So you’ve registered for music classes. Congratulations! Beginning your musical journey is a cause to celebrate. But now comes your first challenge as a musician: to rent or purchase your own instrument. Whether you’re a student or a parent of a student, getting an instrument is an important task. But we’re here to take the stress and frustration out of the process by providing you with a comprehensive list to help you make the best decision for yourself or your aspiring musician.
Making an Informed Decision
A Students’ Guide to Instrument Rental or Purchase
Get a Recommendation from Music Teacher
Before beginning music classes, it’s important to request a meeting to speak with your music teacher. They’re experts in the music industry and with the instrument in question. From this meeting, they will be able to assess your musical skills and recommend a brand and model that will work best for you.
Research
Using the music teacher’s recommendation, search online to see the instrument for yourself. Read reviews to compare with your needs and see what other music students are saying about the instrument. Watch YouTube videos to see and hear the instrument in action. Many students prefer to see and hold the instrument in person. Visit a local music store and ask for a demonstration. Once you’ve decided on the brand and model of your instrument, cost is the next factor.
Cost
When purchasing an instrument, the full-price is paid up front. Instruments can cost anywhere from $30 to $600 depending on the brand, model, or package. Local rental music shops offer monthly rates of $40 or more. We recommend students search online at various music shops as deals, coupons, and offers change often.
Maintenance & Repair
With renting an instrument, essential maintenance packages are often an additional cost of $5 or more. Repairs are a separate charge as well. Children who are students have lower chances of damage to their instrument when they own as well. Owning provides a sense of commitment and pride so students often care well for their instruments and perform better in class.
Other
Many aspects of the decision to rent or own an instrument can come into play. For instance, how long is the student expecting to play their instrument? Many musical instrument rental agreements are 5 or 10 months. This is because students who typically rent are in band classes and public schools closed for the summer. But with music students in private or group classes at a music school, we recommend renting depending on the instrument and student. For example: if child age 4 with an arm length of 15 inches begins violin classes, renting would be more cost-effective. This child would grow out of his current violin size of 1/16 within the year as it only suits arm lengths of 15 ⅜ inches. His parents can easily size up their instrument as part of their rental agreement for low or no-cost. While renting is a trial-friendly option, a well-cared instrument holds resale value. The demand for instrument rentals is high because there are more public schools than private music schools. So music shops are always looking for quality used instruments in good condition.