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Your child just came home with a band flyer. Here's what the five starter instruments are really like, what they cost to rent or own, what else goes in the backpack, and the affordable student instruments we carry for each one.
The short answer
- Start with the band director's list. It tells you which instrument your child plays, the features to look for, and which book to buy. Everything else follows from it.
- Renting a flute, clarinet, trumpet or trombone typically costs about $25 a month. An alto sax runs about $37–$40 (Hickey's Music, Western Reserve Music). Over a nine-month school year, that's roughly $225, or about $335–$360 for the sax.
- Name-brand student models now run about $1,230–$1,920 new for the four smaller instruments and $3,000–$3,500 for an alto sax (Music & Arts, Sept 2026).
- Our affordable student instruments from Stagg and its Levante wind line start at $266.99 for a clarinet, $343.99 for a trumpet, $374.99 for a trombone, $529.99 for a flute and $959.99 for an alto sax. All five are in stock.
- Easiest first sound: alto sax. Hardest: flute. Lightest to carry: flute and clarinet. Biggest case: trombone.
Step one: the band director's list
This really is the first step, for three reasons.
- The director picks the instrument, or at least has a say. A band needs balance: lots of clarinets, a few saxes, trumpets and trombones. One Texas middle school's guide notes the alto sax is "one of the smaller instrument groups" with "limited enrollment" (Denton ISD). Many directors also do a fitting, a short session where each child tries the mouthpieces to see what suits them.
- The fit is physical. Florida's band directors' association lists what a director checks: hands and fingers, arm length, teeth and braces, and lip shape. A child with a very full top lip may struggle on flute and thrive on clarinet. That's not talent, it's anatomy.
- The list tells you what to look for. Most lists describe features rather than price tags: closed holes and an offset G on a flute, a 7C mouthpiece on a trumpet, a small-bore trombone. Our student instruments are built around exactly those beginner features, so the list makes shopping easy.
Once you have the list, the rest of this guide helps you choose well. If your child hasn't picked yet, read Which first instrument is right for my child?
The five starter instruments compared
Rent is the typical monthly rate from two stores' published lists. "Name brand, new" is what the best-known student models cost today, for comparison. "Ours" is our in-stock student model. Case sizes come from our own case listings.
| Instrument | First sound | To carry | Daily care | Rent / month | Name brand, new | Ours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flute | Hardest | Lightest; case about 15" long | Swab it out | $25–$33 | $1,229–$1,322 | $529.99 |
| Bb clarinet | Moderate; squeaks at first | Light; case about 13" | Swab, grease corks | $25–$33 | $1,229–$1,431 | $266.99 |
| Bb trumpet | Easy to moderate | About 2–3 lb; case about 21" | Oil the valves | $25–$33 | $1,599–$1,869 | $343.99 |
| Alto sax | Easiest | About 4.3 lb; heaviest case, about 24" | Swab, dry the pads | $37–$50 | $2,979–$3,474 | $959.99 |
| Trombone | Moderate to hard (no valves; the ear finds the note) | 3–6 lb; case about 35" long | Slide cream or oil | $25–$33 | $1,769–$1,921 | $374.99 |
Sources: Hickey's Music and Western Reserve Music (rent), Music & Arts (name brand, new), Second Wind Music (first sound), Saximus Maximus and Brass Hero (weights).
The five instruments, one by one
Flute
The flute is small, light and fits in a backpack. The challenge is the first sound. There's no reed and no mouthpiece to seal against. The child blows across a hole, like blowing over a bottle, and the embouchure (the way the lips shape the air) has to be precise. A repair shop's guide says it "requires strong breath support and precise embouchure" (Second Wind Music). Thin, even lips with a flat top lip suit it best (Denton ISD).
Care is easy: swab it out after playing. On a beginner flute, look for closed holes (solid keys, easier for small fingers), an offset G (an easier reach for the left hand) and a split E, which helps one tricky high note. Our pick, the Levante LV-FL5111 ($529.99), has all three. See our flute buying guide.
Bb clarinet
Bands need lots of clarinets, and almost any lip shape works (Denton ISD). The sound comes from a reed, a thin strip of cane clamped to the mouthpiece that vibrates. Expect squeaks in the first weeks; that's normal. The clarinet comes apart in five pieces, joined by cork, so the child needs cork grease to keep the joints sliding. Reeds wear out and chip, so budget for a box every few months.
Our pick, the Stagg WS-CL210S ($266.99), is ready to ship. See our clarinet buying guide.
Bb trumpet
Trumpet players make the sound by buzzing their lips into a small cup-shaped mouthpiece. A repair shop rates it "easy to moderate" to start, though the small mouthpiece "demands strong embouchure" (Second Wind Music). Some programs start beginners on cornet, a shorter cousin, then move to trumpet (Denton ISD). Daily care is a few drops of valve oil. Braces make brass harder at first, so mention them at the fitting.
Our pick is the Stagg LV-TR5205 ($343.99). If your program starts on cornet, we carry the Stagg WS-CR215 cornet ($288.99) too. See our trumpet buying guide.
Alto sax
The alto sax gives the quickest reward. A repair shop calls it an "easier start than most woodwinds" (Second Wind Music). It's also the biggest investment of the five, the heaviest, and usually has the fewest seats in the band, so confirm the spot with the director first. The sax hangs from a neck strap, and it weighs about 4.3 lb before the case (Saximus Maximus, average of 14 altos). Plan on keeping several good reeds in rotation.
Our pick, the Levante LV-AS4105 ($959.99), has a hand-engraved bell and a high F# key. See our alto sax buying guide.
Trombone
The trombone has no valves. The player moves a slide to set each note by ear, so a good sense of pitch helps. Its bigger mouthpiece suits "all shapes and sizes" (Denton ISD). The one real physical test is arm length. Players "need to have long enough arms to reach the outer positions" (Brian Weidner, Brass Techniques and Pedagogy). A small fourth grader may not reach the far end yet. The case is about 3 feet long, which matters on a school bus.
For a beginner, look for a small-bore tenor trombone (a narrower tube, easier to fill with air) with no extra valve. That's exactly what our Stagg WS-TB225 ($374.99) is. Two lookalikes are not band trombones: the valve trombone, which has trumpet-style valves instead of a working slide, and trombones with an F attachment, which are heavier step-up horns.
Rent or own, in brief
Renting is a familiar way to start, so run the numbers. A clarinet or trumpet rents for about $25–$33 a month. Over one nine-month school year, that's about $225–$297. Over two years, $450–$594, and you still don't own the instrument.
Good to know about renting
- Many rental plans are rent-to-own. Western Reserve Music, for example, applies 100% of the base monthly rent toward buying. Ask how much counts.
- Damage plans often add about $4–$10 a month.
- The payments keep coming as long as your child plays.
Why owning often wins
- Our Stagg WS-CL210S clarinet is $266.99, about the cost of a single school year of clarinet rent.
- It's yours for as long as your child plays, then it's ready for a younger sibling.
- There's no contract, and no monthly bill.
We explain the full math in Should I rent or buy a band instrument?
What "student," "intermediate," "new" and "used" mean
- Student (or "beginner," "standard"): built to be easy to play and hard to break, often with a plastic (ABS) clarinet body and closed flute keys. This is what a fourth to sixth grader needs, and it's what our line-up is.
- Intermediate (or "step-up"): for a player two to four years in. Examples include a flute with open holes and a longer "B foot," or a wooden clarinet. It's a nicer instrument, but not an easier one. There's no need to pay for it on day one.
- New: never played, with a full set of fresh pads and corks.
- Used: can be a bargain, or can hide worn pads and stuck valves. Budget for a repair shop check-up: from about $75, or $85 for a sax (Summerglen Music, Raleigh). A chemical clean of a student trumpet is about $125 (Keystone Music and Repair).
What comes in the case, and what to buy
Most new instruments include a case and a mouthpiece, and ours add a starter kit (see the table below). Beyond that, the typical shopping list, with Music & Arts prices (September 2026):
- Everyone: the method book on the director's list, a folding music stand for home practice, and a pencil.
- Clarinet: a box of 10 reeds (Rico, $24.99) and cork grease.
- Alto sax: a box of 10 reeds (Rico, $30.99), a neck strap if not included, a swab and cork grease.
- Trumpet: valve oil (Blue Juice or Al Cass, $6.99 each) and slide grease.
- Trombone: slide cream or oil ($3.99–$17.99) and a small spray bottle for water.
- Flute: usually nothing extra.
Reed strength matters: most beginners start on a 2 or 2.5. Your director will say which. From us, in stock now: a folding music stand ($29.95), Rico clarinet reeds, strength 2.5, 3-pack ($4.95), cork grease ($4.95) and a Yamaha trumpet care kit ($14.95). For the full list, instrument by instrument, see What comes with a band instrument, and what to buy separately.
Quick checks: how to tell it's playing well
Whatever instrument your child brings home, a few easy checks in the first week help it stay in great shape.
- Keys and valves move freely. Flute and clarinet keys should spring back on their own. Trumpet valves should glide after a few drops of oil.
- Joints fit snugly. Clarinet and sax corks should slide together with a little cork grease, never forced.
- The slide glides. A trombone slide with fresh cream should move with a light touch.
- If you buy used, watch for a stuck mouthpiece, dents near the mouthpiece, sticky valves or a slide that doesn't glide. Each is a repair bill.
More on this in How to Choose an Affordable Band Instrument That Plays Great.
Our affordable student instruments
We sell affordable student instruments from Stagg, including Levante, Stagg's wind-instrument line. Each model below is built around the features beginners need, costs a fraction of a name-brand student model, and is in stock today.
| Instrument | Our pick | Price | Why we like it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flute | Levante LV-FL5111 | $529.99 | Silver-plated nickel silver head, body and mechanics. Closed holes, offset G, split E and French-style keys. Includes a soft case with straps, swab, cloth and gloves. |
| Clarinet | Stagg WS-CL210S | $266.99 | Boehm system, the standard fingering. Brushed ABS body with a wood look, 17 solid-metal nickel-plated keys, 6 rings and an adjustable thumb holder. Includes mouthpiece, ligature, cap, swab, a reed and a soft case with straps. |
| Trumpet | Stagg LV-TR5205 | $343.99 | Stainless steel valves, gold brass leadpipe, thumb saddle on the 1st slide and ring on the 3rd for tuning, two water keys, 7C mouthpiece and soft case. Stagg lists a 2-year warranty on this model. |
| Cornet | Stagg WS-CR215 | $288.99 | For programs that start on cornet. Stainless steel valves, adjustable 3rd-slide finger ring, soft case with backpack straps. Stagg lists a 2-year warranty on this model. |
| Alto sax | Levante LV-AS4105 | $959.99 | Hand-engraved brass bell, high F# key, adjustable thumb rest, leather pads with metal resonators. Includes a mouthpiece with reed, ligature and cap, and a soft case. |
| Trombone | Stagg WS-TB225 | $374.99 | Small-bore (0.499") Bb tenor slide trombone, the right size for a beginner. Chrome-plated inner slides and an ABS case. Stagg lists a 2-year warranty on this model. |
Why families choose them
- Beginner features on every model: closed holes, 7C mouthpieces, a small-bore trombone
- A fraction of name-brand prices, often about one school year of rent
- Brand new, each with its own case
Good to know
- The flute, clarinet, trumpet and sax come in soft cases with straps; add a hard case if it rides a crowded bus
- Starter reeds are a sample; buy a box before the first rehearsal
- Bring the director's list so you match the model to the class
Five mistakes to avoid
- Buying before the fitting. A flute bought in July is no use if your child is placed on clarinet in September.
- Choosing the sax because it sounds cool. Sax seats are limited, so check with the director first.
- Paying for "intermediate" on day one. Open holes and extra keys make a flute harder for a beginner, not easier.
- Forgetting the consumables. Reeds, valve oil and slide cream run out, and a sticky valve makes practice miserable.
- Putting it away wet. A quick swab or a shake of the water key after every practice keeps pads and valves happy for years.
Common questions
- What's the best first band instrument?
- The one the director and your child agree on after a fitting. If your child wants early success, the alto sax and trumpet usually give it fastest. The clarinet is the safest bet for getting a seat, because bands need so many.
- My child has braces. Does that rule anything out?
- No. Braces make brass mouthpieces less comfortable at first, so tell the director at the fitting. Woodwinds are usually less affected.
- Is an affordable student instrument good enough for school band?
- A beginner needs the right features and an instrument that plays easily, and that's what our student models are built for. Our flute has closed holes, an offset G and a split E; our trumpet comes with the standard 7C mouthpiece; our trombone is small-bore. Check the director's list, then pick the matching model.
- Hickey's Music Center: rental price charts (effective Aug 15, 2026)
- Western Reserve Music: instrument rentals and rent-to-own terms
- Music & Arts: Yamaha student instrument prices and Jupiter student instrument prices
- Music & Arts: clarinet reeds, saxophone reeds, valve oils, trombone slide treatments
- Summerglen Music (Raleigh, NC): repair prices
- Keystone Music and Repair: services and pricing
- Denton ISD middle school band: instrument selection guide
- Florida Bandmasters Association: instrument fittings (Josh Langston)
- Brian N. Weidner, Brass Techniques and Pedagogy: the trombone
- Second Wind Music: easiest and hardest band instruments
- Saximus Maximus: saxophone weights and Brass Hero: brass instrument weights