School Instrument Hire

You can find tips of how to care for your instrument in our handy guide!

You can hire an instrument for as long as you like! You don’t need to re-apply each year. Our minimum hire period is one term (Autumn, Spring, Summer) but our Agreement with you continues until you decide that you no longer need to hire an instrument.

Just make sure that you let us know as soon as possible so that we can organise the return of the instrument! Remember that if you return an instrument part-way through a term, you will still be charged for a full term.

Depending on the time of year and number of applications received, it can take a couple of weeks for us to get back to you. The beginning of the academic year is a particularly busy period so give yourself plenty of time to apply before your lessons are due to start.

We offer a large number of instruments for hire and choosing the right one for you can be overwhelming. Choosing a suitable instrument can depend on basic factors such as age and height – you wouldn’t pick a tuba for your 6-year-old, for instance! But, don’t worry, our experienced Music Resources team is on-hand to give you any guidance you might need.

You can email us at musicresources@kent-music.com. Please note that the hire of instruments is subject to availability.

No, you don’t! We can organise instrument hire for you whether you have lessons with us or not. However, the price of your instrument hire will be discounted if you are a Kent Music student. See more information on this in our cost breakdown.

Unless you already have an instrument….yes! You will need to apply for instrument hire too! Applying for lessons does not automatically mean that you have applied for hire. Make sure to apply for instrument hire in good time before your lessons start so that we can get an instrument ready for you.

You can apply for instrumental lessons with us too! To find out more about lessons click here. Kent Music students will receive a 35% discount on instrument hire.

If you have applied for Kent Music lessons and instrument hire and are on the waiting list for lessons, we will only process your hire application once a lesson offer has been accepted by you. Please let us know as soon as you have received your lesson offer so that we can get your instrument ready for you.

You are welcome to start your hire before your Kent Music lessons have been set up but hire will be charged at the full rate.

You don’t need to complete an application form for school instrument hire. You just need to email musicresources@kent-music.com with your requirements.

Yes – go for it! We welcome hirers of all ages and abilities. It’s never too late to give playing an instrument a go!

You don’t need to pay anything until you receive an email invoice from us. We will invoice you at the beginning of each full term (Autumn, Spring and Summer) or within two weeks of your hire if you start later in the term.

You can log into your Kent Music account to make payment and keep track of your activity.

Kent Music offers a Financial Assistance scheme for students aged 5 to 18 years who are living in and attending school in Kent (excluding Medway). You can find out more on our Financial Assistance page. If Financial Assistance is granted, you will be entitled to hire one musical instrument free of charge per student.

Yes, you can! You will be charged per instrument for hire.

If the instrument you have applied for is out of stock, we will put you on a waiting list and inform you as soon as an instrument is available.

The Music Resources team will also be able to suggest alternative instruments or direct you to other providers who may be able to assist you in the meantime.

Once your instrument is ready, a member of the Music Resources team will contact you to arrange the collection of the instrument from our office in Ashford. Collection is by appointment only.

If you have applied for Kent Music lessons as well, we will process your application once you have received and accepted a lesson offer.

Unfortunately, are not able to offer a ‘hire to buy’ scheme. If you are in a position to purchase an instrument, our Music Resources team can make recommendations. Please email musicresources@kent-music.com.

Depending on the instrument you hire, Kent Music will provide you with the following items free:

1 x reed (individual hire only)

1 x pot of grease

1 x bottle of oil

1 x cloth/pull-through

1 x chin rest

1 x shoulder rest (individual hire only)

1 x rosin

You will be responsible for purchasing all subsequent items yourself.

If your instrument is broken, please email the Music Resources team immediately at musicresources@kent-music.com.

Do not try to fix the instrument yourself! Kent Music repairs all fair wear and tear free of charge, but we will need to charge you for the repair or replacement of any instrument that is damaged or lost.

With this in mind, we strongly recommend that you insure your instrument. You can either add it to your existing contents insurance or take out specific musical instrument insurance, e.g. Allianz Musical Insurance.

If you no longer wish to hire your instrument, please email the Music Resources team at musicresources@kent-music.com.

We will arrange an appointment with you to return the instrument to our office.

Remember that if you return your instrument part-way through a term, you will still be charged for the full term.