should beginner start with a pro/ semi-pro horn?

[trymonlam]

just posted a question about what horn to buy as the 1st piece for my brother(he's in his early 20s). seemed like ideas of semi-pro/pro horn is suggested. but i have heard that it's harder to start on a pro/semi-pro horn cause they are much more sensitive and required a lot more ability to play. any ideas and suggestions??

[Dave Dolson]

Trymonlam: Start on the best horn you can acquire. Student horns are built tough to take abuse from thoughtless and careless young kids. But conscientious beginners don't beat up their instruments (or shouldn't). The better the horn and mouthpiece, the better and quicker a student will learn. True in every case? No, but the better the equipment, the easier it is to play. DAVE

[colibri]

If you buy him a cheap horn, and he still plays the life out of it everyday, he loves playing. He'll sound good even on a cheap horn. On the other hand, if you buy him a top notch pro horn and he messes around with it for 3 days, then stop playing altogether, you've just wasted time and money and will have to waste some more to think of how to resell it.

I played on a leaky horn and warped mouthpiece and made it to first chair in band, and never got a pro horn until I started going to college. For a (conscientious) beginner, ANYTHING will do.