YOUTH MUSIC PROJECT HAS INSTRUMENTS FOR STUDENTS TO USE AT HOME
Youth Music Project has a library of instruments for students to rent. Students who qualify for our Tuition Assistance program also qualify for free instrument rentals. To get started, register for a class or private lesson then call us or inquire about instrument rental here.
Pricing
- Keyboard (includes keyboard case, keyboard stand, music stand, bench, and power adapter): $18 per month
- Acoustic Guitar (includes case): $17 per month
- Electric Guitar and Bass Guitar (includes amplifier, instrument cable, strap, and case): $18 per month
- Ukulele (includes case): $15 per month
- Violin (includes case, bow, rosin, and sponge): $17 per month
- Drum Practice Pads (includes throne, kick pedal, drum key, and drum sticks): $18 per month
Qualifying students are free. Deposits are required for both free and standard rate rental instruments.
Availability
Violin, Ukulele, Guitar, Bass, Drum Pads, Keyboard and a Grand Piano if it will fit inside your ice
cream truck! Reserve an instrument early before classes fill. We do our best to keep them in
stock.
FAQs
My kiddo needs an instrument. How can I get started?
You can call us or inquire about an instrument here. Next, stop by to pick up your instrument
and complete a rental contract.
What if I break a string?
Drop your instrument off at the front desk to be serviced in our shop and we’ll give you a
call when it’s ready to rock.
What if I destroy my instrument into 1000 pieces?
The replacement value will be charged to your credit card on file.
Instrument Recommendations
The following info includes features to consider when purchasing and examples of
beginner instruments we find suitable. Using the Amazon affiliated link contributes a
fraction of your purchase to our programming.
Ukulele
Ukulele has become wildly popular in recent years. Young kids 4-7 will often begin on
ukulele and transition to the guitar.
- Concert Size is the best all around for any age. Soprano is okay for little kids.
- Solid Wood Top – improved tone and performance.
- Natural Finishes (no paint or dye) – sound best.
- Here is a good ukulele for kids to get started
- Here is a great ukulele for beginners
Guitar
Acoustic Steel String is the most popular type of guitar for new players. Steel string guitars sound great for strumming rock, folk, country and pop.
- Size 1/2 or 3/4 for most kids. Teens can usually play a full size guitar.
- Solid Wood Top – improved tone and performance.
- Natural Finish (no paint or dye) – better tone and sustain.
- High Gloss Finish – greater durability.
- Here is a great guitar for young kids
- Here is a nice guitar for 12 and up
Acoustic Nylon String are the easiest to play and have a beautiful mellow sound.
The strings are spaced wider for plucking with the fingers and you’ll hear them often
in Spanish, folk and classical music.
- Size 1/2 or 3/4 for most kids. Teens can play full size.
- Solid Top
- High Gloss natural finish for durability and tone.
- Here is a great guitar for young kids ages 7–11
- Here is a great guitar for kids ages 12–15
Electric guitars are super fun! If you are set on playing rock and roll you can start
with an electric. You’ll also need a practice amp and many include headphone jacks
for silent practice – so your first awesome chords won’t annoy the neighbors.
- Size 1/2 or 3/4 for most kids. Teens can play full size.
- Cool colors and shapes! Go crazy and find a guitar that fits you. Just slinging
an electric over your shoulder will boost your Instagram profile to rock star
status. #wannastartaband - Here is a good small kids electric
- The same type of guitar for older kids and teens
- Basic Practice Amp
Bass
Bass is what it’s all about. Basses are large and smaller sizes are rare. You’ll need a
bass amp for practice.
- For kids 7–9 we use and recommend this bass
- Kids 10–14 can play short scale basses.
- Tall teens can play a full size bass
- This is a good practice amp for bass
Violin
Violins are our most popular rental instrument for good reason. They are expensive to
build properly and maintain. Watch out for internet deals on VSO’s (violin shaped
objects). The deal is they look like a violin, but not at a sufficient level of quality to give
students a fair chance at success. When in doubt, go to a local violin shop that sells both
student and professional instruments.
Violin sizes are measured by arm length. Hold your arm out straight and measure
from your palm to your neck. Here are some basic sizing guidelines.
- Ages 5–6, Arm 16” = 1/8 Violin
- Ages 6–7, Arm 18” = 1/4 Violin
- Ages 8–9, Arm 20” = 1/2 Violin
- Ages 10–11, Arm 22” = 3/4 Violin
- Ages 12 +, Arm 24” = 4/4 Violin
- Fingerboard and Tuning Pegs – Solid Ebony.
- Solid Wood Top – Spruce is used for beginner and professional instruments.
- Finish – High Gloss Varnish for durability.
- Here is an example of a good student violin
Drums
Drums are the largest and loudest instrument that we bang on about. New students
should have a practice pad to start and eventually a drum kit. We use electronic kits to
keep the volume down in our classrooms and the acoustic kit for our stage. Modern
drummers usually practice and perform on acoustic drums.
Drum Pad
- Inexpensive, Portable, and quiet.
- Great for learning and mastering drum techniques.
- Here is a good drum pad
- Here is a drum pad kit
Electronic Drum Kit
- Great selection of drum kit sounds.
- Fun and inspiring.
- Quite practice with headphones.
- Here is a basic electronic drum kit
Acoustic Drum Kit
- Loud and awesome.
- Inexpensive and used drums when tuned well can sound great!
- Hardware is adjustable and most kids can play common drum sizes.
- Mini kits are also available for tiny beat makers (shells only)
- Here is a good student kit with all of the hardware and cymbals included
Keyboards
Piano is a great instrument for new musicians. Acoustic pianos can often be found
locally for free – as long as you can move it. They sound beautiful and have the best
feel under the fingers. If you want portability and a lot of fun sounds digital pianos and
keyboards are probably for you.
Digital Piano
- Designed to have the touch and tone by replicating an acoustic piano.
- Fewer sounds, but higher sound quality than most keyboards.
- Here is an entry level digital piano
Keyboard
- Very portable and fewer keys (61 or 76).
- Lots of sounds and accompaniment beats and rhythms.
- Inexpensive for entry level.
- Here is a nice keyboard with accessories