Buying or Renting a String Instrument
As a public and private school teacher, I often deal with student instrument purchases and rentals. After years of frustration with substandard selections, may I offer a few suggestions to parents and students considering purchasing or renting an instrument.
1. Go through a local, reputable dealer. Although you may get a great deal on the Internet or at a discount store (such as Sam’s Club), most of the time, you pay for what you get which is an instrument that is so low quality that it is pretty much impossible to play, much less make a good sound. Students with these instruments usually become frustrated because they cannot make the same sounds that their classmates are making. Also, much of my time as a teacher is spent trying to tune these instruments that don’t have custom fitted pegs (so they basically are never in tune). I spoke recently with a friend of mine who works at a local violin repair shop and asked him about these instruments. He said that in general, his shop won’t even attempt to repair one of these cheap violins because it’s pretty much an impossible task.
2. Rent before you buy. The main reason for doing this is because your child will most likely outgrow their first instrument at some point. Also, students often change their mind during the first year of playing (possibly switching to a different instrument or losing interest), so it’s best to be prepared. Parents who are tempted to buy an instrument right away often end up with a lower quality instrument than they could have rented and their student can easily become frustrated trying to make a good sound.
3. Make sure that you purchase the instrument in the same climate that it will be stored. For example, if you live in Arizona (dry, hot climate), it’s best not to purchase a string instrument from Georgia (a very humid climate). Because these instruments are made of wood, they will expand and contract based on the climate in which they are stored. Once again, if you purchase from a local, reputable dealer, you shouldn’t have to worry about instruments cracking or warping.
4. Consider an insurance plan through the music store. Although you may be trying to save money, these plans often pay for themselves. I had a student last year who dropped her viola and the neck broke (this is a major repair). She took it to the music store and they traded it for another instrument that was the same quality because she had the insurance plan. Not only did she avoid a costly repair, she also didn’t have to wait for the repair to be completed.
Topics: Students, Parents, Classroom Teachers, Private Teachers |
August 30th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Excellent advice! Making a purchase as expensive as a new instrument can be very intimidating.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I will definitely keep these suggestions in mind when I start shopping for instruments for my kids!
Thanks for the practical advice.
October 9th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Amber is offering some good advice here. One hopes that every community has a decent string shop to take care of ther students. The comment about climate differences is good one although my experience is that it is not an absolute. Many of our instruments travel around the country and give their owners very little trouble. One new product that has worked well for some folks who live in hot, sticky climates are the Perfection Pegs they have to be installed by your shop, though.
October 12th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Thanks for your comments. Dalton- I will agree with you on the climate issue as I actually own a Weaver viola (purchased in Washington DC) and have lived in Utah with little trouble (although I am careful to keep a humidifier in my case). I have seen some cases where cracking has been a problem, but mostly where students don’t take proper precautions.
January 11th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I do not encourage my students to rent violins as most (if not all rental violins) I have seen throughout my teaching career have a cheap “lunch box” sort of sound. Not only is the sound less than tolerable but on numerous occasions the violins are completely unsuitable to be played on as result of lack of care from the previous owners, factory defects etc. All other teachers I have talked to have shared similar experiences. Consult your potential teacher before you make your decision.
In essence, a person gets what they pay for and in the end,a good quality violin will not lose value but only gain it over time (unless it is mistreated). This goes for violins of all sizes.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Natalie- I have to disagree with you to some extent. I think if I required my students to purchase an instrument as beginners it would turn off a lot of students and parents who (rightfully so) don’t want to invest that much money up front for their 5th grader to venture into something new.
I am fortunate that I live in a place that has very good reputable music stores that only rent decent quality instruments. (Of course, the sound of a beginning level violin does not compare to a pricier one, but as students progress, they will see a need for a better quality instrument.) The music stores here will adhere to a teacher’s request that an instrument meet certain specifications before being given to a student (such as 4 fine tuners, dominant strings, etc.)