Visit our Newest Program:  SCHOLASTIC STRINGS RENTAL INSTRUMENTS

WHY RENT FROM US?

BENEFITS OF OUR RENTAL PROGRAM

YOUR INVESTMENT COST

FOR PARENTS ONLY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY RENT FROM US?

This program provides you with a quality instrument while you earn credit towards your own instrument. The instruments are set-up and maintained to the same high standard, with the same professional quality strings, as the instruments we have for sale. Teaching experts helped us develop this program, to enhance the educational experience of:

• Teachers who want to concentrate on the student and music, not problems with the instrument, during a lesson.
• Students who learn better with a well set-up, rich toned instrument, especially at the beginning of their musical education.
• Parents who appreciate hassle-free instruments that satisfy the most particular teacher without return trips to the dealer for corrections of problems.

Ask yourself how many children or adult beginners have had their love of music damaged by poor quality instruments?

Conventional Wisdom says: “I’ll start her on a cheap instrument for now and get something better if she is serious”

People in the Know say: "If I want her to have a fair chance at getting serious she needs an instrument that encourages her, not one that disheartens her."

To rent an instrument, you need be 21 or older, with a major credit card valid for the entire time of the contract and a current driver's license. You can even have an instrument shipped to you anywhere in the country for a nominal shipping fee.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A BROCHURE FOR OUR RENTAL PROGRAM

BENEFITS OF OUR RENTAL PROGRAM

FINE RENTAL INVENTORY: You will receive a fine quality instrument, with a bow, case, & rosin.

EQUITY PURCHASE PLAN: 100% of rental payments accrue towards the future purchase of an instrument.

FINE PURCHASE INVENTORY: You may purchase from our large selection of fine instruments in a range of prices. You are not limited to the instrument you are renting.

FLEXIBLE PAYMENT: You may pay every 3, 6, or 12 months. Each longer rental period gets greater discounts.

GRADUATED SIZES: When your child outgrows an instrument, they move up in size for no cost beyond increases in rental fee based on the size of the instrument.

SUMMER FREE: Rent for the full school year or prepay one 6-month contract at the beginning of the summer and get the summer free.

REFUNDS: If you need to return the instrument early, we will prorate fees and make appropriate refunds.

INSURANCE: All instruments have zero-deductible coverage against damage or loss, except for string breakage.

SHIPPING AVAILABLE: We can ship your rental instrument for an additional small charge. You may try it for several days and if you do not like it simply return the instrument.

YOUR INVESTMENT COST

Small instruments are those up to one-quarter size. Large instruments are one-half to full size.
Zero-deductible insurance included in these prices. Sales tax not included Shipping costs $30 per violin or viola, $50 per cello.

FOR PARENTS ONLY

We care about YOUR CHILD:

They enjoy being treated like grown-ups and receive the same respect, care, and attention as our adult, professional clients. If needed, we have a database of private teachers to provide you with free referrals

We care about YOUR INVESTMENT:

Our reputation is built on providing excellent value for money, and we believe this program to be the finest of its type. Every instrument or bow you purchase from us may be traded-up later for a finer one. If you trade-up an instrument of bow that you purchase using rental credit, the trade-up value is 100% (rental credit plus cash paid.)

We care about YOUR TIME:

We try to accommodate busy parents and keep visits here to a minimum. In case of emergency repairs we will try to do it while you wait or provide you with another instrument. The studio is always open one evening during the week and Saturday mornings.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RENTAL PROGRAM

Why are your prices more than other renters?

What is reserving an instrument?

How do I use the rental credit to buy an instrument?

I never bought an instrument. How do I start looking?

But what if I need a better instrument in a few years?

What does the insurance cover?

What about broken strings?

How do I know what size instrument to choose?

How do I try out an instrument if you ship it to me?

Why are your prices more than other renters?
Because you get a much better instrument while you build equity towards owning your own instrument: 100% of your rental credit applies towards a purchase. Furthermore, if one day you want to trade-in an instrument purchased with rental credit, you will receive a 100% trade-up value (rental credit plus cash paid). Many of our current clients rented elsewhere for a low price and are with us today because the other programs had no provision for building equity. If you do not ever want to own an instrument, the only reason to rent with us is for the quality.

What is reserving an instrument?
If you don’t need an instrument for the summer, but want to be sure it will be there for the start of school, you may reserve it. Simply pay for a 6 or 12 month contract now, and specify the date you want to pick it up or have it shipped to you (up to two months later). We will guarantee your instrument, and your contract will not begin until the date you specify. In case of cancellations, your charges will be prorated from the date of the reservation.

How do I use the rental credit to buy an instrument?
The credit may be used to buy instruments we have for sale. You may pay half of the price with rental credit. For Example: Mrs. Black has $750 in rental credit. She wants to buy a $1500 instrument. She pays only $750 as her credit is exactly 50% of the sale price and is fully deducted from the sale price.

When deciding how to use the rental credit, most people decide how fine an instrument they want to buy using the rental credit, and then continue until they have about half the cost of that instrument in rental credit.

I never bought an instrument. How do I start looking?
People who have never purchased an instrument don’t know how to proceed and are understandably anxious. Most of our clients are first-time buyers of instruments and we enjoy making this experience a pleasant adventure.

First of all, if you are renting you can relax; most of our clients rent for a year or two before they decide to purchase an instrument.  As a you make musical progress, with the help of your teacher, you will learn how fine an instrument you will eventually need.

You are always welcome to come in and try instruments out with no obligation or pressure to buy. During your visit, our knowledge and experience will be at your disposal to answer any questions you may have.

What if I need a better instrument in a few years?
No problem. We always credit 100% of what you paid for an instrument towards a trade-up. For example, if you buy a $1500 instrument with $750 rental credit and $750 cash, your trade in value is $1500.

Some parents express a wish to get an instrument that will serve their child for a long time, through high school, college, or longer. This approach causes unnecessary anxiety by placing burdens. A more useful rule of thumb is that the instrument should be good enough to exceed the players’ musical ability for 3 years, a long time in the life of a child.

When you hear your child playing the violin, viola, or cello better than you yourself can, that priceless gift will make all the expense of lessons and instruments cheap at the price.

What does the insurance cover?
Most of the losses that occur to rental instruments are wear and tear: bridges break, the sides of the instrument become unglued, fingerboards loosen or fall off, soundposts fall down, there is cosmetic damage to the varnish. These losses are covered fully for violins, violas, and cellos.

Very infrequently there is a case of severe loss or damage: an instrument is stolen or destroyed, a neck is broken out of the body, or an accident causes large cracks in the body or scroll. Violins and violas are covered fully, but cello renters will have to pay 30% of the cost of fixing the problem. The is the best coverage we have able to get, due to the high risks to which cellos are subject. However, for a real-world perspective, consider that since 1984 we have had only 3 cases of severe loss damage to cellos, and the co-pay has never exceeded $300. It has just not been a big issue and we hope it stays that way!

What about broken strings?
Strings are not covered by insurance and are your responsibility. We put new stings on our instruments yearly and they ought to last the length of the contract, yet sometimes things do not go as planned. If a string breaks and you replace a broken string with an inferior “free” one from a teacher or one that you buy at a music store, your rented instrument will not sound as well as it should. If you have a broken string, we recommend that you bring the instrument to us so we can replace it with a string of equal quality. The reason our instruments sound so well is that we put professional quality strings on them. Incidentally, our string prices are heavily discounted and are available on-line.

How do I know what size instrument to choose?
Persons under five feet in height usually need a fractional size, and over five feet a full (4/4) size. For a child, ask their teacher what size they prefer, as this is also a matter of taste. The following chart will give you an idea: using a yardstick, measure between the neck and the center of the palm. When in doubt, always choose the smaller size.

Up to 15 1/4" order 1/16 size
15 1/4" up to 16 3/4” order 1/10 size
16 3/4" up to 17 1/2" order 1/8 size
17 1/2" up to 18 3/4" order 1/4 size
18 3/4" up to 20 1/4" order 1/2 size
20 1/4" up to 22 1/8" order 3/4 size
22 1/8" and over order 4/4 size

How do I try out an instrument if you ship it to me?
Simple! Order the instrument and pay for it, including the shipping charge. When it arrives you try it out. If you decide you want a different size or different instrument, ship it back for an exchange. If you decide you want a refund, ship the instrument back by the 6th business day after it arrived for a full refund of the rental charges. Your only charges will be the shipping, both ways.

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