SHOULD I PURCHASE AN INSTRUMENT?
Are you renting a full size violin or cello?
Are you renting a ¾ size bass?
Is your violist done growing and/or in 8th grade?
If you answer YES to any of these, it could be a great time to think about purchasing an instrument!
We have helpful hits for purchasing an instrument at the bottom of this page.
If your answer is NO, RENTING an instrument is by far the better decision!
Keep reading for rental information!
Do NOT purchase anything off the internet. In our combined years of teaching, we have NEVER met an instrument purchased online that is playable. You spend more money to repair the instrument than what it is worth. Trust us on this one!
Are you renting a ¾ size bass?
Is your violist done growing and/or in 8th grade?
If you answer YES to any of these, it could be a great time to think about purchasing an instrument!
We have helpful hits for purchasing an instrument at the bottom of this page.
If your answer is NO, RENTING an instrument is by far the better decision!
Keep reading for rental information!
Do NOT purchase anything off the internet. In our combined years of teaching, we have NEVER met an instrument purchased online that is playable. You spend more money to repair the instrument than what it is worth. Trust us on this one!
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RENTAL COMPANIES
Each week both Dallas Strings, Brook Mays, and Music & Arts deliver supplies to our schools! You never have to go visit the store unless you want to! Your instrument and any supplies you order will be delivered directly to your school prior to the start of school.
DALLAS STRINGS
20 East McDermott Road
Allen, Texas 469-675-0085 Dallas Strings representative visits Cain for instrument needs WAYNE BURAK & ASSOCIATES
1939 Stadium Oaks Ct #105
Arlington, TX 76011 817-801-6700 Wayne Burak does not visit CMS, but they are a fantastic place to check out step up instruments! |
BROOK MAYS
5756 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Dallas, Texas 972-233-9633 Brook Mays representative visits Cain for instrument needs MUSIC & ARTS
919 I-30 Suite 125
Rockwall, TX 75087 972-722-7922 Music & Arts representative visits Cain for instrument needs |
ORCHESTRA SUPPLY LIST
All Utley Orchestra students need:
- Instrument of Natural wood colors (with case and bow)
- Shoulder Rest (for Violins & Violas) - usually obtained 6th grade year
- Rockstop (for Cellos & Basses) - usually obtained 6th grade year
- Rosin
- Cleaning Cloth - can be an old scrap of material
- Korg Clip-on Tuner - usually obtained 6th grade year
- Folding Music Stand (for home use) - usually obtained 6th grade year
- Essential Elements for Strings Book 1
- Pencil
- Highlighter
I AM READY TO PURCHASE AN INSTRUMENT!
- Start at the company you have been renting from. You can use some of your rental money towards the purchase of an instrument! Call and ask how much rental money you have accumulated. You will be surprised! Ask to schedule an appointment to look at some instruments.
- Before you go to your appointment, decide your price range.
- Try lots of instruments in your price range. Orchestra teacher tip: Don’t forget to spend some money on a bow. A $5,000 violin paired with a $100 bow is not a good match.
- Have your child bring music with them to the appointment. The best thing to play is a 2 octave scale that starts on their lowest string. Play the same scale on every instrument you are trying…you’ll start to notice a difference in sound as you move up in price. When you’ve narrowed your choice down to two or three instruments you like, ask to borrow them for a few weeks. Take them home with you. (This is standard practice.) Let us look them over for you!
If you have ANY questions during this fun (and sometimes overwhelming time) please ask! We are here to help!
If possible, we would love to go with you to start this process!
