Education Archives:
Marching into the School Year with the Right Instrument
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.
Information in the Virtual Open House was
compiled from information provided to FAMILIES Magazine by
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Open House, contact us for information by
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FAMILIES Magazines, Inc.
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Herndon, VA 20170
Phone: 703-318-1385
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www.washingtonFAMILY.com
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