First Time Buyer's Guide

Buying your first woodwind or brass instrument

There's a bewildering number of makes, models and types of instruments available - in fact, it's fair to say that there's never been a more confusing time to buy an instrument. With so much choice, it is easy to get caught out by buying the wrong thing: not all makes and models are suitable for a beginner.

If you've never played a woodwind or brass instrument, we recommend that you do plenty of research before buying the first instrument you come across. There's a wealth of information available on the web - especially in forums such as the ABRSM 'Viva Woodwind' and 'Viva Brass' ones - and if you already have a music teacher lined up, they should be able to offer their own opinion on what to buy.

Be wary of 'bargains', since they are often not the deal that they first appear to be. There are a large number of ultra-cheap, poor quality instruments around, and the fact that many of these won't work when you receive them, coupled with the fact that after a year or so you will need to buy an upgrade, means that buying cheap can, ironically, end up costing you more.

The best advice is to stick with well-known makes which have a proven track record. Many retailers carry their 'own brand' lines - some are good and some are not. Read our article on cheap musical instruments for guidance on how to avoid the bad ones.

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