Hire, buy or repair a musical instrument

When organising lessons with KMS, you don't necessarily have to buy an instrument - instead, you can hire one from us.

Hire costs are:

• £40.00 from September 2024 for:
  • violin (1/16, 1/10,1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4)
  • flute 
  • clarinet 
  • trumpet 
  • trombone 
  • french horn
  • acoustic guitar (although we recommend you buy one for not much more than £40 somewhere like Amazon or Argos. We do not hire out electric guitars)
• £62.00 from September 2024 for:
  • double bass 
  • cello (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4)
  • saxophone 
  • tuba 
  • oboe 
  • bassoon

We recommend purchasing full sized string instruments once a child has reached that size as we have very limited stock.

We do not hire out anything electrical, i.e. keyboards, electric guitars, electric bass guitars and amps. 

You can arrange to hire with us when you book lessons. There are just a few things to know before you hire an instrument from us:

• we require a deposit equivalent to one term's fees
• your deposit will be returned to you when you return the instrument (as long as it's in reasonable condition)
• we highly recommend that you arrange insurance for the instrument through your home contents insurance
• you must maintain and clean the instrument (if you are unsure how to do this, please ask)
• the hire does not include any consumables. e.g. strings, reeds, valve oil, rosin etc.

Our stock of hire instruments is beginner-level and well-loved.

If you would like to hire an instrument from us, book a time to come in by emailing musicservice@kingston.gov.uk

Non-KMS learners

If your child does not receive tuition from KMS we are still able to help with certain instrument hires. As long as you live in the Royal Borough of Kingston, we can hire you the following instruments:

• Violin (sizes 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 only) (£40 per term)
• Trumpet (£40 per term)
• Clarinet (£40 per term)
• Flute (not curved head) (£40 per term)
• Cello (sizes 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 only) (£40 per term)

All KMS hires are subject to availability.