Purchasing an Instrument

This page aims to provide parents with a little guidance about where to purchase, and which brands represent best value for money.

Online Suppliers

Although musical equipment can be found on well known sites such as Amazon, most dedicated music retailers have first-rate online stores containing a staggering range of musical instruments and accessories. Music store chain ‘Music Room’ have a very comprehensive website selling a broad range of instruments, sheet music, stands and much more. They can be recommended simply for their excellent customer service team. However, it is well worth looking at the many different sites as prices can vary and some companies can offer more expertise in specific musical areas such as orchestral instruments, guitars and amplification or music production.

Shops

Below you will find the details of some respectable local and Central London music shops. Some of these London stores have reputations stretching back decades! If you would like to recommend a store that we’ve missed, please contact Mr Kirwan and we’ll add it to the list.

	Musicroom London, 11 Denmark Street, London, WC2H 8TD www.musicroom.com
	Howarth of London (Woodwind Specialist), 31-35 Chiltern St, London W1U 7PN, Tel: 020 7935 2407 www.howarth.uk.com
	Thwaites Fine Stringed Instruments, 33 Chalk Hill, Watford, WD19 4BL, Tel: 01923 232412 www.thwaites.com
	Phil Parker Ltd (Brass Specialist) 85 Hampstead Rd, London NW1 2PL 020 7486 8206 www.philparker.biz
	Stompbox 35 The Broadway, Joel Street, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 1NZ, Tel: 01923 841 271 https://www.fxpedal.co.uk/
	Wembley Music Centre Unit 8, Metro Trading Centre Fifth Way, Wembley Middlesex, HA9 0YJ www.wembleymusiccentre.com
	Chappels of Bond Street / Yamaha Music London 152-160 Wardour St, London W1F 8YA www.yamahamusiclondon.com www.chappell-bond-st.co.uk

Brands of Instruments

Buying a junior instrument for a beginner or intermediate musician is an entirely different market to buying professional level instrument. And for certain instruments, such as the guitar, the market is flooded with poor quality equipment. These cheap instruments can be difficult to play, produce unsatisfying sound and be inconsistent in their tuning. However there are also brands that consistently represent good value for money – this section presents a few of these popular names.

	Stentor are highly recommended for all string instruments. They are specialists in junior instruments, and have a very solid resale value.
	For keyboards, electric pianos, flutes, clarinets, guitars, drum kits and brass Yamaha guarantees you quality and value for money. For beginners instruments they are always a solid investment.
	If the keyboard is your instrument of choice, Casio offer very affordable and reliable models for all levels of learning.
	Jupiter are specialists in woodwind and brass. They are a level above Yamaha in terms of quality, and consequentially dearer, but these instruments will take children further along in their instrumental studies.
	One of THE big names in the world of guitars, Fender also offer quality equipment for beginner electric or acoustic guitarists. The Fender name represents some of the best value for money in guitar products.
	Pearl are also legendary in the world of drums and it’s hard to look beyond their brand for quality. The ‘Midtown’ and ‘Roadshow’ series are specifically aimed at the junior market.

There are of course many, many other brands available. Purchasing a musical instrument is often a case of ‘you get what you pay for’ and buying something cheap may turn out to be a false economy sooner than later. That said, the big brands DO sell affordable and quality products so do your research and ask the experts in stores. If you would like any further advice please speak to Mr Kirwan in school or alternatively, drop him an email!