When you or your child become inspired to start an orchestral string instrument, you will almost immediately face sticker shock noticing the prices are an order of magnitude higher than you probably ever imagined. Yes, quality violins, violas, cellos and basses (all part of the violin family) are extraordinarily expensive! They cost thousands of dollars minimum and can potentially be more expensive than cars and even houses! …And unfortunately, cheap alternatives will almost invariably not serve you well.
This is a bad news, more bad news, good news situation: Quality violin family instruments have always been expensive and they keep getting more expensive but that also means you can expect well-chosen examples to hold their value and even appreciate in value. So at least you’re not dumping your money down the drain! Unfortunately though, even with the silver lining of appreciation, it’s a huge cash outlay to get started. The solution for most is to rent with a “rent-to-own” program from a reputable violin shop (not a general music store).
“Rent-to-own” programs have become increasingly commonplace and many feel they are definitively a win-win solution to a potentially cost-prohibitive pursuit. Rental programs come in all flavors though so it’s important to know the specifics and/or talk to a teacher about her/his recommendations. A few guidelines:
A good rent-to-own program should provide a quality instrument suited to the student’s size and level at a reasonable monthly price and should include instrument insurance.
A student should be able to trade it for a bigger/better instrument as she progresses.
The shop should have a set fee structure defining upgrade options and most of the monthly rental payments should go toward credit for eventual purchase of an instrument.
The student should be able to choose the specific purchase instrument at the time of purchase so as not to get “stuck” with the rental.
So why is it so important to locate a small, local, violin-specific shop as opposed to the closest big-store chain? Don’t they offer similar programs? On the surface, the larger stores seem quite competitive but up close, there is no comparison. Violin family instruments require incredibly high-level, specific set up and frequent maintenance to be resilient and perform satisfactorily. General music stores can’t afford to keep craftsmen on staff to support such a small part of their revenue stream. Reputable violin shops employ lifelong craftsmen, luthiers who provide the highest level of support for setup, pre-purchase inspection, maintenance, repair, and restoration. Additionally, the level of the shop defines the level of the inventory available for eventual purchase. At that time, a “rent-to-own” program will prove to be only as valuable as the quality of its inventory.
Call us or write to us anytime for specific recommendations or more detailed information. This is a huge topic and of course there’s not one best solution for everyone. Though renting is often the best way to go, purchase can be far a superior choice in some instances. In any case, we always look forward to talking with those who have recently embarked on the exciting journey into the world of strings. The craftsmanship and performance of violin family instruments have defined a pinnacle of human achievement for over half a millennia and one would be hard pressed to find a more worthwhile pursuit!