Instrument Accessories Guide: What You Need to Know
From mutes to reeds, musicians rely on various accessories to maintain, protect, and keep their instruments performing at their best. Understanding the importance of, and how to use, instrument accessories is an essential part of your child’s musical education. In this article, we will go over some of the common accessories used for each instrument we sell here at Overture!
What are Instrument Accessories?
Accessories can range from essential components that need to be replaced periodically on your instrument, to quality-of-life items like stands. Certain instruments will have required accessories, while others will be optional (but recommended).
Instrument Stands
Instrument stands provide your child with a place to put their instrument when they are not actively playing it during practice, at concerts, or at home. Stands are a great way to help protect an instrument and keep it from being damaged when it’s outside of its case. The type of stand needed depends on the instrument your child is playing.
Instrument stands are available through Overture for Cornet & Trumpet, Clarinet, Trombone, Flute and Saxophone.
Music Stands
If your child is enrolled in their school band, they will most likely have access to a music stand during class, but having one for home is a great idea. Music stands keep sheet music at eye level, making it easier to sit and play correctly while practicing. Music stands are also affordable and collapsible, making them easy to store when not in use.
Mutes
Mutes are brass instrument accessories used to change the volume or tone of their sound. Straight mutes are inserted into the bell end of the instrument and can be made out of metal, plastic, or paper. Discuss with your child’s music teacher before buying a mute, it may not be needed depending what level they are at. Here at Overture, we sell mutes for Trumpet, Cornet, and Trombone.
Reeds
As we talked about in a previous article, some woodwind instruments rely on reeds in order to make sound. Reeds are made from a grass species called Arundo Donax and need to be replaced periodically. Unlike brass instruments, woodwind players need to have backup reeds with them, as a broken or worn-out reed will leave them unable to play. We carry reeds for clarinets and saxophones.
Instrument Accessories at Overture First
Overture First is proud to offer quality music and instrument stands, mutes, and reeds, alongside and directly for the student instruments we sell.
About Overture
Overture First is an alternative to traditional instrument rentals. We offer high-quality, brand-new student instruments at an affordable price with a buyback guarantee. Want to learn more about our program? Head to our FAQ page. Looking for a student instrument or accessories? Visit our shop! We also update our blog monthly with tips, tricks, and educational articles on the instrument rental industry.