Addressing discount chain store and internet off-brand instruments

Over the past three years the proliferation of off-brand music instruments available from discount stores and the internet has presented music educators across the country with the difficult task of convincing parents of the value of purchasing a credible instrument at three to four times the cost of the chain store or internet instrument. Amazon now offers instruments on-line and this past fall discount chains were advertising band instruments in their back-to-school promotional materials.

This past year almost every conversation I have had with music teachers across the state and nationally has included at least a reference to this topic and often it has dominated the conversation. All of us connected with music education from teachers in the classroom, music dealers and repair technicians to instrument manufacturers are seeking ways to educate music parents as to the importance of providing an instrument of quality as well as value for their child to play in the band or orchestra.

Last May I shared with you a letter from Bob McKinley, president and CEO of the Gemeinhardt Company in our newsletter addressing what he calls the “Commodity Manifesto”. This month I am including a band director consumer guide that is distributed to parents in his district.

This past year the National Association of Professional Band Repair Technicians, Inc. (NAPBIRT) has published a guide for parents entitled, “So…your kid wants to play in the school band. (Uh oh. Now what?)”. It addresses the value and necessity of providing a quality instrument for their child. In a brief handout it answers parent questions such as: what do I look for, who can I turn to, rent or buy, new or used, what questions should I ask? You can view the brochure at www.napbirt.org. or your Marshall Music school service representative has a copy. We have received permission from NAPBIRT to reprint the brochure and we are making it available to you at no cost.

I hope you find these resources valuable in your efforts to better inform parents of the importance of providing an instrument of quality for use in the music program.

CONSUMER GUIDE

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Off-brand Instrument Hazards

More “new” brand names have appeared in the marketplace in the last five years than in many previous decades of musical instrument manufacturing. This is due to the prevalence of mass-market catalogs, the internet and an increasing willingness of third-world manufacturers without musical experience or expertise to provide “cosmetic” copies of reputable and trusted brands. The intent is to tempt the unwary customer on a price-only basis, without providing basic standards of quality, serviceability and musical sensitivity. Here is a list of dangers which “off-brand” instruments present to the unwary consumer:

 Repairs are often extremely difficult and futile on off-brand instruments. Parts are generally unavailable or must be shipped from overseas from the original manufacturer who cannot be reached or is no longer in business. Even small common repair items such as valve guides cannot be obtained rendering the instrument un-repairable.

 Certain portions or sections of woodwind instruments such as keys and pads are improperly manufactured and are forever out of adjustment and cannot be repaired since the metal always returns to its original manufactured state.

 Often the configuration of tone holes, bore size and taper, valve slide length, etc. is so poorly designed that the instrument has serious intonation problems and will never play in tune regardless of any adjustment.

 Many of these instruments are made from inferior woods or metals which are more prone to cracking, red rot or corrosion. Posts and screws may be of a non-standard configuration and seams and solder joints are of poor quality.

 Instruments purchased through non-school music dealer sources are generally not returnable despite catalog/internet claims. There is no local dealer who will back the instrument or make repairs due to liability concerns.

 Instruments purchased without the benefit of an evaluation by the music teacher or reputable repair shop may need more costly repairs than the value of the instrument. Even standard brands purchased through non-reputable sources or the internet are generally not warranted, have not been play tested or adjusted by a qualified repair technician and may be configured improperly rendering them useless.

Respected brands of instruments rented or purchased from a reputable school music dealer will have none of the problems listed above. The instrument comes with full exchange privileges, is repaired by certified, experienced, on-site repair technicians and fully warranted and backed by the guarantee of experienced school music specialists.