It’s that time of year when parents and students are thinking about upgrading to a step up instrument. The construction and extra durability engineered into entry level instruments provided the perfect starting point, but six to twelve months of regular practice later, we tend to see a student’s technical ability begin to blossom, This opens the door for playing more advanced and demanding music. And that’s the time to provide an instrument that is designed not for a beginner, but for evolving musical development. The finer tolerances in construction, and added hand craftsmanship in step-up instruments ensure equipment that will be highly responsive to this evolving demand.
Before we consider moving to step-up instruments students need to know how to handle their instrument and to produce the correct sounds. So you can think of the move to a “step-up” instrument as being similar to moving from away from using training wheels on a bicycle when learning to ride. We also want to know that the student is able to provide the correct care for their instrument, which they should have learned during their initial studies. Then, when the student has developed an interest and commitment to continuing with music, a step-up instrument will be ideal to helping achieve their goals.
The activities of your developing musician will likely include auditioning for honors ensembles and taking private lessons. This can lead to scholarship opportunities and participation in community or professional ensembles. But there is another consideration. If your student has been working into higher level material without a step-up instrument, they may have reached a plateau. A more advanced instrument is what is necessary to clear the way!
In either event, there comes a point when the student needs more advanced features that a beginning level instrument does not provide. Generally, speaking, the improvements are made through higher levels of engineering, finer alloys with more silver content, and/or more exquisite woods. On some instruments extra keys and extended tubing are essential to providing access to a wider playing range on the instrument. Upper level brass instruments may include a seamless one-piece, hand-hammered bell. This provides the resonance needed for the exceptional tone quality we expect to hear from a fantastic brass performance.
What are some considerations to keep in mind when selecting a particular step up instrument? We’ll cover a few of them for you here, but the professionals at Star Music can help you select from a variety of choices that will best suit your needs.
Clarinet: If your beginning clarinet is made of plastic or composite, and your student currently participates in marching band, you may choose to retain the beginning clarinet to be played outside. This is due to the need to protect a fine wooden instrument from the elements. Expect a step-up clarinet to have a refined wooden body with a larger high precision bore, nickel or silver plated keys and a rich, full tone. Flute: Step-up flutes produce extraordinary tone, and greatly improved response. Beginner flutes are usually made of a harder, less expensive metal such a nickel. The tone production will be brighter and less refined. By contrast, advanced flutes have a higher solid silver content which vibrates more freely. That means a fuller, more pleasing tone due to more harmonics. These instruments may feature a solid silver head and body for improved tone quality, an open hole design for increased agility and proper finger position, a low B foot for increased range, balance, tone and third octave intonation, and a “split e” for a cleaner response from the top register e.
Oboe: Along with fine wood and improved alloys for keys, the advanced oboes offer two different key configurations – either full conservatory, or full conservatory with left hand F.
Saxophone: Step-up saxophones may have additional keys to allow them to play higher or lower. Many step-up saxophones provide an improved sculptured key mechanism. Extensions for high F# and G on the alto saxophone, and low A for the baritone saxophone, offer greater flexibility for the increasing range demands of the advanced player. Higher quality materials such as annealed brass along with ribbed construction provide improved stability and superior tone production. A wide variety of lacquer colors are now available, however this is a purely aesthetic consideration, and does not affect the tone quality of the instrument. Adjustable thumb rests provides the basis of the excellent ergonomics and an enhanced spring system allows for a feather light touch with less gripping -- leading to accuracy and ease while playing.
Trumpet: A step-up trumpet offers smooth swift accuracy and unparalleled beauty. Better alloys and plating increase durability, better valve construction and wider bores improve tone color and playing range. Finer tolerances in construction also minimize air leakage so that a player can work smarter instead of harder.
French Horn: Step-up horns also utilize superior alloys and advanced construction of valve configurations. Additionally, they are available in single and double horn configurations.
Trombone: The step-up trombone features larger bores, smooth action, sensitive response and a large symphonic sound. The student’s available range will increase. Response times improve with an F-trigger that produces clear and resonant tones. The F-trigger also allows the student to alternate positions saving energy for faster and lower playing.
Stringed Instruments – Violins, Violas and Cellos: Step up strings reveal fine hand craftsmanship with select, aged woods to enhance the expressive response of these orchestra instruments. Created with finer tolerances and attention to detail, these instruments provide a rich full tone throughout their range. Assuming the correct set up of bridge, sound post and strings, a step up instrument will have an increased ring (more overtones), projection (volume) and complexity of sound (richer, rounder, tonal quality).
The ring of the instrument is more apparent once a student has learned to play in tune. However, the individual workmanship found in more advanced instruments imbues them with qualities which allow them to be played in tune across registers and through the positions with greater ease. The increased ring is apparent in these instruments immediately, as they provide a wider palette of harmonics sounded while the instrument is being played. Instruments at this level can be described as sounding more “alive” than their beginning level counterparts.
Less projection on a beginning instrument protects new students from feeling vulnerable during the time they are learning to control their intonation and tone quality. Once these these skills are coming into focus, greater projection rewards continued achievements and eventual mastery in this area. The improved projection and response also allow the budding musician a wider range of dynamics, and thus musical expression in their playing.
The overall sound of a string instrument is most generally affected through the choice and thickness of woods used in their construction. Choices are more standardized for beginning instruments in order to meet certain standards of early string music education. Step up and professional instruments may offer a wider range of choices that will lend to brighter or darker sounding instruments, according to the taste of the luthier and the player.