Overview of Band Instrument Rentals
There are certain times of the year when there is Music fever and everyone wants to play some sort of instrument. It could be the festival season when you are interested in picking up an instrument for yourself. Perhaps you or one of your children are in the high school band, or for no special occasion at all; you could simply wake up on a Monday morning and decide it’s time for music.
Whatever the reason, when you are looking for an instrument suited to a developing player, the option to rent is going to be at the forefront.
Popular Band Instruments List
- Violin
- Cello
- Viola
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Saxophone
- Trumpet
- Trombone
The National Education Music Company gives an in-depth description of each instrument.
The Benefits of Playing a Musical Instrument
The following are some of the skill sets that could develop by listening to music and taking music lessons.
Concentration
Learning a musical instrument will help you develop concentration, as you must focus on a particular activity over extended periods of time. Developing concentration in this way will also help you when you need to focus on other subjects at school or at work.
Coordination
Practicing musical instruments improves hand-eye coordination. Children and adults develop important motor skills when playing music just as you do while playing different sports.
Relaxation
Music therapy is currently being used to complement more traditional forms of medicine. Researchers also acknowledge that certain types of music can aid relaxation by lowering heart rates and blood pressure.
Patience
Patience and Perseverance are required in order to learn a musical instrument, which can help in life when tackling other difficult challenges.
Self-Confidence
The act of learning and playing an instrument, the encouragement of a teacher, and the enthusiasm of a proud parent or friend can build a sense of pride and confidence. Moreover, people who practice self-expression and creativity often develop better communication skills.
Given all the benefits of music programs and hobbies for people of all age brackets, there is every reason to invest in a musical instrument.
The Information Vacuum/Finding a Place Near You
The biggest obstacle for those who are interested in band instrument rental is simply lack of information. If you were looking to buy a house or the latest electronic gadget, there would be no shortage of advertisements, reviews, peer recommendations and other sources of vital information to help you make the right decision.
Band instruments, on the other hand, are a whole another story. Of course, this isn’t to say that there’s no information out there, but it can take you a lot more digging to find because very few people are experts of a particular instrument than they are in a more mainstream product. And with deadlines such as having to find an instrument in time for the beginning of band season, your research and budgeting time may be far more limited.
Good music stores tend to be well connected to the local community, with knowledgeable staff, which will help you provide well-informed musical advice.
Also, remember to never underestimate the power of an online internet search. No matter what sort of band instrument you are interested in renting, there are sure to be some very thorough sources of information to be found online.
Your Rental Options
If getting information is a challenge because of the niche being too scarce, then the choice can be tough because there are so many to choose from. There are a lot of rental providers out there, and each one carries a fairly diverse stock of instruments. Once you have chosen which store or site to rent from, you are then faced with a second round of selecting in order to pick out an individual instrument. A little guidance goes a long way in this task, so here are some pointers for sorting out the options put before you.
Most Popular Place For Band Instrument Rental
For shoppers in search of affordable instruments, there are many online options available for purchasing new or used instruments. The disadvantage here is, purchasing an instrument that you can’t see and examine first, is very risky.
A rental provider has a keen interest in the upkeep of the instruments they rent out, which means they are much more likely to offer comprehensive support that “hands-off” sellers lack. While there are some bad apples in the rental industry as well, the nature of instrument rentals tends to make them easy to spot.
If you are not sure about the reputation of a renter, look up for their contact details and make sure they are fair and easy to comprehend. If the terms are hard to understand or seem to be lacking important information, take it as a red flag indicating that you should consider finding a provider more up-front with that information.
Instruments
Once you have settled on an ideal band instrument rental provider, the next step would be to choose the instrument itself. This can also be a big challenge, especially if you don’t have an extensive musical background. For instance, you may not know the difference between clarinets and granadilla, or that there are two different kinds of trombones. You will see many brands, most of which you may not even recognize. How can you make sense of all these options?
A description of the instrument’s condition should be provided by your rental provider. It goes without saying that the best choice is one that’s in “new” or “like new” condition. For starters, no recipient of an instrument wants one that looks and smells like it’s been on a shelf for decades.
Ensure you have chosen a rental provider that checks all their instruments for quality standards before shipping them out. This goes a long way in preventing an unpleasant surprise when you first open the box.
What to Look For in a Rental Program
Finding an upstanding music rental store and a quality instrument are two very important steps to a great rental experience, but there’s one more thing to put under the microscope: the details of the rental program itself. Before signing a rental agreement or contract, you should read through the whole document and make sure everything is in order. Don’t hesitate to ask any and all questions you may have since you are about to make a big commitment.
Below are some of the features and conditions to put on your rental program checklist:
Maintenance Plans
One of the undeniable facts of life is that incidents happen, whether we like them or not, and instruments are not immune from this basic law of nature. They can get dropped. Little siblings can decide to play with them when no one is watching. And even with the good fortune of being accident-free, an instrument is subject to routine wear and tear. Search for an instrument rental program that has a comprehensive repair and maintenance plan. This way, you can avoid costly bills in the future.
Fair Contracts
The fine print is inevitable when you’re dealing with any kind of contract or agreement, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fair. For starters, look into the term length: a month-to-month rental leaves the option to return the instrument earlier, while a long-term contract will typically save you money over time if your child/student has decided to stick it out for the year.
Rent-to-Own
The best type of band instrument rental arrangement is generally a rent-to-own program. This puts a finishing line on your rental payments and means that if you stick with the new instrument, eventually it will be yours and you can freely carry on your progress with no strings attached. There are several states that do not allow rent-to-own programs, but you can apply your rental equity to the purchase of a similar instrument to take advantage of ownership.
Early Purchase Discounts
An early purchase discount goes hand-in-hand with a good rent-to-own program. It means that if you decide to buy out the instrument before the rental term is up, you’ll receive a discount in addition to the payments you have already made. Even with such a discount, some contracts will specify a minimum number of months renting before the instrument can be purchased. The best type of plan you can hope to find is one that offers an early purchase discount at any time, with no minimum rental term before it goes into effect. Consider the amount of the discount as well.
Trade-in Support
No musician will play the same quality instrument forever, and sooner or later, the time will come to upgrade. This time may not wait for your rental period to be over, so it’s worthwhile to look for a plan that forwards a portion of your paid rental fees toward a more advanced instrument. Moving from a beginner to an intermediate level instrument can happen in as little as a few months for devoted students, and some can even be qualified for a professional instrument within the first few years. With rent-to-buy plans often taking several months to complete, a trade-in program can be a huge help.
What To Keep in Mind
Keep in mind, though, that there are always two sides to a coin. While upgrading does become necessary sooner or later, it should be saved until you’re absolutely ready. Some band instrument rental programs may try to pressurize you into renting an intermediate level instrument only a few months in. Always consult your instructor, if you are renting for yourself before agreeing to this step.
The best phrase to sum up the band instrument rental experience is this: “knowledge is power.” Inform yourself about available rental providers and instrument options, also keep yourself informed about the details of a good contract before you sign any. Choose a program that is well supported and flexible, with a highly recommended instrument from a trusted renter, and you will have all the ingredients for a positive rental experience.
