To get started, you will need to enroll in band or orchestra classes at your school.

Next, you will need an instrument. Most people choose to rent an instrument when they are just starting out, since purchasing one can be expensive and will require regular maintenance.

If you're joining band (flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, baritone, percussion), click here start your rental order, or click here for more information on the band rental program.

If you're joining orchestra (violin, viola, cello, double bass) you will need to be sized for an instrument. Click here to find your size if your teacher has not already given you a size. Once you know your size, click here start your rental order, or click here for more information on the orchestra rental program.

If you have any questions at all during the process, or want to talk to someone about band or orchestra, please don't hesitate to reach out! We understand that there is a lot of information and we're happy to help you make sense of it all!

Every instrument is different, and as there are many factors that go into the value of an instrument, it needs to be evaluated individually. A little online research can be a good starting point, but even if you identify exactly the instrument you have, things like current condition and past damage can greatly affect the value.

We offer evaluation services and appraisals for musical instruments of all ages, makes, and conditions, and it would be our pleasure to meet you and discuss your instrument. We won't be able to give you good, reliable information from a phone call or emailed pictures, so please contact us to set up a meeting or bring your instrument to one of our shops during business hours.

Unless your instrument has been recently dropped or damaged, chances are it just needs a good cleaning. Depending on how often you play and when it was professionally cleaned last, it's not unusual to need a deep cleaning annually.

We offer full ultrasonic cleaning services and adjustments for brass instruments (and cleaning and adjusting services for woodwinds too), feel free to bring your instrument to one of our shops and we will go over it with you or take a look at our band repair page for more information.

Yes! We offer full in-house rehair and repair services for orchestral string instrument bows. Whether it's replacing the bow hair, installing a new leather grip or winding, fitting a new tip plate, or repairing more serious damage like a broken stick or cracked bow head, we can take care of your bow.

Bow rehairs can usually be completed in a week or less, and rush services and loaners are available. Click here for more information on bow services. You can also ship your bow to us for service, and we can ship it back when completed, please inquire first before sending your bow.

The short answer is yes, we do purchase used musical instruments from individuals.

The long answer is that what we can offer or if we can make an offer depends on what the instrument is, its condition, and how much you are trying to get for it. If you have a factory-made student-level instrument, we are most likely not interested, since we have our own suppliers for instruments in this category. Additionally, we cannot offer retail prices for musical instruments, because we purchase instruments with the intention of cleaning, restoring, and reselling them. We'd be happy to examine and discuss your instrument to see if we can make an offer.

If you are looking to get retail price or market value for your instrument, it would be better to list it for sale by owner. We also take instruments on consignment.

We do take instruments in as donations no matter what the condition and can often use them for parts or fix them up and connect them with local students who may need assistance in having access to an instrument, or donate them to local artists and students of violin repair to transform or practice repair work on. If you have musical equipment you no longer need but don't want to throw away, we can help give it a second life.

We have a large selection of orchestral string instruments made by modern makers, shops around the world, and our own luthiers, as well as antique instruments restored here in our workshops. As our inventory is always changing and we frequently get in new instruments (and bows), it is very difficult to keep a complete running catalogue of everything!

If you'd like to see what we have available, the best way is to make an appointment to come in and try instruments. We have comfortable and private practice rooms where you can audition instruments, and when taking your appointment our staff will discuss factors like what you are looking for in an instrument, tonal preferences, budget, and more to help select the best options from our inventory.

We offer you the ability to take instruments and bows out on trial to play at home or with your teacher, and free financing options to help with the purchase.

Because we have limited numbers of practice rooms available, we are unfortunately not always able to accommodate walk-in instrument trials without appointments if the spaces are already in use. The best way to make sure you can maximize your time and see the most options is to make an instrument trial appointment at least 48 hours in advance.

Yes, we do! Over the years we have met and built relationships with many teachers, and are always happy to help connect students who want to learn with experienced and friendly educators. In fact, we work with several teachers who offer lessons in-shop at both our Mundelein and Racine locations. Click here to meet the teachers who teach at our shops, and for how to contact them. Each teacher has their own style, schedule, and prices, and will be happy to answer your questions.

We also have a curated list of teachers who offer lessons on various instruments from their home studios, please inquire with what instrument you play for those lists.

If you're a local teacher and would like to get your name added to our list, or find out more about studio space availability at our shops, we would love to hear from you!