Paying for an instrument

Obstructions
Wed, 13 Jun 2012 09:02:15 +0000

Unfortunately there aren’t any that I know of (scholarship/grants). I would say the best option for you to purchase the bass is to just save up. Of course, ALWAYS TRY THE INSTRUMENT BEFORE YOU BUY IT. If the student is on the fence if he likes it or not, most likely I would say pass on the instrument. When you purchase one, there is usually what we musicians call a ‘spark’ where we connect with the musicality and tone of the instrument. Wait until you find an instrument that has that connection, unless he is changing styles. If he’s doing from a dark sound to brighter sounder (or whatever it is) there will be an awkward transition were everything sounds bad for a while until the player learns to adapt to the new tone. I encountered this when I purchased my horn.

Try to pay it off in full so you don’t have to worry about interest finances. If saving it all is not possible, get the biggest possible down-payment. Maybe wait a while for a new bow and amplifier? Unfortunately I don’t know bass numbers and the exact procedure, but this was the way I purchased a used horn last year from a dealer. However, my family and I looked at it as a way to better my chances for music scholarships. While a $4000 horn is a little bit different to a $12K double bass, as long as he is very careful and nice to his instrument it could last him a long time. Also, with an instrument so expensive as a bass do not expect to pay it off from scholarships. While basses (and horns!) are in high demand in college ensembles the scholarships will definitely help to cover some costs, but not all of them.