Step-Up Instruments and Equipment Upgrades

This is NOT a comprehensive list, but a great starting place to upgrade from a beginner instrument to an intermediate or professional instrument!
If you have a private teacher, it is PARAMOUNT to involve them in your investment.
It is highly recommended that you meet with Mr. Alstadt (dalstadt@naperville203.org) or Mr. Estes (bestes@naperville203.org) prior to any major purchase or instrument upgrade. We will be able to point you to some great resources for help.

Flute

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Flute:

  • An open-holed flute with a sterling silver construction is the best for intonation. 
  • A “B” foot joint is also advisable on both levels of instruments.
  • Step-up instruments generally have sterling silver headpieces while advanced instruments have sterling silver headpiece and body.
  • All instruments listed here are open-holed in construction

Piccolo:

  • Gemeinhardt W4
    • Gemeinhardt W4 Piccolo
  • Yamaha YPC62
  • Gemeinhardt 3SHB
    • Gemeinhardt 3SHB
  • Powell Sonare SF501 Signature
  • Yamaha YFL 381H
  • Gemeinhardt 33SSB
  • Yamaha YFL 687HCT
    • Yamaha YFL 687HCT

Soprano Clarinet

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Clarinet:

  • Step-up & Professional clarinets are made of Grenadilla Wood and produce a more full and resonant sound than beginning level instruments allowing students to play better in tune.

Mouthpiece:

  • Brad Behn “Overture”
  • Vandoren B45
    • Vandoren B45 Mouthpiece

 

Ligature:

  • Rovner 1R Dark
    • Rovner 1R Dark
  • Buffet Crampon E12F
  • Jupiter JCL 1100S
  • Yamaha YCL 450
  • Buffet R13
    • Buffet Crampon R13
  • Yamaha YCL CSGII

Bass Clarinet

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Bass Clarinet:

  • Students may use school-owned bass clarinets, but if you are interested in purchasing one, our suggestions are as follows:

Mouthpiece:

  • Yamaha 4C YAC 1276

Ligature:

  • Rovner 3RL Dark
  • Jupiter JBC 1000N
  • Buffet 1193 Prestige
  • Selmer 67 Privilege Paris
  • Yamaha YCL 622II

Alto Saxophone

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Alto Sax:

  • These instruments offer improved construction, keywork, and craftsmanship for better tone and intonation. 
  • A high “F#” key is usually included.

Mouthpiece:

  • Hite Premier
  • Selmer S402 C*

Ligature:

  • Rovner 1RL Dark
  • Selmer SAS280R LaVoix II
  • Yamaha YAS 480
  • Selmer 62J Paris Series III
  • Yamaha YAS 82ZII Custom Z
  • Yanagisawa AWO10

Tenor Saxophone

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Tenor Sax:

  • Students may use school-owned tenor saxophones, but if you are interested in purchasing one, our suggestions are as follows:

Mouthpiece:

  • Hite Premier
  • Selmer Paris S404 S-80 C*

 

Ligature:

  • Rovner 2R Dark
  • Selmer STS280R LaVoix II
  • Yamaha YTS 480
  • Selmer 64J Paris Series III
  • Yamaha YTS 82ZII Custom Z
  • Yanagisawa TWO10

Oboe

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Oboe:

  • Our suggestions are as follows:

Reeds

  • Jones Artist Series Oboe Reed (Medium-Hard)
  • Fox Renard Artist Model 330
  • Fox 800

Bassoon

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Bassoon:

  • Students may use school-owned bassoon (if available), but if you are interested in purchasing one, our suggestions are as follows:

Reeds

  • Jones Artist Series Bassoon Reed (Medium-Hard)
  • Fox Renard 222
  • Jupiter 363
  • Selmer 132
  • Fox 201 Symphony
  • Fox 601 Symphony

Trumpet

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Trumpet:

  • A silver-plated instrument with a medium-large bore provides a good foundation for tone production.
  • All of these instruments offer both a third valve slide ring and a first valve slide saddle for assistance in tuning.

Mouthpiece:

  • Bach 5C
  • Bach 3C

Mutes:

  • Straight Mutes
    • Dennis Wick Straight Mute
  • Cup Mutes
    • Humes & Berg Cup Mute
  • Harmon/Bubble Mutes
    • JoRal Bubble Mute
  • Jupiter JTR 1120S
  • Yamaha YTR 4335 GSII
  • Bach Stradivarius 180S37
  • Jupiter 1602 XO
  • Yamaha YTR 8335 IIRS

French Horn

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

French Horn:

  • Students may use school-owned French Horn (if available), but if you are interested in purchasing one, our suggestions are as follows:

Mouthpiece:

  • Holton Farkas MDC

Mutes:

  • Straight Mutes
    • Humes & Berg 121FH
  • Conn 6D Artist
  • Holton H379
  • Yamaha YHR 567
  • Conn 8D CONNstellation
  • Holton H179
  • Yamaha YHR 668

Trombone

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Trombone:

  • These trombones feature larger bores than beginning instruments allowing the students to produce a darker, warmer sound.
  • They also include an “F” trigger attachment, which is extremely helpful in navigating the faster moving HS repertoire.

 

NOTE: When purchasing a new mouthpiece, you should let the store know the make and model of your instrument as there are both SMALL and LARGE Shank models of mouthpieces.

Mouthpiece:

  • Faxx 5G
  • Bach 5G
  • Loud LM-48

Mutes:

  • Straight Mutes
    • Dennis Wick Straight Mute
  • Cup Mutes
    • Humes & Berg Cup Mute
  • Benge 165F
  • Holton TR150
  • Jupiter 636LO Tribune
  • Yamaha YSL 448G
  • Bach 42BO
  • Conn 88HO
  • Getzen 3047AFR
  • Jupiter 1236LO XO
  • Yamaha YSL 8820 Xeno

Baritone/Euphonium

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Baritone/Euphonium:

  • Students may use school-owned Baritone/Euphonium (if available), but if you are interested in purchasing one, our suggestions are as follows:

NOTE: When purchasing a new mouthpiece, you should let the store know the make and model of your instrument as there are both SMALL and LARGE Shank models of mouthpieces.

Mouthpiece:

  • Schilke 51D
  • Loud LM-48
  •  
  • Jupiter 470S
  • Yamaha YEP 321S
  • Besson BE2052S Prestige
  • Jupiter 1270S XO
  • Yamaha YEP 842S

Tuba

Instrument

Mouthpieces & Accessories

Step-Up

Professional

Tuba:

  • Students may use school-owned Tuba (if available), but if you are interested in purchasing one, our suggestions are as follows:

Mouthpiece:

  • Conn Helleberg 120
  • Loud LM-7
  •  
  • Yamaha Intermediate BBb Tuba
  • Miraphone 186
  • Meinl Weston 25

Percussion Necessities

STICK BAGS:

  • Galaxy Grip by Humes & Berg GL8000
  • Meinl Stick Bag
  • Tuxedo Stick Bag w/ shoulder strap
  • Innovative MB-1 w/ shoulder strap small

SNARE DRUM STICKS:

  • Concert Snare Drum Sticks
    • Promark Concert One
    • Vic Firth SD1 General
    • Innovative Percussion Lalo Davila
  • Drum Set Sticks
    • 5A size recommended
      • Promark
      • Vic Firth
      • Ludwig
      • Innovative percussion

XYLOPHONE / BELL MALLETS:

  • Medium-Hard/Hard Plastic Mallets
    • Promark Performer Series Bells/Xylo (PSX20R)
    • Mike Balter #10AB
    • Mike Balter #92B
    • Encore #403B
  • Hard Rubber Mallets
    • Promark Performer Series Bells/Xylo (PSX10R)

MARIMBA MALLETS:

  • Promark Performer Series Medium Yarn (PSM25)
  • Innovative Percussion F1.5
  • Encore #42AYB
  • Mike Balter #13

 

VIBRAPHONE MALLETS:

  • Promark DV6R
  • Innovative Percussion F5.5
  • Malletech #SM15V

TIMPANI:

  • Vic Firth General #T1
  • Promark Performer Series PST3

TIMPANI TUNER:

  • Kratt MK1 (Chromatic Pitch Pipe)
  • Planet Waves PWTF-A (Tuning Fork)

STICK/MALLET COMBOS:

  • Innovative Percussion Intermediate mallet Pack #FP2
  • Steve Weiss Music Best Seller Stick Pack #1
  • Innovative Percussion College Primer Mallet Pack #FP3