4 tips on buying a child's musical instrument

If you haven't yet rented an instrument for your son or daughter, you might be better off buying your own instead. Read below to find out why.

• Parents who purchase used or new instruments can help their children feel more confident when playing. This also increases the chance that your son or daughter will stick with the instrument.
• Parents sometimes worry about losing money when buying an instrument, but the second-hand market provides many sales opportunities that help minimize financial risks.

• Even with payments going toward the cost of your child's instrument, you wind up spending nearly twice as much. Rent-to-own prices are based on manufacturers' suggested retail prices, but consumers rarely pay full price for anything.
• With rental instruments, you might pay 20 to 40 per cent more right from the start. Purchase during a sale, and you can save a significant amount of money.

• It takes roughly three weeks for the novelty of a new instrument, and the lessons and practice that go alongside, to wear off. After this adjustment phase, your child will have a fairly good idea if he or she wants to continue playing.
• Thankfully, most reputable stores have a 30-day return policy, which allows you to get back all of your investment if things don't work out.

• With all the avenues available for second-hand instrument sales, from sales online to consignment at a music store, you can often find high-quality instruments at a fraction of the annual rental price. These sales are perfect for a student who is just starting out.
• If your son or daughter decides to quit early on, you can often sell the instrument for at least as much as you paid. Savvy buyers can even wind up making a profit.