<p>Now that we’re past the stage of auditions and picking a school we’re onto graduation. DS wants to give his private teacher and band director a gift. More specifically a gift baton.
Has anyone purchased one of these and if so where? We found 2 sites (batonz.com and Nash Company) but just curious if anyone has had any experience with either of these 2 companies or another?</p>
<p>Thanks much.</p>
<p>I have not bought a baton in years, but when looking at the websites, I like the Nash Company batons. The problem is knowing the length and handle shape. You might want to see if DS can secretly measure the length of the baton he has now, so you have an idea of what length he likes. Most people don’t like them to be too long, but also not too short. Somewhere in the middle is best. Also, handle shape is important, because that is what makes the baton comfortable for us to hold. Mine is pear shaped, and I love it. I just don’t feel comfortable holding a tapered one…but a lot of people like the tapered ones, so when in doubt, you should probably get a tapered one. Maybe you could even ask someone close to him what he prefers OR you could consciously buy him something different - sometimes you don’t know until you try something else that you like it. I actually had no idea I liked the pear shaped one until my husband gave me one - I used a tapered one before that.</p>
<p>Also, I think the Spectrum Batons at the Nash Company are nice - I would use one of those!! And I don’t think you need to go to all of the trouble to give him a “gift” baton for it to mean something - just buying the spectrum baton with the display tube is good enough. But that’s just my opinion. :)</p>
<p>My daughter had a conducting class last semester. Her professor suggested a Mollard Baton. He said to get something around $30 and it will last the rest of your life - get a cheap one and you will be replacing it. I think I got her’s off of Amazon. I checked the Mollard site but it Amazon had a better price. BTW it came in a nice plastic tube.</p>
<p>Am I the only one who is reminded of Harry Potter and his trip to the wand shop to find just the right magic wand? Who knew there were so many different shapes and types of batons!</p>
<p>Oh no, lastbird! My husband picked up the baton the other day and said “this one will make you invisible!”</p>
<p>And when we got the one for my daughter, there was much conversation about size and shape of handle and material - which would never have occurred to me before.</p>
<p>Mine is a Mollard baton. It’s the “S” baton - and I’ve had it for 25 years! I even stepped on it once - the marks are still on the handle, though they are hard to see after all these years - so it’s one tough baton. And I have definitely pointed it at my students before and said things such as “Expelliarmus!” (particularly when something doesn’t sound quite right…)</p>
<p>[10</a> Conductors Caught Using Magic](<a href=“http://www.buzzfeed.com/masseyandrews/10-conductors-caught-using-magic-8dd6]10”>10 Conductors Caught Using Magic)</p>
<p>Bought one from Newland Batons and had a great experience with them.</p>
<p>Too funny, musicamusica!</p>
<p>I’ve bought two batons for conducting class for Guy Lake, one online and one in person at a music conference. I LOVE his batons. I would check him out - [Graphite</a> Custom Conducting Batons](<a href=“http://www.glcustombatons.com/graphitebatons.html]Graphite”>glcustombatons.com)</p>
<p>Now THOSE are some really cool batons!! I want one of those!!! Too bad Mother’s Day is over - it would have been a great present for me!</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies! He likes the Spectrum line from Nash so far so he will likely order those.</p>
<p>Ha Ha Lastbird, I thought the same thing!</p>
<p>Then again, in Harry Potter don’t they say “The wand picks the wizard, the wizard doesn’t pick the wand”? </p>
<p>In that case they’d have to go Gift Certificate :)!</p>