As a school band director, teaching beginner players, I am constantly asked by parents what items their children really need to get started. There are a few key recommendations that I make, regardless of what instrument their child plays. First, they need a reliable instrument (we’ll talk about that in another blog, another day). Second, […]
Forget about cleaning out your closets and cupboards – your trumpet might be where the real attention is needed this springtime! If you can’t remember the last time you gave your instrument a good and thorough cleaning, chances are that it’s time for some TLC for your trumpet. Yamaha is a trusted brand, and they […]
For more than a decade, I have lived in an apartment. As a trumpet player, this presents some challenges as to my practice routine. I don’t want to be the obnoxious neighbor who is constantly driving everyone in the building crazy by playing my trumpet at all hours of the day. But I also don’t […]
Intonation – Good vs Bad, Hype vs. Reality Intonation refers to the pitch accuracy of an instrument. In short, does the instrument play each note in tune? When someone says “this note plays a little sharp on this instrument”, or “these three notes play slightly flat”, they are referring to intonation. This post will surely […]
What is the Yamaha “Allegro” Line of Instruments? We are often asked about the Yamaha Allegro series of band instruments. These instruments are a unique product line that are not available online. They are intended for students that have outgrown their student model instrument. They feature a 7-year warranty to ensure students are covered through […]
How to Evaluate a Band Instrument The internet has provided an amazing venue to showcase a product. We can see pictures of a product, we can look at videos of a product, we can listen to sound samples of a product. The end result can be frustration! So how do we evaluate a band […]
Yamaha has announced the release of their newly redesigned alto and tenor saxophones, the Custom Z 82ZII and the “New 62” 62III models. The official model numbers for these products are as follows: YAS-82ZII (Yamaha Custom Z Alto Saxophone with Gold Lacquer Finish), YAS82ZIIS (Yamaha Custom Z Alto Saxophone with Silver-Plated Finish), YTS-82ZII (Yamaha Custom […]