Written by Tony Stuart, September 2010 Return to notredamemusic.com
I always try to encourage band members to have their own instrument
where possible. Having your own instrument instills a sense of pride,
and students are more likely to practice when they have their own horn.
However, instruments can be expensive, especially quality ones. The
first thing I tell people when they are looking at renting/buying is to talk to me first.
I can find you the best possible price on a quality instrument. The
decision to rent/buy is an important one, and here are some things to
consider:
RENTING
- less expensive in the short term (rental rates start at $100/year for flutes/clarinets to about $300 for tubas);
- you get a decent instrument, but one that has been used before;
- some companies will allow a certain percentage of the rental fee to go towards the purchase of an instrument;
- rentals need to be returned at the end of the school year.
PURCHASING
- more expensive, but many companies offer payment plans;
- students have a sense of pride because they own the instrument;
- you can sell the instrument later and recoup a significant part of your investment;
- there are many good used instruments out there for sale.
If you are purchasing, here are some important tips. I have seen
some of these situations firsthand, where people found a "bargain" and
ended up with an instrument that makes a good paperweight.
- avoid purchasing instruments at big box stores like Costco, Walmart,
Sears etc. These are poor quality instruments manufactured in China
(or thereabouts), and quite often there are serious defects in
workmanship, which affect the tuning and playability of the instrument.
See me if you are planning on buying new, and I can help steer you in a
good direction;
- be careful of that fantastic deal on Ebay...if it seems too good to be true, it probably is;
- if you are buying a used horn, bring it in for me to look at--if I'm
not sure, I can send it off to my repair technician and have him/her
take a look at it and give you proper advice.
There is nothing more frustrating for a developing musician than to
be playing on a horn which is poorly made. Luckily, prices on student
model instruments are at all-time lows right now (due to the flood of
garbage instruments from Asia, North American manufacturers have been
forced to lower their prices).
Hope this helps!
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