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by OnlyPiano.com
Is Piano Rental
the Right Choice for Me?
There a number of
reasons why a piano rental might be the
best solution for someone learning to
play the piano: affordability, no
pressure to purchase, and plenty of
instruments to choose from.
Most piano rental
agencies have console pianos, baby grand
pianos, grand pianos, digital pianos
(sometimes called clavinovas) or
keyboards to select from.
Piano Rental
Advantages
-
If you or your child is a
beginning piano student, the cost of
buying a piano might be daunting.
Renting pianos affords families the
opportunity to make music without
investing thousands of dollars upfront.
-
A piano rental is as temporary as
you want it to be. If you don't like
your piano, you can always return it and
try a new one. Or, if your child decides
she would rather play soccer than learn
the piano, your investment is not
completely wasted.
-
You pay a flat fee each month.
-
Depending on your piano rental
source, there are a number of flexible
rental programs to choose from. Some
even offer financing plans for renting
pianos.
Piano Rental
Disadvantages
-
There will probably be additional
expenses beyond the piano rental fee.
You might have to pay for piano moving
charges, as well as for periodic tuning.
-
If you get involved in a
rent-to-buy agreement, you may lose
money if you break the contract.
-
Your piano rental contract could
only apply to one instrument, so if
you're unhappy with your current piano,
you might not have any recourse.
-
Some piano rentals are restricted
to residential use only.
Renting a
Piano: How to Do It
When renting a piano,
you should first consider the period of
time you want to rent for. Is six months
long enough to know if your child will
stick with the piano lessons?
Next, you should
determine a monthly budget. How much can
you realistically afford to pay each
month for your piano rental? You should
also decide if a rent-to-buy situation
is something that interests you.
Lastly, you should
decide if you are willing to rent a
secondhand piano or if you only want a
brand new instrument.
Many piano rentals are
subject to credit approval, so you may
need to fill out some paperwork to get
the ball rolling. Once you've been
approved, you may have a choice in the
length of rental period, as well as the
type of piano. Keep in mind that many
piano rentals have an initial
three-month rental period, after which
there's no obligation to continue
renting.
Although piano rentals
aren't permanent, you're still signing a
contract and agreeing to a set price.
You need to be positive that a piano
rental is the right choice for your
situation. Once you've made up your
mind, you can look for a piano rental
source.
Renting Pianos:
Where to Do It
The easiest place to
look for a good deal on renting a piano
is a local dealership or possibly even a
music school. Piano dealers may offer
rental programs for new instruments, but
any kind of educational institution will
only offer secondhand pianos.
As with everything else
in the age of technology, you can also
search online for piano rental agents.
Keep in mind that you don't always know
who you're dealing with on the internet,
so read piano rental agreements very
carefully.
Although the internet
may advertise cheaper rental rates than
what you can get locally, you have a
better chance of getting the customer
service you want from someone nearby. If
there's ever a problem with the
instrument or you need to discuss the
terms of your piano rental contract,
it's simpler for everyone involved if
you can talk face-to-face with a
professional.
That's not to say that
you shouldn't shop around for the best
prices. Renting a piano is certainly
more economical than buying a piano
outright, but it can still be a
significant expense.
Wherever you decide to
rent from, be sure that you have
everything in writing and that you are
completely comfortable with the terms of
the agreement.
Piano Rentals:
What Are the Costs?
Piano rentals can vary
significantly in monthly costs, based on
a number of factors: type of piano,
length of agreement, credit approval,
financing, age of the piano, or the
source.
An older, less expensive
console piano that has been moderately
used would be ideal for a beginning
student. These "budget" piano rentals
can be found as cheap as $30 per month.
A digital piano or
keyboard, which is lightweight and
allows for the use of headphones, might
cost around $45 per month. Newer, better
quality console pianos for students
start around $65 per month.
Professional-quality
console pianos, which haven't been
heavily used and feature better sound
and action, average around $100 per
month. To rent a grand piano, you might
spend around $150 per month. Naturally,
the prices in your area may be higher or
lower depending on availability and
demand.
Renting a piano is often
the most affordable and logical solution
for someone who is interested in playing
the piano but not yet ready to make such
a large purchase or commitment.
Regardless of what type of piano you
rent, and from whom, be sure you
research your price options and go over
the rental agreement with a careful eye.
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