Where to Buy/Hire an Instrument

If you wish to hire or purchase an instrument for your child’s music tuition, Hub partner Windstruments will be able to meet your needs. They also repair instruments.

Download an instrument hire form from Windstruments or email sales@windstruments.co.uk.

They are based at 1 Rhysworth Bridge, Crossflatts, Bingley BD16 2DX   Tel: 01274 510050.  They are open Tuesday-Saturday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Already a Player?

If you are already a player then the best advice anyone can give you is to go out and play all the instruments you can until you find the one that suits you and your budget best. There is simply no substitute for trying and selecting the instrument you will make your own.

Buy, Rent, or Borrow?

You may not wish to buy an instrument immediately in case it turns out not to suit you or your child. Some music services (organisations contracted by the Local Authority to provide music tuition in state schools and at music centres) and schools offer instruments on loan to beginners; many others (including some retailers) operate rental systems that, for a modest fee, provide for an experimental trial period. This is invaluable for the more expensive instruments as it allows your child to get a feel for what is involved in learning, playing and maintaining the instrument before actually buying one.

The instrument must be appropriate for your child, however you intend to obtain it. Learning on a sub-standard instrument is extremely demoralising and will prevent your child progressing. You do not have to buy the most expensive instrument, but it must be fit for purpose and properly set up to suit your child try to consult a teacher or music shop. If you are offered the loan of an instrument by a friend or family member, or are considering the purchase of a second-hand instrument, a teacher should check it for suitability before it is used. However good an instrument is, it may not necessarily be appropriate for your child. Most young string players, for example, begin learning on specially-made smaller instruments and will find it very uncomfortable (if not impossible) to play an instrument that is too large.

The best advice is to talk to other musicians, music teachers and music stores to advise on the brands and models to look out for. These are the people with the experience to direct you to the kinds of products that they trust to do the job for them. There is no shortage of great products and brands so you will usually be spoilt for choice.