WHERE SHOULD WE RENT OUR BAND INSTRUMENT?
I highly recommend renting your instrument from Hills Music Shoppe, for several reasons:
A representative from Hills will deliver your instrument to our school, so you never have to drive to the shop.
A representative from Hills will pick up your instrument from the school if it needs repairs, and bring supplies to the school that you order from their website.
Your monthly rental $$ fee includes a service plan that covers repairs and adjustments to your instrument. You will need it 😉
All of the instruments they offer are high quality instruments that have been vetted by myself and other professional music educators.
Some of the money you spend on the rental will count towards you purchasing the instrument, if you want to.
I have been working with this family-owned shop for many years. The service they have consistently provided over these years has been unmatched by any other music shop in the area. If it were my kid, I would rent from Hills.
You can watch this video to learn more about what to expect when you rent your instrument from Hills:
HOW DO I RENT MY INSTRUMENT FROM HILLS MUSIC SHOP?
First, read this, please.
After you apply for your rental on the website, you will receive two emails to finish the application. Your rental will not be set up until you complete the directions in these emails . Please check your email "junk" or "spam" folder daily.
Okay now go to https://www.hillsmusicshoppe.com/aerntschoolselect
By the way, you do not need to order a music book, because we use our Chromebooks instead. And yes, accessories like the cleaning kit, a box of extra reeds (clarinet only), and a music stand are highly recommended.
WHAT IF I WANT TO RENT MY INSTRUMENT FROM A DIFFERENT SHOP?
The only other shop in Raleigh that I recommend is Music & Arts . But if you go there, please only rent an instrument from this List Of Approved Instruments.
Please do not purchase a cheap instrument from Amazon or eBay. I have seen these fall apart in a student's hands during class, which is demoralizing and embarrassing for the child. They are cheap for a reason: they do not sound good, they do not play in tune, and they break. They are not "band director approved", no matter what the website says and no matter how many stars they have. They are not a way to save money, they are a way to waste money. Please only get an approved instrument.
The safest thing to do is rent from Hills. All of their instruments are approved, they do not carry any low-quality instruments. Other stores in the area do. You can trust Hills.
HOW CAN I ASK MR. DICKSON A QUESTION?
JDickson@wcpss.net or through Talking Points.