MK Music Service

Instrument Hire

Would you like your child to have the chance to learn a musical instrument but are not sure you want the initial expense of buying one?

Milton Keynes Music Service offers instrument hire with beginners in mind; it is flexible and excellent value.

WHO CAN HIRE
We want to encourage music making across the whole of Milton Keynes so we offer any pupil attending a school in Milton Keynes or attending Music Centre the chance to hire a musical instrument.

HOW TO APPLY
Please complete the Instrument Hire Application Form. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions of hire.

HOW TO COLLECT/RETURN MY INSTRUMENT

Important – please note if you are contacting us about your instrument hire you must quote your child’s full name or we will not be able to locate your application.

The location for both collections and returns of hired instruments is:
The Farthing Enterprise Centre, 39 Farthing Grove, Netherfield, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK6 4JH.
(Please email music@milton-keynes.gov.uk for opening times as these vary)
Enter through double automatic doors and our office is on the right – No.7 with a sign on the door. There is car parking (for a limited time) outside.

WHAT IT COSTS
You can start to hire at any point during the year. You will be invoiced by MK Council according to the charges in the chart below. No pro rata charge is offered.

You will then be invoiced each term for your hire until the instrument is returned to Music Faculty. If you no longer need the instrument it must be returned to us before the end of a term otherwise you will be automatically invoiced in full for the following term.

Please note there is a small annual increase to hire charges each year.

Hire Type	Charge Per Term
Standard Instrument	£26
Endangered Instrument (for those hiring a bassoon, oboe, viola, double bass, French horn, or tuba only)	£21
Start / Elfin / Infant / Special Project	Your first term is FREE, then you will be invoiced £26 per term
Continuation Hire (ONLY for pupils who have taken part in a school project and continue hiring the same instrument)	Your first year (3 school terms) is FREE and then you’ll move to either Standard or Endangered Hire charge depending on the instrument you are hiring
Endangered Project Hire (ONLY for pupils taking part in ‘Endangered Project’ lessons)	Your first year (3 school terms) is FREE and then you’ll move to either Standard or Endangered Hire charge depending on the instrument you are hiring

CONCESSIONS

Concessions are available to assist with instrument hire.

Pupils who qualify for the Pupil Premium or are in receipt of certain benefits can hire an instrument at a reduced rate. Termly charges are discounted by 75%. Please complete the Concessions Application Form and submit it to us together with your application to hire an instrument.

INSTRUMENTS AVAILABLE

We offer a wide range of the most common instruments which are suitable for beginners. However, we are unable offer keyboards, electric guitars, acoustic guitars or drum kits for hire. Most of our instruments are not new but they are all cleaned and checked before each hire to be suitable for beginner players.

The following rare instruments known as ‘endangered instruments’ can be hired at the reduced rate to school aged pupils:

Bassoon
Double Bass
French Horn
Oboe
Tuba
Viola

LENGTH OF HIRE PERIOD

The hire service gives children a first chance to try an instrument. We expect that you will wish to buy a new or more advanced instrument as your child progresses and that you will return the hire instrument to us so that we can offer the chance to another pupil. For that reason, most of our hire charges increase after the first year of hire, although there are discounts for rare instruments or for pupils who qualify for the Pupil Premium.

INSTRUMENT CARE

The customer is responsible for loss or damage to the instrument during the hire period including the replacement cost if an instrument is damaged (accidentally or otherwise) beyond repair. It is recommended that you insure the instrument, it can usually be added to your household insurance please check with your insurers. Alternatively, specialist companies such as Allianz can arrange insurance.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

It can take up to 10 working days during term time to process your application. You will be informed, usually via email, when your instrument is ready for collection.

CAN MY CHILD START LESSONS BEFORE THEY HAVE THEIR INSTRUMENT?

Yes, it is not a problem if your child doesn’t have an instrument for their first few lessons. There are lots of activities they can do to learn about music until they get their instrument.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY YOUR INSTRUMENT

There are lots of opportunities to play your instrument outside of school. Please visit our Music Centre information page for further details.

“To find out how your personal information is used, please refer to the full version of the Privacy Notice available on the MK Council website at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk.”