I can’t count the times a student has shown up with “Uncle Bob’s old guitar” to see if he is serious or if it is just another phase. The strings are rusty, you can drive a small GM product between the neck and the strings and it sounds like a cardboard box. No – this instrument is not good enough! If the instrument is unplayable or sounds bad, the student will not want to play it or practise. 

Always get the best quality instrument your budget allows.

If you are not sure about the student’s commitment and are leery of making a big investment, renting is a great option. If it doesn’t work out, simply return the instrument. If it does, most places will credit a portion of your rental towards the purchase of the instrument.  Good instruments can be expensive, especially when it comes to drums or pianos.

A big guitar question is, “Should I start on acoustic and graduate to electric”? I feel that it is best to start on whatever will inspire the student to play. Both are played the same way, the notes and chords are the same and they are comparably priced.  If the student really wants to rock out, an acoustic may not be the right choice. Conversely, if you are pursuing a graded conservatory approach, an electric guitar may not be the right instrument. In my experience, when the students start accomplishing their objectives, they usually branch out to other styles on their own.

For piano students, buying a piano may not be in the cards. If this is the case, a good digital piano is the way to go. The minimum requirements would be: weighted action, touch sensitivity, and preferably a full 88 note keyboard but at least 76 notes to start will do.

Many people are concerned about space and volume when it comes to drums. If these are concerns, you may want to look into purchasing or renting an electronic kit where you can have great sounds and the ability to turn the volume down.

In summary, it’s always best to start with the best quality instrument  possible so that the student will find practicing and playing pleasurable and be motivated to continue with music. Renting is a great alternative to purchasing if budget or commitment is an issue.