All too often money is tight and can be the bottom line in many decisions. In my years of teaching I have seen many eBay and Amazon.com instruments come into my class. Many parents, and myself, have done the math and found out that it is cheaper to purchase an instrument on one of these sites instead of renting. Especially, when you are have a feeling your beginning musician might quit, switch instruments, or possibly not take care of it properly. When purchasing an online instrument please consider the following thoughts before you purchase:
These instruments are cheap because the quality of their construction. They often make it hard for students (even professionals) to play. Beginning students might not know a lot about music yet, but they know when their instrument sounds bad and is physically hard to play. This often contributes to their frustration level and dedication to practicing.
Poorly made instruments will break on their own. The materials don't hold together for long. The cost of repairing these can total more than the purchasing price. You are faced with a decision about purchasing a new one, renting one, paying the repair cost, or having your child discontinue in the music program.
A small increase in the cost of an instrument can help solve the above problems and help you find an instrument that you could resell at a decent price if a child decides to leave the orchestra program.Having spend money investing into my instruments and knowing the choices parents face, I understand that you still might be considering an online purchase. My suggestions if you are still thinking of purchasing online are simple.
Send me links of instruments you find online and are considering. I can not only suggest if it is worth the money, but I can help with picking a decent instrument for your eager band member!
Contact me and I can suggest reputable companies that sell a decent, quality instrument at a reasonable cost for you to look into.