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For the advancing student
Encore Step-up Plan
Woodwinds
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
Stepping up the Flute
A Step-up flute will have a bigger sound with more projection than a student level instrument. Open tone holes are common with advanced flutes and allow for more fingering options and improved projection. A low B footjoint adds to the low range of the flute and provides a more refined sound. Enhaced key mechanisms allow for improved intonation, optional fingerings, and faster technique. Solid silver headjoints (and body) also add more presence and depth to the sound.
Open Tone Holes
Low B Footjoint
Enhanced Keys
Silver Headjoints
- Open Tone Holes allow for more fingering options and improved projection
- Low B Footjoint adds to the low range and provides a more refined sound
- Enhaced Key Mechanisms improves intonation, optional fingerings, and faster technique
- Solid Silver Headjoints (and body) adds more presence and depth to the sound
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
Questions? Contact Us
Stepping up the Oboe
A step-up oboe will have a richer, more refined sound than a student level instrument. Higher quality materials in the body like Grenadilla or Composite wood create a more complex tone. Modified or Full Conservatory system keys provide an expanded range of notes as well as fingering options for more advanced musicians. These instruments also have keywork that is fit to closer tolerances to allow for faster and more precise technique.
Grenadilla or Composite
Modified Keys
Professional Keywork
Richer Sound
- Grenadilla or Composite wood creates a more complex tone. Composite wood is also known to withstand harsher temperature and humidity changes.
- Modified or Full Conservatory system keys provide an expanded range of notes as well as fingering options
- Keywork allows for faster and more precise technique
- Richer more refined sound than a student level instrument
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
Questions? Contact Us
Stepping up the Clarinet
A Step-up clarinet imparts a bigger, darker sound than student level instruments. Much of this is due to higher quality materials in the body, like Grenadilla or Composite wood. They also have undercut toneholes, which improve intonation, voicing and response of the instrument. The keys also are made of improved materials and better design. They are more precisely fit and allow for improved playability. Often advanced clarinets will have silver plated keys for an improved feel and better contact between fingers and keys.
Grenadilla or Composite
Undercut Toneholes
Improved Keys
Silver Plated Keys
- Grenadilla and Composite wood provides bigger, darker sound than student level instruments. Composite wood is also known to withstand harsher temperature and humidity changes.
- Undercut Toneholes which improve intonation, voicing and response
- Keys are made of improved materials and better design
- Silver Plated Keys improve feel and allow better contact between fingers and keys
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
Questions? Contact Us
Stepping up the Alto Sax
A Step-up saxophone will be more responsive and have more projection than a student level instrument. These have a higher grade of brass in their construction, and sometimes are made of different materials – like rose brass. The neck is commonly hand finished and created to provide improved sound and better response. Many advanced saxophones have double-braced keys on the lower pads to provide better stability for the pads and longer lasting adjustments. They may also have a wider variety of finish options to further customize the look and sound of your horn.
Higher Grade Brass Options
Hand Finished Neck Options
Double Braced keys Options
Different Metal Finish Options
- Higher Grade Brass in their construction
- The Neck is commonly hand finished and created to provide improved sound and better response
- Double-Braced Keys provide better stability for the pads and longer lasting adjustments
- Finish Options further customize the look and sound of your horn
Ready To Step-Up?
- 36 Month Special Financing
- Renting From Us? Apply Rental Credit Toward Your New Instrument!
- As Low As $55.00 Monthly
With maximum applied lease credit
Questions? Contact Us
Stepping up the Tenor Sax
A Step-up saxophone will be more responsive and have more projection than a student level instrument. These have a higher grade of brass in their construction, and sometimes are made of different materials – like rose brass. The neck is commonly hand finished and created to provide improved sound and better response. Many advanced saxophones have double-braced keys on the lower pads to provide better stability for the pads and longer lasting adjustments. They may also have a wider variety of finish options to further customize the look and sound of your horn.
Higher Grade Brass Options
Hand Finished Neck Options
Double Braced keys Options
Different Metal Finish Options
- Higher Grade Brass in their construction
- The Neck is commonly hand finished and created to provide improved sound and better response
- Double-Braced Keys provide better stability for the pads and longer lasting adjustments
- Finish Options further customize the look and sound of your horn
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
Questions? Contact Us