Not that long ago, most every instrument available were made of high-quality materials by people dedicated to their craft.  (Most of the instruments in our part of the world were made in northern Indiana, too!)

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     Today, though, the market has been flooded with "instruments" that use very thin metals of poor quality, with tolerances and measurements that seem to count terms such as "close enough" and "it'll last a few months" as passible quality control labels.

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     PLEASE: do not PURCHASE an instrument because it is the least-expensive option.  The VAST majority of band directors have seen many low-quality instruments cause frustration in their students.  These instruments RARELY play in tune (will not match the other instruments in the band), have a tone quality (general "sound") that is thinner and "colder" than the warm, full sound needed, and are MUCH more problematic to repair.  Local repair shops won't even touch them!

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     With this in mind, the following is a list of band instrument brands which are universally accepted, endorsed, approved, adored, and generally liked by band directors everywhere.