28/11/11 Saving Money On Musical Instruments - Kent Music

Parents can save hundreds of pounds by hiring musical instruments for their children rather than buying them outright, says education charity Kent Music.

There’s little point investing in lessons for your child unless they can develop their skills on a good quality instrument, suitable for their age and ability. However, many parents soon discover that purchasing the right music equipment can be confusing and expensive.

After a few months, the child may grow out of it or even switch to another instrument, leaving parents out of pocket or scrambling to recover a fraction of their investment at a boot sale or on eBay.

While any decent violin or flute is likely to cost £150 to £200 and a good saxophone up to £400, students having lessons with Kent Music can hire a good quality instrument for just £40 per academic year.

Kent Music’s teaching development manager, Richard Davenport, said: “Buying a quality instrument is an expensive outlay, yet growing children often require a range of instruments of various sizes and builds as they develop. By taking lessons and hiring direct from Kent Music, students can continue to play an instrument that is most suitable for their age and ability.”

Kent Music has 2,000 instruments for hire, including wind instruments such as flutes, saxophones, bassoons and trumpets; strings, from violins up to the double bass, a selection of guitars and there is even the chance to hire a harp. Each instrument is of good quality and is maintained by the Kent Music workshop, which carries out all minor repairs.

Students not taking tuition with Kent Music can also hire an instrument – at £80 for the year. Kent Music’s 14,000 students pay half that, while taking advantage of attractive tuition rates learning from more than 200 professional teachers, either as individuals or in groups.

For more information about Kent Music, visit www.kent-music.com.

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