- Higher quality instruments are more responsive. The valves will be faster, the keys will be quicker, the slide will be faster, they will play more easily.
- They are easier to tune. Beginner instruments are made with durability in mind, which is good for someone that runs the risk of dropping it (like beginners often do), but durability doesn't mean that it was built with intonation in mind.
- It may have additional keys and valves that will allow the students to extend their range (beginners can't usually play these notes, but HS students need to). Oboes have extra keys, Saxophones may have extra keys, Trombones have a valve attachment, Euphoniums and Tubas have an extra valve.
- The resale is better. A pro instrument (in excellent condition) can often be sold for only a small loss.
- The parts are better. The innards of the instrument are of higher quality and will therefore last longer (less plastic, more metal).
- They SOUND BETTER. That is why the pro's use them and not the cheaper beginner line of instruments.
There are many options to get a hold of a high quality instrument. Of course you can go to a music store, but you could also call a local university music department and ask if any students are selling instruments. There are also reputable online dealers. I have had some success with both ebay and professional music organization's classifieds sections like the ITA and the ITG. You may have to have have get some minor repairs done, but the savings may be great.
