Band & Orchestra Rental FAQ

Getting Started

  • How does it work?
    • Our band & orchestra rental program allows you quickly and easily to start your musical journey using top quality new and used instruments from trusted and teacher approved name brands such as Selmer, Yamaha, Ludwig, Gemeinhardt, Bach, Vito, Jupiter, Armstrong, Pearl, Eastman and many more! It is all thanks to our affiliate Veritas Instrument Rental (VIR) that we are able to offer low monthly payments with no fixed-term. No fixed-term means that you can return, exchange, size-up, or upgrade your instrument at any time!
  • Is it better to buy or rent the instrument?
    • Every situation is different but here few things to consider:
      • The size of the orchestra instrument you need
      • How old your student is
      • If your student usually sticks with things
  • How do I start renting?
    • You can come into our store located in beautiful downtown La Plata, Maryland to fill out a paper contract or you can use our RentFromHome portal to fill out the contract online. If you fill out an online contract, you have the option to either pick up the instrument from our store or have it delivered directly to your door free of charge.
  • What is included with my rental instrument?
    • Each rental is considered an outfit meaning it includes the basic components needed to get you playing. For example, a trumpet rental includes the trumpet, a case, a mouthpiece, and valve oil. A violin includes the violin, a bow, and rosin.
  • What does LDW mean and what is it for?
    • LDW stands for Loss Damage Waiver Program. The LDW means that you will not be liable for loss of or damage to the instrument due to fire, theft, flood, or other Act of God. For theft though, a Police Report must be provided within 72 hours of the loss showing forced entry as mysterious disappearances are not covered. The LDW program will also help cover maintenance work as well meaning we will make all necessary repairs and adjustments to keep the instrument in proper playing condition at no charge. This maintenance clause does not include restoration of finishes, damage due to careless handling, cleaning or replacement of expendable accessories such as mouthpieces, ligatures, mouthpiece caps, reeds, oil, swabs, strings, rosin, bows, drum heads, or drum sticks. The LDW Program also allows you to receive a loaner while your instrument is in for repair/service. Any and all repairs/services must be performed by a Veritas-Approved repair technician.
  • Is there a minimum rental period?
    • No, it is a month-to-month rental with no fixed term so you can return the instrument at anytime
  • How do I pay?
    • There are multiple different ways to pay. You can enroll in automatic payments, send in payments via mail using the vouchers provided, or by logging into the online payment portal.
  • Is it a Rent-to-Own contract?
    • You are automatically enrolled in the Rent-to-Buy program which allows you to apply 100% of your rental payments (not including taxes or fees) towards a gently used, new, or step-up instrument from VIR's rental inventory. For more information, please see the Rent-to-Buy FAQ section or send an email to our Rental Department at rentals@islandmusicco.com.
  • What instruments require sizing?
    • Orchestra Instruments: Violin, Viola, & Cellos require players to be sized to ensure they are not straining their muscles when playing. To be sized, you can come into our store located in beautiful downtown La Plata, Maryland to be sized or you can use this link to access our at home sizing guide.
  • Do you have a large variety of rental instruments available in-store?
    • Yes, we usually keep a large inventory of rental instruments in-stock at our store.

Exchanges, Repairs, & Returns

  • What if I need to change or exchange my rental instrument?
    • If you need to exchange your rental instrument, you can visit our store in beautiful downtown La Plata, Maryland or reach out to our Rental Department as rentals@islandmusicco.com.
  • What happens if my student outgrows their orchestra instrument?
    • You can come into our store located in beautiful downtown La Plata, Maryland and exchange the instrument for a bigger size. And if you need us to, we can re-measure your student while you are there to ensure they move to the correct size.
  • What happens if the instrument needs to be serviced or breaks?
    • Instruments sometimes get damaged or need to be serviced during the rental period. Rental agreements filled out in-store automatically enroll you in the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) Program. Rental agreements filled out online offer the LDW Program as an optional enrollment. The LDW Program allows you to receive a loaner while your instrument is in for repair/service or can help cover some or all of the cost if an instrument is damaged beyond normal wear and tear. Any and all repairs/services must be performed by a Veritas-Approved repair technician.
  • I lost my rental instrument or it has been severely damaged! What do I do?
    • Our affiliate Veritas Instrument Rental (VIR) asks that all losses and severe damage claims be handled through them directly. You can contact them either via phone at 1-800-578-9724 or via email at admin@veritas-online.com discuss the course of action.
  • How do I return the instrument when I no longer need it?
    • You can come into our store located in beautiful downtown La Plata, Maryland to return the instrument. If you had the instrument delivered directly to you to via the RentFromHome program then you are encouraged to place the instrument back into the original box and contact our affiliate either via phone at 1-800-578-9724 or via email at admin@veritas-online.com so that they can provide you with a return label and further return instructions.

Rent-to-Buy Program

  • How does it work?
    • As you rent the instrument you are building up equity or credit that you can use to purchase another instrument from our affiliate VIR's inventory. This equity or credit is made up of 100% of your rental payments (not including taxes or fees). For more information regarding equity purchases please email us at rentals@islandmusicco.com.
  • Can I purchase the instrument I am currently renting?
    • Unfortunately you will not be able to purchase the instrument you are currently renting.
  • Can I use my equity/credit from my rental payments towards anything from your store?
    • No, the equity can only be used to purchase an instrument from Veritas Instrument Rental's (VIR) inventory.