Step 3. Get an Instrument
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All pupils will need an instrument to practise on at home and to bring in for the lesson (although see * note at bottom of page) |
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Music for Life does not supply instruments, but can help organize the rental or purchase of an instrument at prices that are often very much lower than you would normally expect. Dawsons Music have a range of low priced instruments, ideal for beginners. Dawsons Music has a large range of instruments that are sold at discounted rates to Music for Life pupils.
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Please note that more detailed, up to date information in the form of a Dawsons Music leaflet will be sent out with your tuition agreement. The information below is based on information currently available ( Jan 1st 2009 ) and is simply intended to illustrate the approximate price of these instruments to help you decide which instrument to go for. Prices are not in our control and may change. All instruments below are suitable for beginners. Other, higher priced models, possibly of interest to more advanced students, are also listed on the Dawsons Music leaflet we provide. |
Brass |
LEA Assisted Purchase Price |
Buy Outright Price |
Monthly Rental |
| Trumpet |
£149 |
£170 |
£11 |
| Cornet |
£179 |
£200 |
£13 |
| Trombone |
£169 |
£200 |
£13 |
| Woodwind |
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| Clarinet |
£129 |
£200 |
£13 |
| Saxophone |
£229 |
£260 |
£18 |
| Flute |
£149 |
£200 |
£13 |
| Strings |
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| Violin |
£64 |
£93 |
N/A |
| Viola |
£89 |
£120 |
N/A |
| Cello |
£229 |
£299 |
N/A |
| Guitars |
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|
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| Acoustic Guitar |
£22 - £32 |
£30 - £40 |
N/A |
| Electric Guitar Pack (inc. amplifier etc) |
£130 (approx) |
£164 |
N/A |
| Bass Guitar Pack (inc. amplifier ) |
£210 |
£240 |
N/A |
| 5 piece Drum Kit |
£199 |
£230 |
N/A |
| Keyboard (Yamaha) |
£111 (approx) |
£135 |
N/A |
* Please Note all LEA assisted purchases are subject to a £10 carriage charge.
Further Notes on Getting an Instrument
Buying outright: LEA Assisted Scheme.
This scheme means you do not pay VAT on the cost of an instrument when your child learns in an LEA school and when lessons are provided on a not-for-profit basis. This initiative has been taken to boost the numbers learning instruments in school by making the instruments themselves very much more affordable. The idea is that the school would place the order for the instrument, which is then delivered to school and handed over to you. You would then write a cheque to school for the cost of the instrument minus VAT. Most Cheshire schools have already taken advantage of this scheme, which is designed to help as many children as possible learn an instrument in school, so they will probably know what to do.
Renting an instrument.
This has the advantage that there is no major outlay and rental prices are very reasonable. You can return your instrument after a taster course having only paid 3 or 4 months rental. Should you decide to buy inside of 2 years, whatever you have paid in rental will come off the purchase price. The instrument will become yours after 24 months rental. Almost all band instruments are available to rent for the duration of the taster course. Drum kits, pianos, keyboards, guitars and string instruments such as violins, violas and cellos, are not available for rental.
*(PLEASE NOTE: Piano players do not need to bring their piano into school! And yes, we have been asked this before!! Drummers do not need to bring drum kits in. Electric / Bass Guitarists at High Schools do not need to bring an amp into school. Keyboard players at primary school would need to get their keyboardinto school for their lesson. This is firstly because many primary schools do not have suitable keyboards available for these lessons and, secondly, it is unhelpful for children to be taught on a keyboard whose controls and sounds are likely to be quite different to the one they then have to practise on at home.) |
