Instruments That Won't Break Your Budget

Musical instruments can be a pricey investment. However, if you take the correct steps when purchasing an instrument, it can be a great investment in both your child's future and with the instrument itself. This column is designed to be a helpful guide so that you can make an informed decision when you are ready to purchase or rent an instrument.

Rental programs are a great way to get common school band instruments such as the brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments. The rentals generally have a monthly fee and the better programs will apply the rent towards the purchase of the instrument (if that is something you decide on). Most companies offer insurance on the rentals (this is highly recommended) that will cover everything from instrument flaws to the instrument being dropped. This insurance can also cover any repairs that are needed to keep the instrument functional. These rental programs are also a great way to see if the student is going to continue a music education without having to spend a lot of money at the onset when the commitment can be questionable.

Some instruments are not generally available through common rental programs. One such example is a drum set. There are ways to maximize your investment though if you are looking to purchase a drum set. The entry level sets are great purchases but you have to make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck. The real low-level entry level sets that can be purchased at big box non-music stores are not good buys. They are made very cheaply and don't hold up over time or retain any value. The best purchase for entry level sets is to find a respected name in the drum industry (Pearl, Ludwig, Tama, etc) that offers an entry level option. Inspect the hardware (stands, pedals, etc) and make sure they appear to be able to withstand the amount of use you wish to get out of them. The hardware is the most important part because replacing these can get expensive. If you get a respected name and the hardware is decent and well maintained throughout it's usage, the set will usually retain a good amount of the value and can be resold for sometimes as much as 75% of the original purchase price regardless of how old the set is.

Guitars are not generally a part of common rental programs either. The main reason for this is because entry level guitars can be bought relatively inexpensively. Respected names in the guitar industry (Fender, Gibson, Takamine, Dean, etc) have entry level acoustic guitars that can be sold for as little as $120 and electric guitar packages for around $150-$200 (depending on what is included in the package). These guitars can be adjusted to make them play better and are a good (and cheap) way to start a music education.

Piano (or keys) can be tricky to purchase because of all the technological advances and options that can confuse customers. To learn piano it is no longer an absolute necessity to own a piano. Keyboards and digital pianos have come very close to mimicking pianos and are close enough now to where the practice on them can easily translate to a full-sized piano. One of the most important features to look for is the amount of keys. The best keyboards (or digital pianos) have 88 keys but most teachers agree that 76 keys are acceptable also. 61 keys and less cause too much range to be lost and it can hinder learning. The other important feature is to make sure the keys are weighted and full-sized. These allow the keyboard to feel and play just like a real piano. You should be able to find a keyboard or digital piano from a reputable company (Yamaha, Casio, etc) with these features for around $300. That's not exactly cheap but it is in relative terms to what a full-sized piano costs.

The best advice is to be wary of deals on any instruments that seem too good to be true (they usually are). Many big box stores now sell instruments but these instruments are generally much lower in quality than anything found in a respected music store. It's generally worth the extra money to go to a reputable music dealer that knows the products inside and out and can assist you with your exact needs within your budget.