Once your child's application for instrumental lessons has been accepted, you will need to think about hiring or purchasing an instrument. Here, you will find a list of possible, thought not exhaustive, companies that you might like to consider for hiring the instrument rather than offering just one option as in the past.

If your child will be learning to play the guitar, please note that it is suggested that you choose a guitar with nylon strings and ensure that the instrument is of a suitable size. Half size and three-quarter size guitars are available from companies such as Chamberlain Music and these are much easier for smaller children to play. Information can be found at www.chamberlainmusic.com.

If you have requested flute lessons, you will be able to hire an instrument directly from Worcestershire Youth Music who will rent out instruments to their pupils. Information can be found at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/music. This is at a cost of £32 per term and payment can not be put towards the purchase of the instrument at a later date.

ABC Music, although not local, do offer hire of instruments and will be happy to send them up to Worcestershire. They offer three standards of instruments for hire, and after checking with instrumental teachers, they suggest that it would be a good idea to hire the middle range rather than going for the cheaper option. Full terms and conditions relating to the hire can be found at www.abcmusic.biz. With this scheme, if you were to go on and purchase the instrument later, you would be able to at least have some of the cost of the first three months rental put towards the cost of the instrument. When the hire period ends you would then be responsible for the carriage back to London. One parent has already hired from this company and found the process quite easy.

The school does have a few brass instruments, guitars and keyboards that we can hire out to pupils, so please ask if you would be interested.

Should you be thinking about buying an instrument please do ask the teacher concerned if you should have any questions. It may also be possible to claim back the VAT on instrument purchases from some shops with schemes such as the Assisted Purchase Scheme.