What is a Step-Up Instrument? [The Ultimate Guide to What, Why, How, and When]

What exactly is a step-up instrument?

Step-up instruments literally help students “step-up” their musical education. They are designed specifically to support skill development, from beginner to a professional status.

How does a step-up instrument help?

Learning an instrument is not unlike mastering any other skill, it requires building a foundation to set you up for consistent and sustained success. Think of it like training for a marathon; you don’t immediately jump headfirst into running a full 26 miles. Instead, you’ll likely start with by completing a 5k, then a 10k, then a half, and eventually build up the stamina and strength required to complete a full marathon. Similarly, it takes time to build strength and stamina when mastering an instrument. A step-up instrument allows students the opportunity to progress in phases, first mastering the crucial basics necessary for a strong foundation, and then progressing on to more advanced skills and challenges.

What instrument does a new student use?

For students just starting out, they’ll likely learn to play using a beginner level instrument. Beginner level instruments are designed to help students get acquainted with the instrument and master the basics. They tend to be smaller and made of durable materials, capable of withstanding the wear and tear of a new student who is still learning how to handle, assemble, and care for their instrument. In addition, they are designed with a limited tonal range, in order to be more consistent in their sound and response.

When does a student switch to a step-up instrument?

Once a student has mastered the level they are at with their current instrument and want to advance their skills to the next level, it is time to consider a step up instrument! Think of upgrading to a step-up almost like leveling up in a video game, it’s a new level that allows you to tackle new skills and techniques and take on new challenges.

If you’re considering upgrading your instrument but not sure if the time is right, consult your band and orchestra directors. They can let you know if and when they think you’re ready to take that next step.

While every student’s musical journey is different, many students are ready to upgrade to a step-up after 6-12 months of dedicated and diligent practice. Here are some signs it is time for a step-up instrument:

• A student is committed to a regular practice schedule and seeing consistent advancement with their beginner level instrument
• The student expresses interest in pursuing music further, maybe they’re interested in auditioning for an honors level band or competitive ensemble, pursuing private lessons, or participating in recitals
• Anyone with the desire and demonstrated commitment to advancing their musical practice beyond the basics is a great candidate for a step-up instrument upgrade   
  

What are the benefits of a step-up instrument?

While there are the uniquely gifted students who can make the jump from a beginner level instrument straight to an advanced professional level, for the majority of students, a step-up instrument is the best path for growth and enjoying the process. Here are a few things to know about the value of the step-up instrument path:

• A proven and progressive approach to successfully advancing skills.  
  
• Jumping too quickly into an advanced level instrument can be frustrating or overwhelming for many students.
  
• Step-up instruments support advancing skills in a manageable and accessible way.
  
• Intermediate and professional level instruments have a higher level of craftsmanship and advanced functionality, which allows students to begin exploring and mastering more expressive and complex sounds.  
  

How does a step-up instrument differ from a beginner instrument?

Beginner-level instruments are mainly designed to help students get comfortable making sounds while a step-up instrument offers:

• Improved tone - a step-up instrument produces higher quality tone and resonance than beginner models.  This is largely due to their advanced construction and better quality materials (such as gold, silver, and wood).  For example, many step-up level brass instruments feature a seamless one-piece, hand-hammered bell, which allows for the instrument to vibrate freely.  And step-up clarinets are constructed from high quality wood (rather than plastic) allowing for richer tones.
  
• Improved response - a step-up instrument includes mechanisms that allow students to achieve a better response time, allowing them the opportunity to tackle faster, more advanced and demanding passages of music.  Such features include upgraded springs, capable of the kind of quick response necessary for advanced speed and improved extreme ranges.   
  
• Additional keys and/or tubing - most step-up instruments will feature additional keys, necessary for more intermediate and advanced music and dynamic expressions of sound.  For example, a step-up saxophone may feature an F-attachment for more flexibility and range.  Step-up wind instruments often feature a larger bore size, which helps intermediate students further develop their ability to supply a larger volume of air, whilst also producing warmer, richer sounds.  And step-up level flutes will introduce elements such as a split E mechanism or C# trill key, which allows students to achieve nuanced notes and trills.  

What should I consider when upgrading to a step-up instrument?

If you are ready to make the upgrade, your school band’s instrument retailers are a great resource to consult when trying to decide the best level of step-instrument to meet your individual needs and goals.

Visiting a local instrument retailer to try out multiple instruments in person is a smart way to find the best match for your step-up instrument.  One of the most important elements to consider when investing in a step-up instrument is whether the student likes how the instrument sounds and feels.  While specifics such as brands, models, bore size, and material are certainly important, the student needs to be comfortable handling and playing the instrument and they won’t know how an instrument will function until they play it. Instrument retailers are experts in helping to match a student with a model that looks, sounds, and feels well suited to the student’s goals. The staff will guide you to trying multiple instruments to ensure that you’re selecting the one that works best for you.

In addition, a great way to make sure you are getting the right step-up instrument is to experiment by playing different pieces and different styles of music, as well as running the instrument through typical practice routines.

Insider tip: For brass and woodwind musicians, remember to bring your mouthpiece!

PM Music Center’s step-up instrument program:

With the help of the experts at PM Music Center, selecting a step-up instrument is easy and will leave you confident that you have found the best instrument to support your new goals.

What to expect at PM Music Center:

• Work with an expert one on one
• Test multiple instruments
  
• Nine months of rental fees go towards the purchase of step up