Rental Companies

Please plan on renting (not buying) an instrument from one of our recommended vendors. These vendors have worked with Plano ISD for a number of years and offer quality instruments at a competitive price. 

Violins and violas will rent an instrument to be carried back and forth between school each day. Cellos and basses will rent an instrument to be kept at home for daily practice. Because the cello and bass are so large, students will use their rented instruments at home and a Rice Middle School cello or bass at school. Using a RMS cello or bass requires a one time $85 fee. This fee goes towards keeping the instrument in playing condition. Most students follow this protocol and are grateful to have a “home” and “school” instrument. Please note that PISD does not have room for a cello or bass to ride the school bus. 

***Special Note*** 

Please, please do NOT purchase an instrument without showing it to a director first. Sometimes parents think that purchasing an instrument will save them money. However, many instruments purchased off the internet or in other countries are not actually playable. The instrument may require so much work from a luthier (string repair technician), that the overall cost is more than renting. Another important factor to consider is quality. Because these instruments are poorly made, the student is never able to enjoy playing. Instead, they spend their practice time trying to get their instrument tuned and listening to a tone that is thin and uncharacteristic. 

When you are ready to purchase an instrument for your child, perhaps after they have grown to their full size and shown dedication to playing, we will be happy to guide you. Just like buying a car, there are good deals and bad deals. 

Need help knowing what size to rent??? Rental companies are more than happy to measure your child for a rental. If however, you would prefer to complete the entire process online, use the sizing guide below for help. If your child's measurements fall between two sizes, pick the smaller of the two. An instrument can easily be traded in for a larger size later in the year.