We have compiled this list of stores to help you out (Stores listed at bottom of page including website links). If you have any problems or questions about renting instruments, please call us and we would be glad to help you. We highly recommend that you rent an instrument first, not purchase. Before investing in an instrument, you want to see if your child will make a commitment to his or her lessons. Most stores will give you credit from your rental towards a purchase if you decide to do that at some point. Be very cautious about new instruments being sold at very inexpensive prices at places like Costco or in catalogs. "You get what you paid for" is my best advise.

The main things you need to know when renting an instrument is that most stores may ask you for a credit card to secure the instrument (not necessarily to make payments with). The average cost of renting a clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone and snare drum is around $20.00 per month for a used instrument and around $25.00 per month for a new. Saxophones are the most expensive and can cost up to twice the amount of the instruments listed above. If the expense is an issue, clarinet or flute are good second options. After one year, if your child shows a commitment to his or her music lessons, you may decide to go the extra expense and rent a sax instead of clarinet. It is not difficult to make the switch. Some stores, like Best Music in Oakland and Bronsteins in San Francisco, will give you special school year discounts/prices. I highly recommend them.

El Cerrito Area Band Instrument Pick Up Day: Tuesday Sept. 13 from 5-6:45 at St. Jerome School

For Hayward area Parents: We have arranged a few instrument try-out and rental days for folks down in the Hayward area as part of our JUMP START Program. Best Music in Oakland will bring down instruments. Click on the link below.  They have a deal where if you rent the instrument for the school year (9 months) they will charge you only 6 month of rental fees. This is a nice discount.

What Instrument to Choose?

The best recommendation we can make is to choose the instrument your child is excited about. If your child is not sure what to play, take your child to a local store to browse and have the store personnel help you. A common question asked by students and parents is " What is the easiest or hardest instrument to play?" The simple answer is practice. Each instrument has its' challenges but nothing too hard that cannot be overcome with practice.

How much of a time commitment should you plan for in terms of practicing?

Beginning band students should plan to practice 15-20 minutes a day, 3-5 days a week. Small amounts of focused practice time and consistency are the most important factors that will guarantee your child's success. The best thing you can do, whether you yourself have musical experience or not, is help your child set up a practice routine. You may even want to come up with some reward incentives for them. M.U.S.E. Instructors do this with "Band Bucks" which are coupons that students can earn for practicing and doing well in class. Students redeem these coupons for special rewards. It is absolutely crucial for students to practice at home. Start structuring their practice sessions immediately. Learning an instrument really starts at home and is reinforced with weekly lessons. A child will not learn an instrument if they only play once a week in class.

Other Suggestions:

• Fold-up-wire-music stands are highly recommended and should be almost mandatory. Stands cost in range of $12-$15 and can be purchased at any music store. Students need to have a good place to set their music while they practice. Laying music down on the bed or on a table creates bad posture and awkwardness in reading the music. Please consider the purchase of a music stand.

• Clarinet and saxophone students need to purchase a box of reeds. Reeds will chip and break over time. If students take care of their reeds(instructors will talk about this in class), a reed can last 2-4 weeks. A box of 10 reeds would be good to start with. Keep 2-3 reeds in the instrument case and leave the others at home. Rental instruments usually come with just one reed.

• Trumpet and Trombone players need valve oil/slide oil.

• Flute players usually have a cleaning rod in their cases when renting or purchasing an instrument. Just rap a cloth around the rod and push through flute after each playing session to get rid of moisture.

1. •Drummers: Drum students need to rent a snare drum. In addition, drum students should have a set of tuned bells (mallet instrument that is usually 2 octaves and is similar to a Xylophone). Some stores have kits that have these two items together. The curriculum that M.U.S.E. has developed starts drummers on the bells for the first few months so they can learn how to read notes and melodies. The instruction book then introduces the snare drum, and by the end of the first year, students have the option to play either drums or tuned bells on any given song or exercise. If you cannot find a bell set, please call the M.U.S.E. Office and we will help you. Starland Music in Alameda sells bell kits for $99.00 and will ship it to you.
   

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Music Stores (click on stores below for their website).

El Cerrito/Berkeley

Forrests Music 1849 University Ave., Berkeley................................................510-845-7178

Music Works * 11225 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito.............................................510-232-1000

Starving Musician  2474 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley..............................................510-841-2648

 

Oakland/Alameda

Best Music * (tuned bells/xylophone are available)

1716 Broadway , Oakland....................................................................................510-832-2024

A&G Music 564 14th St. Oakland.......................................................................510-832-2452

Starland Music Center(tuned bells are available) *

1631 Park St. ,Alameda .......................................................................................510-523-4797

 

Concord

House of Woodwinds 2205 San Ramon Valley Blvd.,San Ramon.....................925-831-8341

C&L Music (has bells)2395 "B" Monument Blvd.,Concord.............................925-686-6122

Spitzer Music * 1931 Market St. Concord .........................................................925-676-3151

 

San Francisco

Union Music 1475 Bush(corner of Bush and Van Ness), S.F......................415-775-6043

Bronsteins Music* (bells) 363 Grand Ave. South S.F. .................................650-588-2502

Sunset Music 2311 Irving(corner of 24th ave.) S.F. .......................................415-731-1725

 

Cupertino/San Jose

Starving Musician *

3427 El Camino Real(2 blocks east of Lawrence Expressway)...........................408-554-9041

1555 Meridian, San Jose.....................................................................................408-269-5454

World Of Music 20015 Stevens Creek Blvd. (at Blaney)..................................408-252-8264

West Valley Music (no percussion rentals)

1350 Grant Rd. Mountain View...........................................................................650-961-1566

 

M.U.S.E. has provided this list for the convenience of its' customers. We acknowledge that there are other stores in your area and that these stores may have similar programs in the Bay Area.

 

Jump Start Instrument Pick-up: East Bay dates and location