Hiya Sozlet! So, what is it like being at work with your mom all day? Better than school? Are you getting paid for helping with any tasks? Some of my favorite memories of my dad are when I used to go to work with him and help him with his accounting work.
Trumpet, eh? I played the violin in school so can't be much help there, besides, it was about 40 years ago.
Here's a website that may help a bit:
http://www.squidoo.com/bbtrumpet
Here's the table of contents specific to purchasing a first trumpet:
Table of Contents
LOW QUALITY TRUMPETS
QUALITY TRUMPETS THAT ARE SAFE TO PURCHASE
BUYING A TRUMPET FOR YOUR CHILD
OTHER ITEMS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Beginning trumpet lessons
I like these suggestions from the article:
BUYING A TRUMPET FOR YOUR CHILD
How do I start the process of buying an trumpet for my child??
1. Check with their band director to make sure it is okay for them to play trumpet. Not everyone has the jaw structure or teeth and lip characteristics to play trumpet successfully. Please, check with your child's teacher first.
2. Check with local music stores. Most schools have music stores come in and do an instrument display night. Representatives are on hand to answer questions and sell/rent instruments and accessories. Some schools invite more than one store to come in the same night to provide parents several choices.
Instruments can be purchased on a rent-to-own basis from the music store with payments normally lower than $30 a month.
The pros to this approach:
--If your child decides they don't want to continue in band, you lose only the money you paid to rent the instrument.
--Most of the time, you can purchase (for an additional monthly fee) a maintenance/insurance plan for the instrument that covers any or all repairs for the instrument while it is being rented.
The cons:
--You will pay much more for the same instrument by renting to own. Most stores charge a small interest rate on the remaining balance on the instrument.
--Most stores will give a significant discount (one store I deal with gives a 25% discount) for purchasing an instrument outright.
3. You may choose to buy an instrument from someone other than a local music store. Please make sure that it is one of the brands I listed above. I have no problem with people buying instruments online on Ebay, at a pawn shop, or from a individual so long as they are quality instruments.
4. Consider buying used. I would rather a parent buy a used name brand instrument than a brand new generic instrument. In fact, many times, older instruments, so long as they have been maintained properly are superior to new instruments. Older instruments were heavier and made with more metal, giving them a darker, richer sound.
Note: with any used instrument, you will need to send it to the shop before use. At a minimum, the instrument will need to be professionally cleaned. It may also need to be adjusted, have parts replaced, new corks, etc. Check with a local music store, but I would allow an additional $100 for brass instruments to get it in ideal working condition.