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Services : Rentals

Band & orchestra instrument rentals in partnership with NEMC can be rented online, or by visiting the store. If renting online, you can choose the ship-to-home option, and NEMC will ship your instrument directly to you - or you can pick up at our store. Click here to begin a rental for a band or orchestra instrument.

Information on our other "folk instrument" rentals is below. For the most up-to-date availability information on the instruments below, please call us during business hours.

For pro audio rental inquiries please contact us.

For school band & orchestra instrument rentals, click here. 

The following instruments are available for rent through our direct store rental program, to customers residing within the general MD/DC/VA area:

  • 5-string Banjos -- various openback & resonator
  • 4-string Tenor Banjo -- Irish tuning
  • Button Accordion -- 3-row GCF Chinese made
  • Concertina -- 20-button Anglo, 30-button Anglo & 48-button English
  • Folk Harps -- Folkcraft 22-string Erin (no sharping levers); Dusty Strings Ravenna 26 with partial sharping levers rents for $140/7 weeks
  • Hammered Dulcimers -- Dusty Strings Apprentice (12/11)
  • Guitars -- various steel-string and nylon string, acoustic-electric option, full size & 3/4 size
  • Mandolins -- A-style and F-style 
  • Piano Accordions: -- 120-bass, 72-bass, 48-bass & 16-bass.

     

    Rental Terms

    (NOTE: these terms do not apply to school band instrument rentals)

    • Fee: $70.00 plus Maryland state sales tax (Ravenna harp rents for $140)
    • Rental period: 7 weeks. This rental program is designed for new players to try out an instrument and decide whether they want to purchase that type of instrument. Our program is not a long-term or rent-to-own program.
    • $70 rental fee may be applied towards purchase of the same type of instrument (i.e. if you rent a guitar, you can only use your credit towards purchasing a guitar). Generally, rental instruments are not available for sale; you would purchase any other instrument we have for sale.
    • Credit card required for security against the instrument. We do not charge your credit card, but keep the information on file in our encrypted digital system during the rental period. If you do not have a credit card, we can accept a cash deposit for the value of the instrument..
    • State-issued ID required at time of rental

    For further information on the HMT Rental Program, please call 301-270-9090. 

    Rental Credit Details:

    • Credit valid within 7 weeks of rental return, towards the same type of instrument.
    • Rental instruments are not for sale.

    Damage, Repairs and Late Fees:

    If your rental instrument is not functioning properly due to a defect with the instrument, bring it back and we will repair the instrument or give you a different one. Customer will be held liable for damage due to accident, misuse or neglect. "Normal wear & tear," such as light scratches on the finish, is not considered damage.

    Late fees accumulate at a rate of $3 per day if the instrument is not returned by the due date on your contract. If you discover you will have a problem returning the instrument by the due date, please contact us to work something out.

     

    School Band and Orchestra Instruments:

    We recommend following the link below to rent online. You may choose to pick up your instrument at our store, or to have NEMC (our fulfillment partner) ship your instrument directly to your home. 

    See rental rates below. 

    We have partnered with the National Educational Musical Company (NEMC) to bring you a competitive rental program with high quality, name-brand instruments for band and orchestra. Read on for more details, or click here to begin your rental online! 


    Rentals are month-to-month and current rates are listed below. You may rent-to-own, or return at any time. We recommend setting up your account with automatic monthly payments on your credit card to make this easy.
     

    Please note: some instruments listed below (particularly Group 3) are limited in availability and may not be in stock at our store. However, when you complete your rental contract online, if the instrument is not in stock at our store, it will be shipped from NEMC's warehouse either to our store to be held for you, or to your home (depending on what you choose), generally within 1-3 days. Feel free to contact us if you would like to check availability of any instrument ahead of time.

    Here are our current rates and available instruments under this program:

    Group 1:
    -     $33.00 per month (plus tax). Optional Damage Waiver: $7.95 per month. Total monthly cost with tax & damage waiver: $42.93.

    Instruments included in Group 1:
    - clarinet (plastic)
    - flute (open-hole available by special request)
    - Bb trumpet
    - trombone
    - bell kit
    - snare drum kit
    - bell + snare kit
    - violin (1/16, 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 4/4)
    - viola (12", 13", 14", 15", 15.5", 16", 16.5")

    Not sure which size violin, viola or cello your child needs? It's always best to ask their teacher, but you can also consult this sizing guide. We can also check measurements in-store. It's easy to swap out or exchange if your child needs a different size than what you selected.

    Group 2: 
    -     $45.00 per month (plus tax). Optional Damage Waiver: $9.95 per month. Total monthly cost with tax & damage waiver: $57.65

    Instruments included in Group 2:
    - alto saxophone
    - oboe
    - cello (1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 4/4)

    Group 3: 
    -     $76.00 per month thereafter (plus tax). Optional Damage Waiver: $11.95 per month. Total monthly cost with tax & damage waiver: $92.51

    Instruments included in Group 3:
    - tenor saxophone
    - French horn (single)
    - baritone horn
     
    We highly recommend completing your rental paperwork online! Click here to begin. It's fast and easy and will help you avoid long waits during the busy rental season. You can choose the ship-to-home option, and our partner NEMC will ship your instrument directly to you. If you choose the option to pick up your rental at our store, please wait for email or phone confirmation from House of Musical Traditions that your rental is ready to pick up before coming to the store. Most online rentals are filled within 24 hours or less. If we are out of stock on an instrument or need to special-order it from our supply warehouse, it may take up to 3 business days. You will also be able to manage your account online (updating credit card on file, checking your payoff balance, making exchange requests, etc). 

    Damage Waiver: 
    This is an optional addition but highly recommended especially for student rentals. Customers with damage waiver will have repairs costs covered due to accidental damage, regular maintenance issues or manufacturing defect. Without damage waiver, the customer is responsible for all repair costs (usually a minimum of $50).

    Rent-to-own: 
    All rental payments will go towards the instrument's purchase price, and a significant early payoff discount is offered. You may also return the instrument at any point without penalty, so you are not locked into purchasing the instrument. We recommend continuing to rent over the summer break - not only will your student be able to continue practicing (which is important!), but you will continue to accumulate rental credit towards purchase. Once you return, you would start over on a new contract if you rent again.

    Credit requirements: 
    We require a state-issued ID such as a drivers license, and a major credit card (debit with Visa/MC logo OK) for rentals. 

    Exchanges:
    Violins, violas and cellos can be exchanged at any time for a different size as your child grows, and 100% of your rental payments will transfer to the new instrument. For all other instruments, you may exchange to any other instrument type within the first 12 months of rental (a nominal exchange fee applies), and 100% of your rental credit will transfer to the new instruments. The following exchanges have a 24-month exchange window: clarinet to alto sax, alto sax to tenor sax, and violin to viola.