$66 per month for a cello which includes insurance. They said if we bought it this year it would cost $2,200.

We can "rent to buy" this year at that price, but if we wait till next year to buy it the overall cost goes up about $800.

So we either rent and then give it back or buy it. Also the rent to buy option can be applied to the next size up instrument.

Look at Middle C (very good), House of Music Traditions.

We bought a viola for my DD when she started strings. It was expensive, but came with a guarantee that the store would buy it back anytime in the first year for 50% of the purchase. That amount was the same as one year of renting, so I figured it was equal if she played for only a year and we'd come out ahead if she stuck with it.

She's starting year 3 on the same viola, so it was definitely cheaper to buy. She will need a larger one this year or next, but we can still sell the current one for a decent price. So definitely do the math!

Anonymous wrote:We bought a violin for less than a $100 on Amazon. Don't know about the cello or really the quality of the violin but for my son who may hate it after a year, it seemed like a better choice.

Just a word of warning, violins that cheap may be really hard to keep in tune and will not make a very pleasing sound -- very tinny and hollow. It might not be so fun for him if he doesn't enjoy the sounds he makes. At least put some good strings on it, like Dominant, since steel strings will only make it worse.

We rent a violin for $20 a month from Potters. Their price does not go up based on size but does go up based on quality. There are four levels and we have the second level.

The violin you get is based on the size of your child. As they grow, you will need a larger violin. So if you buy.....

We bought a violin for less than a $100 on Amazon. Don't know about the cello or really the quality of the violin but for my son who may hate it after a year, it seemed like a better choice.

Anonymous wrote:Go to Foxes in Falls Church. I think we paid less than $20/month.

DS's cello is 37/month from there with the optional insurance. Violins are less.

It may be cheaper to buy one.

Anonymous wrote:Go to Foxes in Falls Church. I think we paid less than $20/month.

Foxes is really reasonable on prices for pretty much everything. I would definitely check them out.

Go to Foxes in Falls Church. I think we paid less than $20/month.

About $30 a month, including insurance, for a small violin at Potter's Violin.

Anonymous wrote:$20-$30 a month for cello

where is that? We're paying $47 or thereabouts.

Music & Arts has their rates online.

$20-$30 a month for cello

My DD is in 4th grade where the option to learn a string instrument is offered but we'd need to rent the instrument. Just curious the going rates for rentals in the NOVA. Thanks.