How Do I Get An Instrument?

Please do wait until your child’s teacher has confirmed when lessons will begin before arranging to hire or purchase an instrument.

Instruments are available to hire or buy from local music shops. The service owns a number of instruments which are primarily available to children learning under the Subsidised Tuition Scheme. Additionally we have a stock of larger and more expensive instruments such as double basses, oboes, bassoons and French horns which are available to hire. If you are interested in finding out more about obtaining an instrument through us, please tick the box on the tuition application form.

We also offer an Assisted Instrumental Purchase Scheme (AIPS) which reduces the cost of buying an instrument for your child – please see details below.

Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme

The Assisted Instrumental Purchase Scheme (AIPS) offers parents of instrumental students the opportunity to purchase an instrument VAT free and in many cases with an additional discount from the Recommended Retail Price.

You are free to contact any supplier provided they are registered for VAT and are willing to follow the regulations laid down by the Inland Revenue, as follows:

• The student receiving the instrument must be receiving weekly instrumental tuition through Brighton & Hove Music, Arts and Study Support at an LEA school
• The instrument must be appropriate for the student’s needs.
• The instrument must be delivered to the school and handed to the student in school
• The instrument must be portable and required for regular classroom use, ie brought into school on at least a weekly basis

How does it work?

• Your child’s instrumental teacher will advise you as to the most suitable instrument to purchase, and will need to sign the order form.
• To obtain the best price from suppliers, make sure that you mention that you wish to buy through the Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme run by Brighton & Hove Music, Arts and Study Support.
  
• Having chosen the instrument you wish to purchase, obtain a quotation from the supplier.
  
• If you would like to proceed, could you please establish that your child’s school is willing to accept delivery of the instrument (either with the Music Department or the School Office).
  
• Complete the order form and return it with a copy of the quotation and the relevant payment (cheques/P.O. payable to Brighton & Hove City Council) to:
  The Bursar,
  Brighton & Hove Music, Arts and Study Support 
  County Oak Avenue, Brighton, BN1 8DJ

AIPS order form & criteria

The instrument will be ordered and delivered to your child’s school and handed to your child by a member of teaching staff. This would normally take up to two weeks from receipt of the order.

Some suppliers offer the above scheme after a term’s rental of an instrument hired through their shop so please do enquire and obtain a quotation from the supplier.

If you have any queries regarding the scheme, please contact your child’s instrumental teacher in the first instance.