BassDad

We have insured instruments both with a rider on our homeowners policy and with a company that specialized in instrument insurance. There have been some notable differences between the two. The instrument-specific policy automatically provided some benefits that the homeowner's rider did not, even though we did specify up front that the instrument covered by the rider was going to be used professionally. It may be possible to get the extra coverage under the rider, but you have to know to ask for certain things if they are important to you.

The things that were covered by our instrument insurance but not our homeowner's rider included:

Reimbursement for the first day of lost income (capped at something like $500, but with higher caps available for a higher premium) should a scheduled performance have to be canceled due to not having the instrument.

Reimbursement for rental of a substitute instrument while the covered instrument is being repaired. (The value of the substitute instrument cannot be higher than the value of the insured instrument.)

Coverage for borrowed instruments (with advance notice)

Right of repurchase - if a lost or stolen instrument is recovered after a claim was paid, the insured has the right to repurchase the instrument from the insurer by repaying the amount of the claim.

The right to keep undamaged parts of the instrument (but the value of those parts is deducted from the amount paid by the insurer) at the option of the insured.

lorelei2702

Thanks for the tutorial, Bassdad.....we would not have thought of these concerns. However, S has two instruments and we live close to his school (extra at home), and we can rescue him. He has rescued friends with his spare. We saw a good player on the back row of a section "yield" his instrument to the principal mid concert when a bridge collapsed and no spares were at hand. That was sad.

marylandmom3

BassDad- Where do you purchase instrument insurance? I can see that it would be worth looking into. My H and I are so clueless. We have just learned to get a lot advice from everyone else. Neither of us ever played an instrument. We both love music and do a lot of listening. We joke that our D's love and ability skipped generations. My H's mother loved to sing and play the piano. Thanks for all of your help.

violadad

marylandmom- The most recent insurance thread is here Insurance and the major insurers and some posters preferrences are there.

If your daughter holds AFM, MENC, MTNA or an instrument society membership, premium breaks are the norm for members, depending upon what company is servicing the organization.

When we looked, Clarion was the best for son's needs.

BassDad

We have used Clarion - Clarion Associates, Inc.| Insurance Firm dedicated to Musicians

I would suggest comparing their rates to a homeowner's rider if you are only insuring one instrument and do not need some of the extra coverage I mentioned.

In addition to those violadad mentioned specifically, I believe National Flute Association members also qualify for reduced premiums with Clarion. If your daughter is not already an NFA member, she really should be and, if you do insure with Clarion, the savings in insurance costs alone may more than repay the cost of the dues

cathymee

marylandmom
has your daughter looked into alocker rental at the music school she attends?
D did keep her flutes/picc in her dorm room until they had a mini flood from the air conditioner condenser (in arizona, it was in the ceiling above their heads) It scared her so she got alocker right away.A bit of a pain when you need your instrument for another purpose but at least locked up safe and sound and climate controlled.

taxguy

Consider geting a lawyer and suiing the young man for damages. He might even have some umbrella coverage though his parents.

ImperialZeppelin

Ah yes, get a lawyer, a fundamental problem in the US. I'd agree had the parents not immediately offered with no prodding to cover damages and have already demonstrated good faith by replacing the printer via overnight delivery.

Not denying that it's a tragic and traumatic event, but the common wisdom that "litigation" is the answer to every evil is in itself, a major and unproductive evil to everyone except attornies...

taxguy

Well, if his parents are covering most damages then you don't need a lawyer. Had this not been offered, I certainly would have gone after this kid and his parent's insurance for damages.

notfromme

I am ill just reading this! My d is a flautist and her flutes are so much a part of her! I would speak to a lawyer only because there is a difference between verbal and written agreement. Although it does seem they are being extremely cooperative, I would just make sure. You never know what might happen if they have to replace a 6 - 8,000 dollar flute. Also, we have additional riders on our d's instruments. Homeowners will cover only certain losses. Are you comfortable with the person who is repairing the flute? This person should be able to tell you if he feels he can get it back to original playing condition. I am told that the mechanisms in Japanese flutes are so incredibly precise...you do not want to compromise that. We deal with an absolutely wonderful person in NY. We completely trust him with all d's woodwinds.
Your d must be going through so much now. I hope this all can be put behind her so she can move on. However, I know it is hard when there is not only the bond that an instrumentalist has with their instrument, but also an emotional tie to how they actually got the instrument. My heart goes out to her...my d would be devasted. I cannot even imagine.
My husband and I are also non music people. But we have two musical girls!!!! We are often asked where their talent comes from, and I have to reply....not from me! I will be keeping an eye on this thread. I look forward to seeing that everything has been taken care!!!

marylandmom3

I think my d has started to see a light at the end of the tunnel. She finally was able to move into another room tonight. There were no completely empty rooms but when she went to her new room, she realized her new roomie is in one of her classes and she said the girl has always been real nice. Her new roomie said "I have something to tell you. See the space on the floor. Well sometimes it becomes my closet." My d was like wow, I have the same closet. No more compulsively neat rommie. Six of her friends helped her move tonight so she said it didn't take long.
Her professor talked to the repairman today. He can repair the headjoint and realign all the keys and replace the bent ones. He will need to replace the "b" foot. He asked for an estimate from Muramatsu for the cost of the "b" foot. He said it looked like the flute was repeatedly banged against something.
One of the piccolos from marching band heard what happened to my d. The piccolo has given up all of her music activities except for marching band. She offered to loan my "d" her flute. It is a professional flute and on the level of my d's flute. The one she was borrowing was just an intermediate flute. When I talked to her tonight she sounded like her old self again. She said that one of the piccolos (they are a very close group) was having a party tonight. So her and her friends were headed there after she unpacked. She deserves to relax with her friends for awhile. She is excited because her flute professor is taking her students to a flute conference in VA next weekend. I was so relieved after talking to her, just to hear happy again, talking about other things. She did say that the most helpful person was her professor. I'm not sure what any of us would have done without her. She gave us her cellphone number so we could call whenever we had a question.
I still don't have the final estimate for the flute yet so will let you know when we do.

PamelaMaeSnap

""She finally was able to move into another room tonight. ""

(I haven't figured out how to highlight quotes yet)

MarylandMom, I am SO relieved to read this and see that your D is able to move into a new safe haven. I have been following your story with horror and despair ... for all of you -- her to go through this, and you as parents who are far away.

Now that my D will be heading off to college eight hours from home, I can only imagine how we'd feel if something similar happened to her.

It really sounds as if she has a great support community there, from her teacher to the flutist from Knoxville who helped out to the new roommate.

And at least the jerk's parents seem to be a tree that is pretty far from their apple!

I'm also a Maryland-er (go Terps!), and though relocated originally from NY, am proud of my new adopted homestate so consider you my homies by proxy

marylandmom3

Finally, last week our D received her new flute and the insurance mailed a check for its cost! Just to update everyone my D's flute was estimated to have about $3500 in damage. The repair person claimed he could repair it and make it sound the same but said he could not remove all the dents in the flute. We felt that it needed to be replaced. (When a car is hit, people don't say, "Oh, well, it runs fine. It is okay if it has a few dents." So we insisted that it be replaced. The boy's parents offered us $3000, which didn't even cover the repairs. I think maybe they were trying to get us to bargain with them. We just said, "No, thanks," and called the insurance company. Our insurance company was very coorperative. Then my D begin a search for a new flute. Then it had to be ordered. Finally she received her new flute last week. She is thrilled with it. And so happy to have her own flute again. She says she will never, ever take her flute for granted again! She loves her new roommate. They are perfect for each other. She has an on-campus apartment for next year with 3 friends...two music majors...two are not. We said we don't care where you live just live with people you know. What an experience to have to have as a freshman 500 miles from home but she survived and I am sure is a stronger person.

violadad

marylandmom3, thanks for the update. Glad everything worked out ok, albeit probably took a bit longer than originally anticipated.

Best of luck to your with her new instrument.

BEK

Glad to hear your insurance company came through...but there still should be some kind of serious consequence for the young man who damaged it.