There are many cheap instruments currently being shipped in from overseas. They come and go by many names and are sold at the famous "big box" stores as well as some on-line retailers who may or may not have an otherwise reputable business. The problem with these instruments is that while they look like a great value on the surface, closer inspection reveals an instrument that simply will not perform the tasks for which it is being sold. The beginning student is the most demanding customer of quality musical instruments. Without the basic quality afforded by a handful of specific brands of musical instruments, the beginning student is dealt a severe blow to his/her ability to learn to play at all.
Quality instruments are durable. This means more opportunity to learn and less hassle with a web site or big box retailer who know nothing about real world maintenance and/or repair of musical instruments. The quality is so bad on some of the instruments being offered, they simply don't play and cannot be made to play correctly, if at all.
Quality instruments are easy to play. While the rest of the band is progressing nicely ... the student with the big box brand is struggling to produce a clear tone. Why handicap a student with sub par quality?
These cheap instruments are specifically designed to do one thing; Make a quick profit for the dealer. A dealer who has no conscience and certainly could care less about whether or not a student fails at his/her first and very possibly last attempt at producing music of any kind.
Here is a simple test for checking the quality of an instrument: Ask the school band director or a music teacher before you buy.
You will find only "first quality" instruments for sale at Kennelly Keys Music, Inc. Instruments that pass the tests of our band directors and music educators. We look at it as an investment in the student's future as well as ours.
