Hear It Now! Want to hear sound samples of the different instruments featured here? Play the KidsPost Band-O-Matic! Rent or Buy? Good musical instruments aren’t cheap. That’s why most families decide to rent rather than buy instruments, in case students change their minds. Beginning violin students should rent because they frequently need to change instrument sizes. Most music stores offer “rent to own” plans, where the money you pay in rental fees counts toward the instrument’s purchase price if you decide to stick with it. Many stores offer both used and new instruments for rent and purchase. Be sure to try out the instrument to make sure you’re comfortable with its sound and feel. One good way to save money: Get your mom or dad’s old horn out of the attic. Music on the Web These Web sites also have lots of information about different musical instruments: The American Symphony Orchestra League — www.playmusic.org The New York Philharmonic Kidzone — www.nyphilkids.org

Today KidsPost looks at five instruments you might choose from. But which instrument to pick? To help you choose the right instrument for you, we've produced the handy-dandy interactive KidsPost Band-O-Matic. When you reach the end, you'll find the type of instrument that best fits you and hear a sound sample.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Pick an instrument you like the sound of. While your teacher, parents and neighbors will all be hearing you practice, you’re the main audience.
• There’s no such thing as “girl” instruments and “boy” instruments.
• Practice really does make perfect. Plan on at least 15 to 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
• Don’t see anything here you like? Ask the band teacher at your school for suggestions.

Click Here to Start the KidsPost Band-O-Matic!

Alto Saxophone
HOW IT’S PLAYED Blow air into the mouthpiece. The moistened tip of a wooden reed vibrates to create a tone. Change notes by pressing keys in different combinations to cover some of the instrument’s 20 openings.
WHY IT’S GOOD Plays many kinds of music, including jazz, swing and pop. Looks cool.
WHY IT’S BAD It’s too popular! Band directors say often too many kids want to play sax and not enough want to play clarinet. Also is usually more expensive than other instruments.
AVERAGE COST To rent: $32-$35 monthly. To buy: $1,450.
RELATED INSTRUMENTS The woodwind family of bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe and soprano, tenor and baritone saxophones.
FAMOUS PERFORMERS John Coltrane, Kenny G, Charlie Parker, David Sanborn, Bill Clinton.
BOTTOM LINE Sax sounds great in many kinds of music and is great for improvisation. However, unless your heart is set on sax, you may want to start out on clarinet. It’s played nearly the same way, but, unlike the saxophone, almost always plays more melody than harmony.

Flute
HOW IT’S PLAYED Hold the flute horizontally and blow air across the hole in the mouthpiece—like playing a soda bottle. Press keys to play different notes.
WHY IT’S GOOD Has a unique, clear, soprano tone that stands out playing melody in classical, jazz and light pop music.
WHY IT’S BAD The blowing technique doesn’t come easily for everyone. Also, people with short arms may have trouble reaching all the keys.
AVERAGE COST To rent: $15-$23 per month. To buy: $600-$700.
RELATED INSTRUMENTS Piccolo and alto and bass flutes.
FAMOUS PERFORMERS Ian Anderson, James Galway, Jean-Pierre Rampal.
BOTTOM LINE If you like mellow melodies, this may be your ideal instrument.

Snare Drum
HOW IT’S PLAYED Just hit it. Wires at the bottom of the drum vibrate when the top of the drum is struck.
WHY IT’S GOOD Drums provide the backbone for all kinds of music. Plus, drummers can learn to play a huge variety of percussion instruments from all over the world.
WHY IT’S BAD Not always fun to play on your own. You’ll need a place to practice where you won’t annoy others.
AVERAGE COST (For snare drum with bells, mallets and sticks) To rent: $15-$23. To buy: $495.
RELATED INSTRUMENTS Bells, bass drum, cymbals and more.
FAMOUS PERFORMERS Phil Collins, Zac Hanson, Tito Puente, Ringo Starr, Cindy Blackman.
BOTTOM LINE If you can’t stop moving when you hear a good beat, you may enjoy creating the beat that accompanies your school band.

Trumpet
HOW IT’S PLAYED Hold it in your left hand, buzz your lips into a round mouthpiece and press three valves in different combinations with your right fingers.
WHY IT’S GOOD The trumpet produces a strong, brassy sound and usually plays the melody of a song.
WHY IT’S BAD You can hurt your lips if you pull the mouthpiece too close.
AVERAGE COST To rent: $15 to $23. To buy: $750.
RELATED INSTRUMENTS Baritone, cornet, French horn, trombone, tuba.
FAMOUS PERFORMERS Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Arturo Sandoval.
BOTTOM LINE Trumpets produce a strong sound, ideal for someone who likes to stand out in a crowd.

Violin
HOW IT’S PLAYED Hold the pointy end in your left hand and rest the other end under your chin. Your left fingers press the strings while your right hand guides the bow—a stick with hair attached tautly from end to end—across the strings.
WHY IT’S GOOD Almost as expressive as a human voice; capable of playing music that’s slow and sad or fast and energetic, in a range of styles from Bach to bluegrass.
WHY IT’S BAD Hard to hold at first, and hard to master, since your left and right hands do different things at the same time. Wooden, so it’s more fragile than a horn.
AVERAGE COST To rent: $15 to $23 per month. To buy: $400 to $800 depending on the size. (Beginning students usually use smaller violins.)
RELATED INSTRUMENTS Cello, double bass, viola.
FAMOUS PERFORMERS Thomas Jefferson, Yehudi Menuhin, Jean Luc-Ponty, Martie Seidel, Isaac Stern.
BOTTOM LINE You can’t beat violin for a soothing, classical sound. It’s also a good bet for a budding country instrumentalist.

Music Credits
In our interactive Band-O-Matic, the opening music is played by
The Glenelg High School Marching Unit, Glenelg, Maryland.

Trumpet: Meghan Shipley, GHS Marching Unit

Flute: Lauren Culler, GHS Marching Unit

Saxophone: Bernie Huddleston, GHS Marching Unit

Violin: Associated Press

GHS Marching Unit recorded by Sarah Mesa