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Turning Your Child into a Rockin’ Musician this Holiday Season

By: School of Rock |  0 Shares     67 Reads

School of Rock Shares Insight on What to Consider when Shopping for Instruments for Beginners

November 22, 2013 // Franchising.com // Burr Ridge, IL – As December rolls around, the holiday shopping frenzy is in full swing with parents brainstorming and searching for fun, creative gifts for their kids. For those who have children interested in music, buying their first instrument can be a great present to help foster their passion and develop their skillset.

There are various components to consider when purchasing an instrument for beginners. School of Rock, a national performance-based music education franchise, has been working with young aspiring musicians for over 15 years and has extensive knowledge on how to go about smartly buying a child’s first musical instrument.

"With all the deals and discounts underway, the holiday season is the perfect time for parents to buy kids’ first musical instruments so the new year starts off with a fresh, stimulating activity to dive right into," said Chris Catalano, CEO of School of Rock. "Finding the right instrument is an important factor in their continued musical success so it’s important that parents become educated on all the factors that will make a difference."

School of Rock recommends considering the following elements when shopping for instruments this holiday season.

1. Cost. Parents should research prices before going out and buying anything. A quick Google search will yield sales prices for equipment and most retailers will offer price match guarantees. For used equipment prices, check completed listings on EBay using the advanced search option. It is highly recommended that parents buy a complete starter pack rather than individual parts, consisting of the instrument, accessories and a small amplifier, as buying parts separately adds up very quickly. The entry level packages normally range from $200-300 while the mid-level packages range from $300-500. The middle price will typically be the best value as the more inexpensive packages may need replacing within a couple of months.
2. Where to go. Once parents figure out how much they’re willing to spend, they’ll need to decide where to shop. For parents with minimal instrument experience, it’s smarter to shop at a local music retailer rather than online since there are employees on-hand if assistance is needed. Shopping in-person also allows for parents to actually see the instruments up-close and get a better sense of their quality and size. There can also be great deals for secondhand instruments for parents with musician connections, particularly with drums and guitars. This should only be done given the instrument is still in good working order.
3. Finding the right fit. Buying the right size instrument is crucial in determining if it’s a suitable fit for the child. For guitars and basses, the beginner needs to be able to comfortably reach the entire length of the neck. For smaller children, guitars are sold in half and three-quarter sizes and drums come in smaller sizes with bass drums measuring 18-22 inches as opposed to the standard 22 inches. When in doubt, always go up to full size since children will grow into them.
4. Playing the best sound. For parents buying their child their first guitar or bass, it’s vital to pick up an electronic tuner as well since it can be very frustrating for a beginner to tune his/her instrument. Even if he/she is playing well, it won’t sound as good if the tuning is off. Also, when it comes to purchasing cables, it’s a good idea to seek out cables with warranties. For buying keyboards, there are two options: keyboards with multiple built-in sounds are very fun for kids, or there are keyboards with weighted keys which feel more like a real piano and are more expensive. For parents who want to minimize the loud noise of drums, there is the electronic drums option where the sound plays through the child’s headphones rather than out loud. Along the same lines, any instrument with an amplifier will have a headphone jack to reduce noise.
5. After purchasing. Once the instrument is purchased, wrapped and excitedly opened, parents will need to take the next step and choose a teaching method. It’s best to seek out a qualified teaching staff or a reputable music school that will make learning fun. At School of Rock for instance, music students take private lessons as well as jam out with their peers in practice sessions, inspiring one another to excel as they amp up for the big show at the end of each season.

For more information on School of Rock and their programs, visit www.schoolofrock.com.

About School of Rock

The music school your mom and dad wished they had when they were kids, School of Rock is an ingenious concept that gets kids and adults rocking out to the classics and up and performing with their peers. With more than 125 locations in seven countries, the franchise proves that rock & roll is alive and kickin’. For more information about the franchise opportunity, please visit http://franchising.schoolofrock.com/.

SOURCE School of Rock

Media Contact:

Stefanie Zimmerman
Fishman PR
847.945.1300 x 267
szimmerman@fishmanpr.com

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