Instruments for elementary schoolers?

[snoopy5386]

I have a newly minted 4th grader which means it's time for band. We are at instrument try out day at our local music store right now and I am overwhelmed. For those who have been through this before, advice? Renting new vs used? rent to own or buy outright? Buy used off craigslist? I know nothing about instruments.

 

[Alesia]

Rent at first. Playing an instrument is not for everyone, so it may not take.

 

[havaneselover]

Last year DD started strings. Luckily she started with a full size violin, Her teacher is extremely picky about what they play so we went to Music & Arts and did the rent to own program. It seems like the first three months were almost free then it was $35/month until I purchased the violin we were renting in May. I'm paying $25/month until next December. I also paid for a 2 year service package. This should get her through middle school. If she keeps playing in high school I guess she may need a better instrument.

 

[crisi]

I'm of the buy used belief. Buy used from a reputable place that repairs instruments and also find out what their commission is when you resell.

We got four years out of a saxophone and three years out of a clarinet - the sax was $400 and the clarinet $300. Then we donated them to the school and got a tax writeoff for them.

 

[Narnia_girl]

I'm the mom of three musicians and I work for a symphony orchestra (including youth). We also advise renting first; kids are often very enthused about starting an instrument, but the excitement wanes when the work sets in. Ask around your local area--other parents are often eager to get rid of instruments that are just sitting.

 

[NewRVLady]

My sisters BF started a Charity in Lake Charles LA that collects used instruments from anyone and cleans, refurbishes and distributes to needy kids. Awesome

 

[mousehockey37]

Former band director and lifelong drum corps guru here...

Rent first. Kids tend to change their minds, a lot. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, buy any instrument from Sams Club, Amazon, Walmart, etc... Those instruments are junk. The local music stores will refuse to work on them when they break and trust me, they will break. I had a student who was using a passed down flute and it was beat up, but played wonderfully. Her mom got her one of these Walmart brand flutes, and the Eb key was bent within 5 minutes. I told her that if her mom had the receipt to take it back.

Also, if receiving a hand-me-down instrument, take it to the music store and have it checked out. There could be problems that need addressed (examples: Woodwind instruments may need new key pads, brass instruments need a chemical bath to get all parts moving, string instruments will need restrung, etc.).

For yourself. Get some earplugs. It's gonna be a loud, screechy start no matter what instrument it is.
For your kid, find out what instrument fits with them best. There is no gender specific instrument (I'll throw that out there) and certain instruments will just have a good "feel" to everyone.

If your kid wants to do percussion (or drums), make them learn BOTH bells and drums. It's super super important that they learn to read sheet music instead of just banging away on a drum.

Feel free to PM me for any other advice.

 

[tvguy]

I agree, rent. But band around here doesn't start until 7th grade.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Definitely rent before buying! You never know if they're even going to like it or if they'll end up changing instruments, etc.

Also check with your school about arrangements they have. At our schools, they work with one of the local music stores to come in and service the instruments right at the school if there's any issues at all. The store also did the rent to own type thing where you start off renting and at any point if you decide to purchase you paid, I think, 40% of what was left on the rental contract. Something like that anyway.

We rented oldest DS's sax for a couple years and then bought outright when he stuck with it. Rented second DS's trumpet for 5th grade and part of 6th grade. Midway through 6th grade he started playing the euphonium(sp?) instead and is actually using a school's instrument for that. Ended up turning the trumpet back in and not having to pay anything further. You just never know....

 

[stm61]

I refused to pay the prices the instrument rental company wanted. They're the only option and they take full advantage of it! The band teacher sent me to the closet city to check out pawn shops. He gave me a list of what not to buy and what brands he really liked. We lucked out and found one at a shop where the salesman was a musician. He checked it out, told us what needed to be fixed and where to take it. Cost me around $100 for the clarinet and repairs, but it lasted for the 3 years my daughter was in band. If any of the younger kids decide to try it, it's still in good shape.

 

[kiramay]

We're renting for now. The first 3 months were like $10, and then it'll be $35/month. Oboe.

When I was a kid I played the saxophone for 6 months, the violin for a few months, and the flute for a few months. The only instrument I stuck with was voice. good thing my parents rented!

If ds sticks with the oboe for a few years, then I'll look into buying.

 

[Eureka]

We ended up buying the drum kit bc it cost just $50 more than renting it for the year. We were identity sure DS would continue with it (and he is in 7th grade now, still using it) but knew we could sell if it he didn't. I have always wanted to play the drums, so actually, we probably would have kept it. When he got to middle school, we had to spend another $60 on different kinds of sticks, but we would have needed to do that anyway even if we rented the basic kit.

When my other DS was beginning band, he decided he wanted to play an instrument I had played as a kid, so we spent $200 on some major repairs, and he's still using it 5 years later. But we probably would have rented the first year if he had picked something else bc the rent vs buy prices were not as close to each other.

 

[princessesintraining]

My daughter started playing the clarinet last year in 4 th grade. I put a post on my Facebook page looking for a gently used one. Turns out my nephew gave up the clarinet and they gladly gave it to her. There were a few families at our school that hit the local pawn shops and a few others who bought off Facebook garage sale pages/craiglists, if purchasing that way, meet at the local music store and they can do a check to see if any work needs to be done and cost before you purchase.

 

[Heidi K]

Yes, definitely try Facebook! I posted a question in the spring asking where to rent a clarinet for my 4th grader, and a friend from high school offered to loan us her good quality instrument for as long as necessary. It needed about $40 to get it ready to go. A college friend on a tight budget asked on Facebook about borrowing a clarinet and another college friend just gave her one, no strings attached.

 

[zoemurr]

Does your child know what they want to play? Our school owns some of the rarer (is that a word?) instruments. We have rented the alto and bass clarinets through them for $65 a year. Then they are responsible for maintenance too. You might want to ask about that. Otherwise I would rent first.

 

[tnd]

We are renting because my 5th grader decided to play the [expletive deleted] french horn! t is expensive to rent, and I have my doubts that he will stick with it for long. We will re-evaluate if he does.

 

[RangerPooh]

In our district you can start orchestra in 4th grade, band in 6th. Last year DD started in orchestra with the violin. The local music shop in town and the next town over were both out of violins, so we contacted Southwest Stings who was recommended by the orchestra teacher. We are doing rent to own (I believe). The quality is very good, and DD is in her second year now. If she decides to stop then we've got a nice violin for our three younger children.

When I was in elementary school my parents rented the flute I used. My brother started out with a rented sax that my parents later purchased because he stuck with it from 5th-12 grades and into college.

Be careful with instruments purchased off craigslist. I agree with a pp, complete the purchase at a local music store so that they can look over the instrument. This way you know if you're getting a quality instrument or not.

 

[mamamary]

We rented when my kids were in band in 4th and 5th grade. That was the end of their band career so glad that I didn't buy.

 

[ajwolfe]

We just went thru this. Renting was a total rip off from the company our school uses, so I would definitely double check the costs before just assuming. This company required a 15 month contract on rentals and in the end it would only be about $150 cheaper than purchasing out right. For us it was a no brainer to spend the extra $150 and then have an item to resale or for our other child to use when he ages up.

 

[crisi]

We just went thru this. Renting was a total rip off from the company our school uses, so I would definitely double check the costs before just assuming. This company required a 15 month contract on rentals and in the end it would only be about $150 cheaper than purchasing out right. For us it was a no brainer to spend the extra $150 and then have an item to resale or for our other child to use when he ages up.

That was our deal, too. My husband went to band information night and came home with the contract. I discovered I could buy used for far less than a year of contract costs, then - as long as the instrument stayed in good shape - resell it back to the used instrument dealer for 50% of what I bought it for.