Alan Dunn (Frank Coghlan, Jr.) and his friend Nick Huron (Michael Owen) wish to move up to the first chair positions in their high school orchestra, but their instructor tells them that they are just not good enough. Utilizing advice from Alan's Uncle Karl (Egon Brecher), the boys see the clerk (Ken Carpenter) at the C.G. Conn music store. With the financial and emotional support of their families, the boys buy brand new quality instruments because you can't do good work without good tools.