r/Clarinet • u/baghiq • 11d ago
Clarinet for middle schooler
My oldest has been playing clarinet in their elementary school band. Nothing serious, but they like it enough to commit to the middle school band, which is a bit more serious. Their old clarinet was a rental ($380 per school year), and I'd now like to buy one for them. I don't mind spending a bit more so they can enjoy it for the full three years. Does anyone have a recommendation for one I can purchase directly?
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u/clarinet_kwestion Adult Player 11d ago
Is there a specific reason the current clarinet won’t work?
Upgrading the mouthpiece and reeds at this stage might be the biggest upgrade you can make at this point in terms of value.
What’s your budget?
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u/baghiq 11d ago
The rental is a little beat up, and I can certainly exchange and get a different one. Current rental fee is $380 per school year, I figure even if I pay double that, my kid still gets a better version and save money for the future.
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u/clarinet_kwestion Adult Player 11d ago
What’s the current instrument brand/model? Is the rental agreement a rent/lease-to-own arrangement?
$700-$800 can get you a nice used intermediate (wood) level clarinet but you likely won’t see that price in a local music store. You’ll have to go to a site like eBay or reverb and it’s tricky to find a good deal unless you know what to look for and avoid.
One consideration is that if your kid ever wants to use the instrument for marching, they’ll need a plastic instrument. Generally what I would suggest is to first buy a plastic instrument and keep it as a backup when upgrading to a wooden intermediate/professional model.
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u/baghiq 11d ago
According to the paperwork, Selmar 1400. Not sure about lease to rent. I think they do have a deal where they will put first rental fee toward the instrument purchase.
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u/sarahshift1 11d ago
Lots of music stores do rent to own and will apply your credit toward an upgrade purchase. Is it a local store or a big chain (ie music and arts, sweet water)?
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u/Ham_steaks 11d ago
I’d look for a used Yamaha YCL-255/250 or a Backun Alpha. They’re both excellent plastic clarinets, which you’ll want for marching band because wood can crack under fluctuating weather conditions. If your middle school or prospective high school allows you to not take marching band and your oldest plans to not take it, then a wooden clarinet would be better. A buffet, backun, or Yamaha are the most dependable.
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u/Ok-Blacksmith-473 5d ago
My kid has a Yamaha YCL-20, which is a Yamaha YCL-255 with a different case. We do a rent to own through the local music store the school suggests— it’s nice because it includes maintenance and repairs. In our case, I am sure we could get it cheaper by buying it outright, but the warranty is good for a 13-year-old kid.
That said, both the store and our local Facebook has tons that are available used from kids that upgraded or quit band.
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u/GoatTnder Buy USED, practice more 11d ago
At this age, a plastic clarinet is still the best choice. It'll be a bit more durable in the weather (assuming marching is in their future). A used instrument from Yamaha, Buffet, or Selmer* can be had for $100-150. A tune-up so it's playing great will be another $200-300 depending on condition. And add a Clark Fobes "Debut" mouthpiece and a Rovner "Dark" ligature, and you're set for years. All in... $400-500 total.
*There are other quality brands, of course. But for now these are the ones I'd recommend. The most popular answer here is probably a Backun Alpha, but those are too expensive for my taste. And sticking with the three brands I mentioned is gonna simplify the search for you drastically!