We bought a used clarinet on Craigslist for $100. It was on the approved list of brands by the band teacher. It lasted for about one year when we upgraded. It was much cheaper than renting for the school year which was about $25 per month, I think.

Rentals are awesome because they come with insurance against damage! Says the lady whose three year old broke a Suzuki violin. (You can see it on the Wall of Shame at Potter's Violins in Bethesda. Yes, that's a real thing.)

OP here. thanks all for the input. will hit the rentals and see what we get. yeah... the school's is really gross. They really should repair it and clean it up. Even the case has words doodled and painted on it by all the previous seniors. They shouldn't allow such things as its such a discouragement and it just degrades into disrepair!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get a cheap clarinet (probably lousy quality for under $100 at amazon). I would buy that -- if it last 1 year, it is cheaper than renting.

Don't buy a lousy clarinet, unless you're trying to get her to quit clarinet. Rent a good-quality clarinet.

+1 The band teacher might not accept the instrument too.

Anonymous wrote:Buy. My parents rented my instrument for years because they were too poor to buy it. Turns out they paid double the purchase price.

That was an exploitative rental contract, then. OP, rent from a non-exploitative place.

Anonymous wrote:You can get a cheap clarinet (probably lousy quality for under $100 at amazon). I would buy that -- if it last 1 year, it is cheaper than renting.

Don't buy a lousy clarinet, unless you're trying to get her to quit clarinet. Rent a good-quality clarinet.

Rent for a year and if she sticks with it consider buying.

Buy. My parents rented my instrument for years because they were too poor to buy it. Turns out they paid double the purchase price.

You can get a cheap clarinet (probably lousy quality for under $100 at amazon). I would buy that -- if it last 1 year, it is cheaper than renting.

Well, you said the loaner is kinda gross. If you have the money and want her to like this, don't make her use a stinky gross clarinet.

thanks all... so you guys would rent over using the schools (close to free)?

Rent

Rent until she is good enough to buy a good instrument and not a crappy student one.

rent.

even if she does take to the instrument, if she continues to play in middle school she will be expected to switch to a woodwind clarinet. in all probability the one she has now is plastic.

we bought the woodwind.

My daughter was presented a few instruments and she was assigned the clarinet. We are still worried she will be fickle and not pursue it much. Should we use the schools loaned instrument or rent our own? The schools is a Yamaha but it's badly taken care of, smells really bad and even has teeth marks all over the mouthpiece from her seniors!