• Instrument Rental Information

    Renting an Instrument From a Local Violin Shop

    • These shops will deliver the instruments to the school
    • Instruments should be delivered to Sugar Land Middle School, not your home, so that Ms. Campbell can set up the instrument for you
    • Normal maintenance, repairs, and new strings are usually covered by your rental fees
    • Easy to size up when you are ready for the next size
    • Most stores have a rent-to-own program
    • Instruments tend to be higher quality

    Renting an Instrument From the School

    • These instruments are reserved for students on free/reduced lunch and those experiencing a financial hardship
    • Subject to availability SLMS owns mostly cellos and basses; we have some school-owned violins and violas
    • Priority is given to 6th grade students and instruments may not be available in 7th and 8th grade
    • Instrument quality is not guaranteed- These instruments have been well loved by many students over the years. We cannot guarantee the condition and quality of the instrument you receive.
    • Cost: Currently school instrument rentals are $80 a year.

    Should I Buy an Instrument?

    • We strongly recommend NOT buying an instrument in middle school
    • Students are still growing and often will need to change sizes several times during middle school. Rental shops will size up for free, purchased instruments are useless after the student has outgrown the size.
    • Good instruments start at about $1,000. Instruments you find for less than that on Amazon or other websites are almost always unplayable and will not be allowed in class as this sets the student up for failure. 
    • Many "good instruments" you find online are scams- you should never buy an instrument that you have not tried first and brought to a teacher or a shop to have it checked for major defects