What Parents Need to Know When Buying Their Child a Musical Instrument

What Parents Need to Know When Buying Their Child a Musical Instrument

American Music Conference Offers Tips for Shopping Smart This Holiday Season

CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- With the holiday season fast approaching, it's time to start shopping for that guitar, violin, oboe, tuba or whatever instrument your musical child is begging to receive as his or her top-choice gift. But first it's important to be an educated consumer -- so that the new violin doesn't wind up collecting dust under the bed or being returned to the store.

The first thing to ask yourself is, "Is my child ready to own his or her own instrument?"

"You're ready to make a purchase when your child has shown a true dedication to playing his or her instruments," says Mary Luehrsen, associate executive director of the American Music Conference (AMC), a leading national nonprofit organization that promotes the benefits of music, music education and music making for children. "Perhaps he or she plays in the school band or takes private lessons. Either way, you'll want to consider buying an instrument when your child has been playing for at least a year and wants to continue to do so."

While price is what drives most people towards a purchase when buying a musical instrument, there are many other factors to investigate before reaching into your pockets. To help parents shop with authority, AMC has put together these tips to ensure a confident buying decision and a happy musical child.

1. Consult with an unbiased source. "Talk to your school's band or
orchestra instructor, another family who recently purchased an
instrument or your local music teachers' association," says AMC Board
President, Danny Rocks. "It's important to seek out the guidance of
someone who has been through the purchasing experience and understands
the musical development of a child. You'll also want the unbiased
source to give you guidance regarding the long-term use of an
instrument."

2. Do compare prices. Most consumers don't know the price range of
instruments, so it's important to get a base of reference. Surfing the
Internet is a good way to start. Taking a trip to bricks-and-mortar
retailers in neighboring communities is a good way to compare prices
and find sales. Many national and local music retailers have Web sites
that both sell instruments and offer buying FAQs. Mail order music
companies and online marketplace sites like eBay are other resources
to investigate.

Obviously, you're going to find substantial differences in prices
between new and used instruments. But the buyer should beware. Used
may be appealing to the wallet, but to the inexperienced eye, how do
you know you're not getting a product that's been abused? Your
instrument has to look and sound like it's supposed to!

With a mail-order purchase, not seeing or hearing the instrument in
person can be a risk. Also, a peak shopping season carries the
potential for back orders. If you're going this route, be sure to make
your purchase well in advance, so your child has his or new instrument
for the holidays.

3. Ask the right questions. Keep these topics in mind no matter whom you
buy from: technical support, maintenance, accessories, warranties and
trade-in opportunities.
* Technical support. This is especially important with electronics,
so make sure the vendor you choose has these capabilities.
* Maintenance. You'll want to know if the vendor provides regular or
as needed repairs on the instrument -- for example, worn pads on a
clarinet and/or key mechanisms.
* Accessories. A violin bow needs rosin. Guitars need extra strings.
Musicians need to keep time, so how about a metronome? Make sure
your vendor can expertly sell to you all of the necessities that
go along with playing the instrument.
* Warranties. Buying an instrument is a very personal thing. After
doing all of the research and finally making a purchase, the last
thing you want is to have problems that will cost you more money.
Be sure that the retailer or the manufacturer is willing to pay
for repairs for a certain period of time without any additional
costs.
* Trade-in opportunities. At some point your Baby Clapton will
advance and require a finer or perhaps larger instrument. You'll
want the retailer to offer a trade-in value for a more advanced
model.

4. Make sure your salesperson asks the right questions. A knowledgeable
and efficient salesperson will want to know how your child is going to
be using the instrument, now and in the future. Will he or she be
playing in a group or solo? How long has your child been playing?
Will he or she travel with the instrument-and to what climates? You'll
want to be sure you're getting the proper instrument case for
traveling, all of the accommodating accessories and, most importantly,
an instrument that has the proper sound for your use. You'll also want
your salesperson to provide detailed instructions on care and
cleaning.

5. Have fun. Music making has many academic, social and emotional
benefits for children and teens. While shopping for your purchase,
always keep this in mind. You're supporting your child's interest,
talent and ambition, which may lead to a lifelong passion for music.
You're also opening doors for many future successes.

The American Music Conference is a national non-profit educational association dedicated to promoting the importance of music, music-making and music education to the general public. For more information, visit http://www.amc-music.org/.

Source: The American Music Conference

CONTACT: Jodi Burack, of Giles Communications, +1-914-798-7132,
jburack@giles.com

Web site: http://www.amc-music.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information or to set up an interview with a music retailer or music education expert near you, please contact Jodi Burack at 914-798-7132.

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