Should I rent or buy an instrument?
Your child wants to play an instrument. Awesome! We know that the process of getting an instrument for your child can be overwhelming at first, but don't worry- we're ready to help you!
The first question most parents ask themselves is "Should I rent or buy an instrument." Here's our best answer.
I'm sure by now you've been doing some research online and have found that band instruments are expensive! It's not as bad as you think, and this article can show you what your options are.
Instrument Rentals
For many band students, renting an instrument is a very wise decision. There are quite a few immediate advantages. First, you're not paying a ton of money up-front for something your child may or may not enjoy. During the beginning of the school year, we offer a three month introductory period where you pay only one low flat rate to cover your first three months. This gives you and your student a chance to see if they like their instrument and if it's something they would like to continue. So what if flute isn't quite for them? What if their new "bestie" is playing trumpet, and that seems more fun to them now? No problem. When you rent an instrument, you're always welcome to exchange your instrument for a different one. Along with your rental, we also give you a maintenance & repair plan that covers anything that can go wrong with your instrument. This guarantees that the price you pay is all that you pay.
Like all good things, your instrument rental doesn't last forever. All that money you've been paying in rent each month has been stored in an equity account. Eventually, the instrument will be payed for, and you will no longer be billed. You will be responsible for any future repairs and cleanings, but you won't have that monthly rent to pay for. By now, your student has a good idea of what and what not to do with their instrument, so repairs and cleanings should be kept at a minimum. But wait, what if I wanted a new instrument? No problem. Before the end of your payments, simply contact us, and we'd be happy to swap you for a new one, and you'll only pay the price difference. If you decide part way through your rental that you'd just rather buy the instrument outright, we can help. You always retain your equity, so you can buy out the instrument for the remainder of the balance, often times at a discount, depending on how long you've had the instrument. There are incentives to pay off your instrument early, and typically the sooner you do that, the higher the incentive. You can give us a call at any time to discuss what time would be best for you.
We should also mention, that even though you sign a rental contract, you can simply return the instrument at any time and we will stop billing you. You are not obligated to make payments until you own the instrument- you can cancel penalty-free at any time.
Buying a Band Instrument
Maybe renting just isn't your thing. Some customers just prefer to own the instrument and not be tied to a payment. No problem! We sell all kinds of instruments, both new and used. Often times, it pays to buy a used instrument. We sell instruments right from our rental fleet, and occasionally have our own or consignment used instruments. Stop in or give us a call and we can help you find the best option for you and your student.
We also have an expert in-house band instrument repair technician to help you with any repair needs.
Let's just go through an example. Your child wants to play saxophone. An acceptable new student model saxophone can cost around $1600-$1800. Wow! We do often have discounts on those prices, but even then, you're looking at substantial money. Often times, you can find a used saxophone for say $250-$400. Our repair technician can fix it up for you to make it band room ready. Most saxophone repairs range from $75-$200. Of course, you won't have a maintenance coverage plan if you buy an instrument, but it's a good option that can save you some money in the long run.
One more thing- if you do decide to buy an instrument outright, please choose wisely. If you see a new instrument on eBay listed for about the same price as other used ones, it probably is not going to play well or last long. If you see an instrument advertised as NEW for under $400-$500, chances are it isn't going to. The best deals on eBay are for used instruments. If you have a question about brands of models that would work for your child, please don't hesitate to call us.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to learning an instrument, quality is crucial. A beginner will have a much harder time trying to play an instrument that isn't quite right than a professional. We're always on-call to help you make the best decision for your student. The easier it is to play an instrument, the more confidence your student will have in continuing. We don't want them to lose interest or think that they aren't musically inclined. Anyone can play an instrument!
The first question most parents ask themselves is "Should I rent or buy an instrument." Here's our best answer.
I'm sure by now you've been doing some research online and have found that band instruments are expensive! It's not as bad as you think, and this article can show you what your options are.
Instrument Rentals
For many band students, renting an instrument is a very wise decision. There are quite a few immediate advantages. First, you're not paying a ton of money up-front for something your child may or may not enjoy. During the beginning of the school year, we offer a three month introductory period where you pay only one low flat rate to cover your first three months. This gives you and your student a chance to see if they like their instrument and if it's something they would like to continue. So what if flute isn't quite for them? What if their new "bestie" is playing trumpet, and that seems more fun to them now? No problem. When you rent an instrument, you're always welcome to exchange your instrument for a different one. Along with your rental, we also give you a maintenance & repair plan that covers anything that can go wrong with your instrument. This guarantees that the price you pay is all that you pay.
Like all good things, your instrument rental doesn't last forever. All that money you've been paying in rent each month has been stored in an equity account. Eventually, the instrument will be payed for, and you will no longer be billed. You will be responsible for any future repairs and cleanings, but you won't have that monthly rent to pay for. By now, your student has a good idea of what and what not to do with their instrument, so repairs and cleanings should be kept at a minimum. But wait, what if I wanted a new instrument? No problem. Before the end of your payments, simply contact us, and we'd be happy to swap you for a new one, and you'll only pay the price difference. If you decide part way through your rental that you'd just rather buy the instrument outright, we can help. You always retain your equity, so you can buy out the instrument for the remainder of the balance, often times at a discount, depending on how long you've had the instrument. There are incentives to pay off your instrument early, and typically the sooner you do that, the higher the incentive. You can give us a call at any time to discuss what time would be best for you.
We should also mention, that even though you sign a rental contract, you can simply return the instrument at any time and we will stop billing you. You are not obligated to make payments until you own the instrument- you can cancel penalty-free at any time.
Buying a Band Instrument
Maybe renting just isn't your thing. Some customers just prefer to own the instrument and not be tied to a payment. No problem! We sell all kinds of instruments, both new and used. Often times, it pays to buy a used instrument. We sell instruments right from our rental fleet, and occasionally have our own or consignment used instruments. Stop in or give us a call and we can help you find the best option for you and your student.
We also have an expert in-house band instrument repair technician to help you with any repair needs.
Let's just go through an example. Your child wants to play saxophone. An acceptable new student model saxophone can cost around $1600-$1800. Wow! We do often have discounts on those prices, but even then, you're looking at substantial money. Often times, you can find a used saxophone for say $250-$400. Our repair technician can fix it up for you to make it band room ready. Most saxophone repairs range from $75-$200. Of course, you won't have a maintenance coverage plan if you buy an instrument, but it's a good option that can save you some money in the long run.
One more thing- if you do decide to buy an instrument outright, please choose wisely. If you see a new instrument on eBay listed for about the same price as other used ones, it probably is not going to play well or last long. If you see an instrument advertised as NEW for under $400-$500, chances are it isn't going to. The best deals on eBay are for used instruments. If you have a question about brands of models that would work for your child, please don't hesitate to call us.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to learning an instrument, quality is crucial. A beginner will have a much harder time trying to play an instrument that isn't quite right than a professional. We're always on-call to help you make the best decision for your student. The easier it is to play an instrument, the more confidence your student will have in continuing. We don't want them to lose interest or think that they aren't musically inclined. Anyone can play an instrument!
