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It's time to start planning your back-to school to-do list again! Music & Arts Centers would like to remind parents and students to think of their band and orchestra instrument needs along with new pencils and notebooks. Renting musical instruments can translate into significant short- and long-term savings for parents.

Renting an instrument offers many benefits, including:

Low-Cost Option for Beginners or Multi-Instrument Families

Instrument rental provides an opportunity for children to learn on a quality, name brand instrument without a long-term financial commitment-- perfect for beginners who may not commit to playing an instrument. The affordable monthly rates provide additional cost-savings for parents, particularly for parents who may have several children who play instruments.

Selecting the Appropriate Instrument
For beginners (and their music directors), renting allows students to try an instrument and exchange it if necessary. For example, a student may realize that he prefers the clarinet to the saxophone, or a band director may notice that a student is better suited for one instrument rather than another. An instrument exchange during the initial trial period can be easier and cheaper than trying to return an instrument or having to purchase two instruments within a short timeframe.

Renting More Advanced Instruments
As a student's musical abilities, interest, and personal commitment increases, renting allows the young musician to move up to the purchase of a more advanced instrument at the intermediate or professional level. Examples of advanced instruments include an open-hole, sterling silver flute or wooden clarinet, which may not be appropriate for a beginning student. Often the rental credit can be applied to this type of purchase.

"Growing" Instruments
This point is most relevant for students who play string instruments. Most rented string instruments can be exchanged for larger-sized instruments any time as the child grows. Up to 100 percent of the rental payments may apply toward the exchange.

Thinking of Purchasing an Instrument?
Once a student has demonstrated a high level of commitment to a musical instrument, many parents are more comfortable with making a long-term investment into te purchase of an instrument. Also, depending on when you make this decision, a portion of your rental payments can sometimes be applied to the purchase of an instrument.

Music & Arts Centers, one of the largest music retailers in the country, offers a wide selection of musical instruments for purchase or rent, music, accessories, and services coupled with friendly and knowledgeable employees. The family-owned company actively supports music education programs in schools and regularly conducts outreach programs with music educators, school music associations, parents, and students. For the past 50 years, Music & Arts Centers has grown from one store in Bethesda, Md., to a network of 50 stores in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and over 100 affiliated independent dealers. For more information call 1-800-237-7760 or log onto www.musicarts.com.