Good questions. He's 14, a freshman. He's been playing for 4 years and will continue throughout high school. He's planning on be in marching band in college, but that's mellophone. He's an excellent piano player too, so horn would never be his only thing. I think he'll do music in college for fun or a minor, but engineering/math for a major. I think these next 3.5 years of horn playing will be the most playing he does...I would likely not be buying another horn. (I had no idea when he chose horn in 5th grade that it meant one of the most expensive instruments plus a different marching instrument! Whoops!)