Moms of Trumpet Players

My son plays trumpet in his high school band (and concert) - started in 6th grade. He as a nice used student trumpet. I think 1200 for a trumpet for an 8th grader is a lot of expense for the band directors to ask of a parent.

Don't get me wrong - my son would love a strad - the one he saw last summer at the music store literally took his breath away and he just sighed over them tonight in a catalog.

But, realistically, he will not be a music major in college - he wants to be a vet, and while he loves music, he sees it is a stepping stone to scholarship help for college.

The strad that we saw last summer, new at around 2500 and I was told we could pick up a used one for about 12-1500.

I would suggest you speak with the high school band directors before you make a purchase if this is the instrument he will playing in 9th grade.... this is a long term investment and you don't want to get to marching band and find out his new trumpet is actually too advanced for marching band. Because, at least where I live - that could happen.

Happy trumpeting !!

I am not a band mom, but my husband played the trumpet from elementary thru high school band. He said the directors are always going to want you to buy the best instrument. The Bach Strad is definitely a better instrument than the STD1, however the STD1 is going to have a much better sound than the Yamaha. He said it really just depends on how far he wants to go in band and his ability. If he wants to move on to honors band in high school, you might really want to go with the more expensive trumpet.

The Bach Strad is awesome! BUT he needs to try it out -- do NOT purchase it over the internet. They are a great instrument but they had a bad batch not too long ago and the quality was inconsistent.
My daughter has the intermediate silver Yamaha -- paid $800 a few years back. The tone is excellent. Have him try them out in the music store. Take your music teacher with you.
I will be purchasing a Bach Strad for my daughter in the near future. (We are going to the biggest music store in DC to get it with her teacher.) Go to the nearest big city and find the music store that the professionals use. Make an appointment. They will put him (and you) in a room with many instruments for him to try. He will be able to play them all and choose the one he feels is best for him. You can tell the store clerk the price range beforehand....
Good luck!
LBC

HI I'm a former trumper player and I loved playing my yamaha. I still have it to this day. But everyone has their own preference. Such as in the case of your son. I went ahead and asked my eldest brother, he too is a trumpet player and head band director of a high school in El Paso, Texas. He went ahead and spoke with several of his fellow trumpet players and this was their responses...

"My advice, I guess would be to wait and see if he's going to do high school band. Then buy the strad. Intermediate horns like that are a waste of money, I think."

I hope this helps. We (me, and my three other trumpet playing brothers) went through intermediate horns like crazy. My mom was not informed. If you want to discuss this a little further email ____@____.com
Good job on being informed!!!

I'M a trumpet player :) I have been using a Bach Strat, new, for... 8 years? It's amazing. It has such a crisp, clear sound. It's so worth the $$, especially if your son is trying to play jazz, marching band, pep band, etc. That's on a 3 or 5c mouthpiece. For wind ensemble or classic band, I would say same horn, 5 or 7c mouthpiece, depends on what 'chair' he is. Is he's 1st or 2nd chair, 5c. If he's 2nd, 3rd, or 4th chair, 7c. PM me if you need more info... I've been playing trumpet since I was 7, and I've always excelled in music... I was drum major for 3 years too :)

PS... my 'learning trumpt' was my dad's old horn... I have noooo idea what is is, it was the trumpet he played in the military, and the name/brand is worn off the side... THAT is my 'softer' horn... anything 'crisp', I use the strat ;)