When you, a parent of a new trumpet player, go to rent a student trumpet for your child, bewilderment and panic might set in. Yes, I recommend renting the first year of musical instruction just in case trumpet is not your child’s calling in life.
You might want to fall victim to finding and procuring the cheapest piece of metal that they can get their hands on. This is a common mistake parents of new trumpet players fall into and should be avoided at all costs. Never, I repeat NEVER buy a trumpet from a retail store such as Costco or Walmart. To your untrained, untuned ear, their squawking and buzzing might sound the same on any trumpet, but if they want to continue their music career, it will become all too apparent to their band director that the sound they are producing is less than quality.
Congratulations! Your son or daughter has decided to continue along in their musical path and the time has come to purchase an instrument instead of renting it. Something about playing something that is theirs and not going to return to the music store at the end of the year motivates a child to continue playing and practicing. Yamahas, Bachs, and Old Ambassadors are all quality horns, but there are also several others. Stick with Japanese or American trumpets and never buy a Chinese trumpet. Most music repairs shops refuse to service Chinese horns, because they are extremely delicate and often break during repairs. The instrument has to be durable, as it has to endure bangs, nicks, and scratches that are likely to occur in a hectic band room.
Remember to keep the trumpet in good repair and buy your child quality valve oil so that gunk does not build up and cause unnecessary maintenance. A few highly recommended trumpets are Yamaha trumpets or Bach trumpets.
