Renting an Instrument

Making the choice to learn a new instrument (or maybe your first instrument ever!) is an exciting one. Once you’ve committed to taking private lessons, you’ll need to secure the cello you will learn on. There are many factors to consider when choosing an instrument that I like to make my students aware of.

I do recommend for beginners to rent instead of purchase their first instrument for the following reasons:

  • If the student is a child, it is likely they are still growing. Think of a musical instrument like a pair of shoes. Eventually, your child will outgrow their current shoes and need a bigger size. The same is true for the cello. Most rental companies will allow you to freely swap out instrument sizes so that as your child grows, they are always performing on an instrument the appropriate size for them. Can you imagine getting a FREE pair of shiny new kicks every time your feet grew?! It’s a great deal.

  • Most rental companies also have policies that either come with insurance or they will provide the option to opt into it. Whether the student is a child or adult, learning to take care of an instrument is a new experience and accidents do happen. This safety net can save you from making expensive repairs or replacing an entire instrument if something tragic happens.

  • Many shops also have “rent-to-own” or “lease-to-own” programs. This is a wonderful option that allows a beginner to enjoy the above perks while learning. All or a portion of the monthly payments will essentially be “set aside” to upgrade to or purchase a nicer instrument once the student is more experienced.

Other things to take into consideration:

  • String instruments vary widely in their overall quality due to the use of different woods and materials. This can greatly affect sound quality, how well an instrument stays in tune, how well certain parts of the instrument function, and how frequently maintenance is required.

  • No one can tell how “good” an instrument is by looking at a picture online. A very low-quality instrument can look beautiful in a picture but sound awful. The same is true for a well-loved, older instrument that may not look very nice on the outside but can sound divine.

  • I recommend renting your cello from a shop that specializes in string instruments or has a string specialist (also called a luthier) as part of their team. Some music stores that sell guitars, band instruments, or pianos may not have an individual with a large amount of string instrument knowledge; these stores often carry lower quality instruments as well. If you need assistance finding a string rental shop near you, I’m excellent at researching and locating shops with excellent reputations that should provide you with a positive rental experience. Just ask!