For the advancing student

Encore Step-up Plan

Brass

Ready for the next step? Beginner instruments are designed for younger players, and they often provide years of enjoyment. But as a child progresses, beginner instruments may limit your son or daughter's progress and musical development.


Select your instrument to learn more about stepping up


Trumpet

Horn

Trombone

Euphonium







Stepping up the Trumpet

A step-up trumpet will have bigger sound with a better response than a student level instrument. Monel or Stainless Steel Pistons are common to advanced trumpets. Both are a hard alloy that is resistant to corrosion. They are also solid metal parts instead of plated parts. This makes them very long-lasting and not prone to flaking and wear common to lesser materials. Hand-Lapping of Pistons ensures a perfect fit and flawless, lightning-quick valves. One-piece hand-finished bells provide an outstanding projection, resonance, and clarity. These may be made of Yellow or Gold Brass, to offer variations in tone color and projection. Different Finish Options can provide a special look and can make subtle changes to the tone color of the horn.

Monel Pistons
Hand-lapping ofPistons and Slides
Trumpet
Trumpet
One-piece Hand Hammered Bells
Different Plating Options
Trumpet
Trumpet

  • Monel or Stainless Steel Pistons are more resistant to corrosion and allow for a more precise fit
  • Hand-lapping of Pistons and Slides ensures a perfect fit and seal between the pistons, casings and slide parts
  • One-piece, Hand-hammered Bells provide outstanding projection, clarity and consistency
  • Different Plating Options affect the tone color of the horn

Featured Brands

Yamaha

Accent

Ready To Step-Up?

  • 36 Month Special Financing
  • Renting From Us? Apply Rental Credit Toward Your New Instrument!
  • As Low As $45.00 Monthly
    With maximum applied lease credit

Stepping up the French Horn

A step-up horn will have a more complex tone with a better response than a student level instrument. F/Bb Double Horns provide options that allow easier high and low register playing. It also provides optional fingerings for ease of playing fast passages. Brass or Nickel Silver Body Materials can affect the tone color of the horn. Nickel Silver horns can be capable of great projection, while Gold Brass horns often have a warmer tone that blends well. Nickel Silver tuning slides are available on many horns. They provide the most corrosion resistance and help keep slides from becoming “frozen.”

Hand-Hammered, Annealed Bells
F/Bb Double Horn
French Horn
French Horn
Professional Keywork
Brass or Nickel Silver Body Material
Trumpet
Trumpet

  • Hand-Hammered, Annealed Bells provide rich tone and improved clarity and projection
  • F/Bb Double Horn improves intonation and facilitates easier high and low registers
  • Professional Keywork allows for faster and more precise technique
  • Brass or Nickel Silver Body Material affects the tone color of the horn

Featured Brands

Accent

Ready To Step-Up?

  • 36 Month Special Financing
  • Renting From Us? Apply Rental Credit Toward Your New Instrument!
  • As Low As $62.00 Monthly
    With maximum applied lease credit

Stepping up the Trombone

A step-up trombone will have a richer, fuller sound and better response than a student instrument. F-Attachments allow alternate slide-position to the player which allow faster playing. It can also extend the range of the instrument in the low range. Improved slides made of higher-grade materials and constructed to exacting specifications create a slide that is ultra-smooth and easy to play. Different bore sizes enhance the experience for different styles of music. Larger bores (usually 0.547”) provide a deeper, richer sound. Smaller bores (usually 0.5” or 0.525”) often have a quicker response and a more focused sound. One-piece hand-finished bells provide outstanding projection, resonance and clarity. These may be made of Yellow or Gold Brass to offer variations in tone color and projection.

F Attachment
Improved Slides
Trombone
Trombone
Large Bell and Bore Size
Hammered Bells
Trumpet
Trumpet

  • F Attachment extends the tubing length to provide a greater range and alternate slide positions
  • Improved Slides allow for greater technique and ease of playing
  • Large Bell and Bore Size are made of improved materials and better design
  • One-piece, Hand-Hammered Bells improve feel and allow better contact between fingers and keys

Featured Brands

Yamaha

Accent

Ready To Step-Up?

  • 36 Month Special Financing
  • Renting From Us? Apply Rental Credit Toward Your New Instrument!
  • As Low As $40.00 Monthly
    With maximum applied lease credit

Stepping up the Euphonium

A step-up euphonium will have deeper, broader sound with a better response than a student level instrument. The rich, dark sound of the Conical Bore will especially be noticed by students switching from a baritone with its cylindrical bore. Monel or Stainless Steel Pistons are common to advanced instruments. Both are a hard alloy that is resistant to corrosion. They are also solid metal parts instead of plated parts. This makes them very long-lasting and not prone to flaking and wear common to lesser materials. Hand-Lapping of Pistons ensures a perfect fit and flawless, lightning-quick valves. The 4th Valve increases fingering options and improves intonation on a number of valve combinations. Compensating systems on professional level euphoniums expand on the options provided by the 4th valve and create a valve system that has far better intonation. Larger Bore Size encourages greater use of air which contributes to bigger sound.

The Addition of a 4th Valve
Hand-lapping of Pistons and Slides
euphonium
euphonium
Conical tubing
Larger Bell and Bore Size
euphonium
euphonium

  • The Addition of a 4th Valve increases fingering options and improves intonation
  • Hand-lapping of Pistons and Slides ensures a perfect fit and seal between the pistons, casings and slide parts
  • Conical tubing provides a richer, darker sound
  • Larger Bell and Bore Size encourages greater use of air which results in a bigger sound

Featured Brands

Eastman

Ready To Step-Up?

  • 36 Month Special Financing
  • Renting From Us? Apply Rental Credit Toward Your New Instrument!
  • As Low As $59.00 Monthly
    With maximum applied lease credit

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