Bill Lucas, a trumpeter with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, says he recently played a horn made by E.M. Winston, a new and somewhat obscure company. Finally, it makes no sense to spend thousands of dollars on a professional-quality instrument for a beginner because the advantages of the horn simply won't register with a student and, in fact, will probably make it more difficult to play the instrument. Whatever instrument you bring home, have somebody who knows something about it give it a test run. So you can never tell until you play it. DeRubeis, the Bloomfield Hills band director, recommends that parents rent for a year before buying to make sure a child is going to stick with an instrument.
Competition keeps prices somewhat consistent across metro Detroit.
Details vary, however, and it's always best to shop around. One store may charge lower monthly rental fees than a competitor, but the competitor may offer a better overall price if you later decide to buy the instrument . Bring a calculator when you shop. Insurance is included. Mail order is a bit more complicated.