Instruments/Accessories
Accessories
*Please note: All pictures below are for reference only and not links.
-Every student should have a standard cleaning and care kit for their instrument. This can be obtained from a local music store or an online vendor.
Clarinet and Saxophone Reeds
Clarinet and Saxophone Students should be using Vandoren brand reeds after the first box or two as a beginner.
-Standard blue box Vandoren reeds for beginner to intermediate students.
-Advanced Clarinet Students: should begin using Vandoren Rue Lepic 56
-Advanced Saxophone Students: should begin using Vandoren V16
*Please Note: The strength will vary per student. Please check in the Lesson Assignment Notebook for the strength (number) you/your child should be using.
Standard Blue Box Vandoren Reeds
Vandoren Rue Lepic 56 Clarinet Reeds
These can generally only be ordered from an online vendor and cannot be purchased at a local music store
Vandoren V16 Saxophone Reeds
Clarinet Accessories
Mouthpiece/Teeth Saver
Rovner Ligature (dark)
Thumb Rest Cushion
BG brand: small or large depending on whether you have a loop for a neck strap and the size of your thumb rest.
Mouthpieces
Please see your/your child's Lesson Assignment Notebook for which model I recommend as it varies per individual player.
Vandoren 5RV
Get the plain 5RV, not the ones with the extra specifications such as Profile 88, Dot, Lyre etc...
Vandoren M13
Get the plain M13, not the ones with the extra specifications such as Profile 88, Dot, Lyre etc...
Flute and Saxophone Accessories: Coming Soon
Instruments
Beginners
As a beginner, it is usually best to rent your instrument from a local music store such as Music and Arts or Menchey. They often have yearly rental introductory special rates, and/or monthly plans with maintenance built in to the cost. The rentals are also a rent to own program with the option to upgrade and have the money applied towards upgrading the instrument as well in a few years.
*Please note: I DO NOT recommend purchasing low cost instruments that can often be found on Amazon, Walmart, Costco etc. Repair Shops are often not even able to work with these instruments and they break very easily and have several issues right from the beginning. Music Stores only rent reputable brands.
Upgrading
Flute
Mandatory features
-Open Hole (French)
-B Foot
-Off set G/Split E
-Gizmo Key (High C Facilitator)
Solid Silver Head Joint
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Recommended Features (in order of importance)
-Solid Silver Body
-D# Roller
-C# Trill Key
-French Pointed Arms
-White Gold Springs
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Brand Preference
*Please note: This is only a general preference list! I HIGHLY recommend that the student visit a retail shop such as Flute Center of New York or Chuck Levins Washington Music Center (please see the Links tab for their websites) and try multiple brands. Of all the woodwind instruments, upgrading a flute is THE most personalized instrument to the individual student. All of my students are on different brands and models and they sound equally fabulous. I fully trust my students that when they are at the point that they are ready to upgrade, they are ready to select a flute on their own by trying multiple brands in comparison to one another with the above specs.
-Powell or Powell Sonare (505 series or higher)
-Trevor James (Cantabile series or higher)
-Gemeinhardt (33SB series or higher)
-Yamaha (577 series or higher)
-DiZhao (500 series or higher)
-Haynes
-Pearl
-Jupiter (JFL0000RBO series or higher)
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