for them someday when the time is right to pick it up again. And if that is not in the cards, step-up instruments tend to hold their value over time. For example, violin making has not changed much in over the last 400 years, so a quality instrument today will still be a quality instrument decades from now.
I know I have put down my trumpet more than once for extended lengths of time (life does happen after all!). When I was 14, my dad took me to get a new trumpet. It was a brand I had never heard of, but an amazing horn nonetheless and exactly right for me and the advancement of my playing. The knowledgeable staff at the store educated us and more than thirty years later I still have that trumpet. The price of that instrument averaged out over the many decades of use is staggeringly small. Knowing I always have my old friend at the ready is priceless.
As I mentioned earlier, we have hosted many step-up days so we know the hesitations you may be feeling. The most common concerns we see are:
1. It will be expensive.
2. I lack the expertise to make an informed decision.
3. Am I obligated to buy?
4. What if my private teacher does not like what we choose?
5. Do we need to decide on the spot?
6. We will upgrade later when my student improves as a musician.
Let us take a deeper dive into these concerns.
Is a step up instrument expensive? Not necessarily. If you are a current rental customer of Boomer Music, we will give you 100% rental credit for this event. Normally an equity transfer would be closer to 80%, but we want to help you stretch your dollars further. Plus, we have a variety of financing options including a 24-month purchase contract, 18 months same as cash deferred interest (through Synchrony Bank), or outright purchase for the best possible price. When you factor in how step-up instruments tend to retain their value, this investment in your child’s future is easy to fit into the budget
I do not know anything about this stuff. That is why we are here! We are experts in our instruments and have professional performers as well as former and retired schoolteachers on staff. We will guide you every step of the way and answer every question you have so you will make an educated decision.
Am I obligated to buy? Never. Our mission is to help people love music through music making, not sell gear you do not need. Our staff is not paid on commission so whether you love everything or nothing we are on your side. And in the unlikely event you love nothing, no problem! We will repeat the tryout process as many times as it takes until we find the right fit.
What if my private teacher hates the instrument we picked? Normally we would advise you bring them along during the in-store tryout process, but if that is not possible no sweat! If you are a current rental customer in good standing, take the instruments home for a week, no obligation to purchase, and audition them with your teacher. Return the ones you are declining, and we will handle the paperwork for what you keep.
Do I have to decide on the spot? No way! That same week of teacher approval can also be your chance to get a closer look at the instruments at home. Practice with them. Try them out in rehearsal. It is the best way to find the right fit for your student’s needs.
My child has not been playing for exceptionally long. Shouldn’t we wait until they get good at it and upgrade? We hear this one a lot. That logic seems to make sense, but would you wait until your child was a varsity sprinter to get them spikes? Or say that they do not need a football helmet yet because they are just the punter? Overcoming the limitations of your student’s current equipment that are hindering their musical progress is the primary reason to upgrade in the first place. A delay now could cause unnecessary frustration and have serious consequences to their musical development.
There is no better time to have a better instrument in your student’s hands. Thirty years from now your child may not be a professional performer, but given the right opportunity who knows what doors will be open to them? Let’s unlock them together.
Drew Holmes
Owner, Boomer Music Company
Step Up day is Saturday, November 19, 2022 from 10:00–4:00pm MST at:
Boomer Music Company, 3761 South Mason Street, Ft. Collins, CO 80525