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You Get What You Pay For

Today let’s talk about the old saying, “You get what you pay for.”

This is especially true in the world of musical instruments.  If a new musical instrument is on your child’s list the importance of having a quality instrument is immeasurable.  Cheap poorly constructed instruments are often more difficult to play and have inferior sound quality.  This can cause a great deal of frustration for your child and lead to them giving up the instrument when they are unable to get a good quality sound.  The sour notes of a “cheap” instrument can cause severe damage to a young musician.  In addition, many of these instruments  can not be repaired as parts are not available and/or do not fit properly.  In some cases repair technicians will not even perform basic adjustments on these instruments due to the high likelihood of causing further damage because of the poor materials. Remember too, that the strong, established brand name instruments carry a better resale value than cheap off brands. 

Where you purchase your child’s instrument is also very important.  A good rule of thumb is: Don’t by your instruments where you by your milk.  Make sure the retailer is authorized to sell the brand and has staff on hand that can answer questions about the different instruments.  What happens if there is a problem with your instrument or the instrument need adjustments or repair?  Much like your car, instruments need regular maintenance to maintain proper play condition.  Most repair technicians recommend having your instrument inspected at least every 6 months.  This helps in catching small repairs or adjustments before they become major issues.  This is especially important with  students just beginning on an instrument to make sure they are not having to “fight” the instrument. 

 Remember, you are investing in your child.  Investing in a good quality instrument can bring you and your child many years of enjoyment.  It’s proven (as noted in previous blogs) that studying, playing and listening to music improves brain function and increases test scores.  So not only is your investment helping your child discover their creative side but it’s helping them perform better in core school subjects.

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