Hey Everyone!
I'm very sad I'm not going to see you all next week because I miss you guys :o(, but I have a question for you anyway! My principal just told me he has $1000 for me to buy some instruments! I know some of you probably have budgets of way more than this every year, but it's a big deal for me because I work at a little Catholic school and I don't have a budget. But I pulled off a couple Orff pieces at concerts this year on my super super crappy red and white glockenspiel type things and boomwhackers and they were a huge hit. (I think last year's teacher just had them stand and sing the whole time.) Anyway, I talked up how much better it could be if I had decent instruments and my principal was all about it.
So, given this, I am seeking suggestions of what to get. I don't have any real Orff Instruments so an Alto Xylophone is certainly on the list of course, but I'm also looking for suggestion about what brand to get. They vary in price quite a bit and obviously I'd like to get as much as possible with the money I have but I don't want to get low quality instruments either... Thoughts? Thanks all! Have fun next week!
Katherine
Hey Katherine,
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear that you have some money!
I hope that several people will respond to your post, since I'll bet that several folks have information and ideas that we all can use.
I prefer Studio 49 glocks and Sonor Meisterklasse xylophones and metallophones. The problem is that they're expensive and you could use $1,000.00 pretty quickly. I have both rosewood and palisono bars. Right now, I think that the palisono are slightly less expensive.
I have other lesser known brands as well. I have acquired many of them by looking for specials and closeouts. At one point I found MEG SX's for $100.00 each. Another time I found a Lyons brand BX with chromatic add on for $400.00. Again, these are lower quality than the Sonor or Studio 49, but it was money well spent, simply because I can get more kids playing.
I suggest calling vendors directly and asking if they have any unadvertised closeouts or specials, maybe even a returned item that they can discount. You may also get them to work with you a bit if they know that you're trying to squeeze the most into your purchase. Lyons and/or West hint in their catalogs that they can negotiate a bit on price when you're purchasing several things. Maybe they'll at least offer to reduce or eliminate the shipping cost.
I have also recently begun buying used. I found a Sonor palisono SX on consignment at a local music store. It's in excellent shape, and I got it for $150.00. Last spring I found a Sonor palisono TAX with chromatic add-on listed online for $500.00. The seller was a music store in IA. It's in excellent condition. The pair lists for about $1,200.00.
If you have to purchase mallets, I think that Kindermallets and American Drum are relatively cheap and pretty good quality. I have recently purchased several Kindermallet F1 for xylophones. These are decent hard felt mallet for about $15.00 a pair.
You may remember that Jim Solomon gave us a list of items to acquire in order to build a classroom set of instruments. The list also gives some suggestions about the priority order. (It's in our level I notes.) I wonder if it might be helpful to use Jim's list to create your own, and then share that with your principal as you make your purchases. Maybe that will help him or her to see that this is just a "first step."
Sorry for the lengthy response. I hope some of it will be helpful.
Rob
Mary Helen wrote the following...
ReplyDeleteHello Katherine,
While in New Zealand a couple of weeks ago I played xylophones and metallophones in the Studio 49 1000 series. These instruments have shallow body resonator boxes. They are less expensive, easier to move around and they sound very good, as resonant as the larger body version I think. If you play them while seated on the floor it is necessary to place them on a box or something like that so they are at waist height.
Good luck!!!
-Mary Helen
Hey Katherine! I know the Sonor Global Beat - their "bottom line" -is a little less expensive, and you might be able to get a SX, AX, and BX for about $1000. My instrumentarium is literally falling apart, so I was looking into the Global Beats... I played them at conference and they didn't sound too bad!
ReplyDeleteHey, Just wanted to thank you guys! I placed an order and am really looking forward to the year ahead with a few real Orff Instruments! Rob, you were totally right about calling up West Music. If you're spending at least $1000 they are totally willing to work with you and I got over 20% off my whole purchase. The instruments haven't arrived yet, but I think they should be here any day. Thanks again, all!
ReplyDeleteI'm very pleased to hear about West's response to your call. That great news for all of us (and inexpensive advertising for them). Win-win
ReplyDelete