Renting and Buying Student Trumpets
Renting and buying student-level trumpets can be confusing for parents who don't have experience buying musical instruments. This information is meant to be a starting place. Before reading on, keep this in mind: Do not purchase a trumpet without consulting the student’s private teacher. This is a big investment, so get some guidance before deciding on anything yourself.
Should we buy or rent?
For beginning trumpet students who don't already own an instrument to start out on, renting a trumpet or cornet for a few months is an option that makes sense. This gives the student a chance to see if they like playing the trumpet without feeling pressured to make a purchase.
In my opinion, renting is a great option for short time period. After a few months, consider buying a used student trumpet.
We decided we want to rent. What should we know first?
Before you decide which store to rent from, check the prices and offers at various places. A store might partner with your school, but this doesn’t mean that you are obligated to rent from them.
Some questions to consider:
1. Is there a discounted introductory period? If so, how long does it last?
2. If there is a discounted introductory period, what is the monthly price after it ends?
3. Does the store provide new instruments, used instruments, or a choice between the two?
4. If it's a rent-to-buy program, what is the price of the trumpet?
5. Is repair service included in the rental agreement?
Once you've decided on a store to rent from, inspect the instrument they give you. It's your money — you and the trumpet student deserve to be satisfied.
1. Are there any dents in the instrument?
2. Any other cosmetic flaws like pitting of the lacquer or scratches? If the salesman says it will come off with a polishing cloth, ask him to show you.
3. Do the valves move smoothly? If they tell you "they just need some oil," ask the salesman to oil them and then try them again.
4. Do all the slides move freely? When you take them off, are they easy to put back on?
6. Does a Bach mouthpiece fit in the receiver without falling out? (a bit of an odd question, but one local store sold my student a trumpet with a faulty receiver)
The store we’re renting from does a rent-to-own program. Is that a good value?
It depends on what you’re looking for and your budget. The value of a student instrument drops tremendously once it is used.
Take a look at the prices listed on new student instruments at the music store in question
Look at the prices of new student instruments online
Look at the prices of used student instruments online. A great way to find out the value of something is to do a search on eBay. Search for the item you are interested in and then check the box “sold listings” on the left hand side. This will show you what prices these items are actually selling for.
Is buying a used student trumpet a good idea?
It’s a great idea. You can find a very good student trumpet in the $200-$600 range. This can be used through high school for a casual trumpet student. For a student serious about improving, the student horn can be sold or can be used in marching band and pep band. If the student takes good care of their used student-level trumpet, they should be able to sell it for a price similar to what they paid.
What is the difference between a student trumpet and a pro trumpet?
The difference lies in the materials and craftsmanship. Where professional model trumpets are made in small batches by hand, student level trumpets are mass produced by machines. Student trumpets are made from lower-quality materials, don't last as long, and don't sound as good as a professional trumpet. Any serious student will eventually need a professional level trumpet, as they will be held back by a student trumpet.
The local music store sells intermediate trumpets that are cheaper than pro trumpets. This fits our budget better. Is this a good value?
Intermediate level trumpets are generally student trumpets with a few added cosmetic features: silver plating, non-adjustable finger rings, fancier finger buttons, etc. They are generally not worth the price. A much better option is to look for a used professional level trumpet when the student is ready to upgrade.