6 Things You Should Know About School Band Instrument Rentals Near Me
It’s that time of year again-time to sign your kids up for school band! But before you do, there are a few things you should know. Here are 10 things every parent should know about school band instrument rentals near me before renting a band instrument for your child.
- How long does the rental last?
Most school band programs run for a semester, and rentals can vary from 1 to 4 semesters, depending upon the school district and instructor. The cost of renting an instrument may vary according to the requirements; once you’ve rented an instrument, those semesters don’t always transfer over to the next grade level or next year’s band classes. Some schools will allow students who have already been in a class to continue using their instruments as long as they remain enrolled in the program.
- What if my child wants a different instrument from the one they rented?
This is usually not possible. It’s too expensive to buy instruments for every single student, and since the school only gets to keep their instruments for 1-4 semesters, you can’t really expect them to hold onto your child’s instrument until next year or until he or she graduates from high school! For that reason, many schools have you sign a waiver at enrollment saying that your child will purchase an instrument of his own if he stays in a band program long enough. If your family happens to have full-sized clarinets or flutes laying around at home, you could always have your child practice on one of those until they are in high school and have enough saved up to buy an instrument.
- Why do I have to bring the instrument back when my child doesn’t play it anymore?
It’s much easier for schools if parents just return instruments that no longer get used or aren’t being played anymore because then they can distribute them among other students who are looking for a specific type of instrument. If you keep the instrument, you will also be responsible for making sure it gets repaired & maintained as well as purchasing new reeds, cork grease, swabs, etc.
- Are there any other costs involved?
There are always additional expenses that come with a band, even if you’re just renting an instrument for a semester. For example, your child will need cork grease to keep the pads on their saxophones/clarinets from sticking. Cork grease isn’t exactly something you run out & buy all the time; but since many school band programs don’t give lessons or supplies during summer break, this should be the perfect opportunity to run out & buy some so your child can start off on the right foot at school in September.
- What should I look for when inspecting my child’s rented instrument?
It is very important to make sure that every aspect of each piece of equipment has not been damaged or altered in any way. If this is the case, immediately notify your child’s band director and make sure he or she writes it down on their contract. Bring up any issues you discover during inspections with your child’s band director ASAP – they are normally more than happy & willing to make repairs before school starts.
- How can I save money?
Many times, if you buy your own instruments, reeds, etc. through a music store instead of ordering them through the school, you’ll get a significant discount off of the list price. Also, many music stores will let customers rent instruments for several semesters at a time- this is better than renting one semester at a time because you can use the same instrument for longer without any problems.
