<p>S2 needs to have a lyre for his trumpet (music holder that clamps onto his trumpet). I’ve been looking on Amazon, which carries a number of them, but the reviews are mixed - certain models don’t stay on well, scratch the trumpet, are too heavy, etc. There are different kinds, that attach differently, and I have no idea how to choose one.</p>
<p>He has a silver Getzen professional trumpet, if that matters.</p>
<p>Does anyone know about lyres?</p>
<p>Try posting this in the Music Forum- you’ll get answers there! And, which type of lyre does your son’s teacher suggest?</p>
<p>Thanks, Mezzo’sMama, I will post my question there. The teacher did not make a suggestion, he sent out a letter which mentioned that the kids needed lyres.</p>
<p>I think my son has the same kind of trumpet. As I recall, we just went to a local music store (that speciallizes in band/orchestra instruments), asked for advice, and got one.</p>
<p>Do you have a good music store near you?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t want to wager a weeks pay…but I think my son’s lyre actually hooked around one of his wrists. He was NOT interested in scratching his trumpets.</p>
<p>We do have a music store, Grcxx3. I will try them, thanks!</p>
<p>Attaching to the wrist would be ideal, as long as it didn’t interfere with playing. I’ve seen some designed that way for flute players.</p>
<p>You could also e-mail your HS band teacher. My sons had to have them for marching band and I think the school got them for the kids. Since they rarely actually practiced at home, I didn’t see them except from a distance when they were playing on the field. I bet you could get one for a decent price on e-bay once you figure out what you need.</p>
<p>Our high school band director did have them for purchase…but they were the cheapest things you could imagine…plus they hooked to the instrument which was not something DS wanted to do with his trumpet. </p>
<p>I would suggest you go to the music store…trumpet in hand, and see what they have. These things are NOT expensive. I would want to actually try the lyre before purchase…but I have a negative view of going to a music store and then ordering online.</p>
<p>Support your local music store, for heavens sake. You won’t be saving THAT much buying a lyre on eBay.</p>
<p>The Getzen professional models are great trumpets and should not be used for marching band. My son uses a beat-up old frankenhorn (an assembly of mismatched parts that just happens to sound great) for marching band, but he keeps his Yamaha professional model put away for more serious music.</p>
<p>EDIT: Of course assuming it’s for marching or Pep Band.</p>
<p>Magnetron makes a very good point. Marching bands march rain or shine, but instruments do not like to get wet. My baby kiddo had a beat up piccolo and a similarly cheap Yamaha flute for marching band and kept her good Miyazawa flute for indoor (orchestra) performances.</p>
<p>I absolutely second what thumper said about supporting your local music store - you will be supporting your local musicians.</p>
<p>Olds Ambassador (heavy, dent-proof US-made student trumpet) now on ebay for $150 with a case and lyre and free shipping. The best thing is it will only appreciate in value.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information! It sounds like purchasing a used student trumpet is the way to go. This is for pep band. Is the Ambassador a decent trumpet?</p>
<p>Those Ambassadors are great old trumpets and a favorite of music educators. One thing about professional trumpets ($$$ Monettes excluded) is they are usually made with thinner brass making the dents, dings, and crumples much worse.</p>
<p>They keep lists of which trumpets were used for professional recordings and the Ambassador student trumpets are on there a few times.</p>
<p>NYMomof2,
Try Ardsley Music for buying a used trumpet, too. :)</p>
<p>My son had an old Conn student trumpet for a while. He then bought a midrange Yamaha for $100 used. He used those for marching, never his Bach trumpets.</p>
<p>There is something in my feeble memory that also says there wasn’t a place to hook the cheaply lyre on the Bach Strad trumpets…which is why he got the one that hooked around his wrist.</p>
<p>D had some kind of a wrist lyre, too - I cannot imagine how one one can attach a lyre to a piccolo :eek: LOL</p>
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<p>Duh - thanks for reminding me of the obvious!
My son used an old trumpet for marching band and the Getsen for concert and Jazz bands. Still uses his old trumpet for university band practice.</p>
<p>You can use something like this, which has a piece that goes all to the way around the tube so it is very secure, and the lyre part can be removed when not needed:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Bach 1815 Clamp-On Trumpet/Cornet Lyre: Musical Instruments](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Bach-1815-Clamp-On-Trumpet-Cornet/dp/B0002E3DF8]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Bach-1815-Clamp-On-Trumpet-Cornet/dp/B0002E3DF8)</p>
<p>You can line the clamp with a thin layer of cork or electrical tape to protect the tube.</p>
<p>Or… your son can just memorize the music. 
</p>
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<p>Like sight-reading music - memorizing music is easier for some than others.</p>
<p>My son is lucky - he is an excellent sight-reader and memorizes music very easily.<br>
But not everyone is so inclined.</p>
<p>Marching band music is usually a lot less complicated than concert band or orchestral repertoire. Sometimes it IS possible to memorize marching band music.</p>
<p>Our kids were required to memorize marching band music and only used the lyres for practice, not actual marching band performances.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, if everyone in the band is carrying a lyre, the director may want all to do so!</p>