When it comes to starting a band or learning an instrument, musicians from the School of Music have good insight.

Guitar, amps, strings

Undergraduate jazz guitar students Brian Quinlan and Andy Czarnecki have their own preferences for guitars, strings and amplifiers.

“If you want a guitar to play in any type of music, it’s a Stratocaster,” Quinlan said. “You just have to find something that you’re comfortable with. That’s all that matters.”

Czarnecki prefers vintage guitars, saying they offer another type of tone quality, which can be enjoyable to musicians. When it comes to guitar upkeep, Czarnecki suggests an avid guitar player should replace the guitar strings every three months.

“D’Addario strings are the best,” Czarnecki said. “I started using them because they had the biggest selection and they last the longest.”

Czarnecki said when playing jazz guitar, amplifiers are a necessity. He suggests Fender brand amplifiers.

“Any Fender amp makes everything sound like the guitar should sound,” Czarnecki said. “Sometimes amps can make the guitar sound different than it really is, and that’s not good.”

Drums, cymbals, sticks

Rodrigo Villanueva, jazz studies associate professor, endorses Yamaha Drums and recommends them for all levels of experience.

“There are a wide variety of instruments of good quality that are affordable,” Villanueva said.

He has seen drum set kits sell at prices from $300 to $5,000 for a five-piece kit.

Villanueva said when it comes to drum sticks, Vic Firth is the preferred brand because of its durability and consistency. As for cymbals, he suggests purchasing them outside of a kit from Sabian.

Villanueva said there are many music stores in the Chicagoland area that sell drums, music and equipment, but he suggests Guitar Center in Rockford as one of the best nearby options because of its large inventory and the ability to test drum sets on location. Although, there are quicker options available.

“Nowadays, I do a lot of my purchases online,” Villanueva said. “You get better deals.”

Villanueva said beginner musicians should look into taking lessons through NIU or private instructors. The NIU Community School of the Arts offers private music lessons to the public in many instruments.

“It’s very important to get someone to give guidance,” Villanueva said. “Especially at the beginning.”