The guys in my family are musical. The girls are all basically tone deaf. Weird, huh? Anyway, having all these musical men means we have been through the “I want to play…” conversation many, many times. The first time, we thought renting an instrument was a smart solution. Then, we realized that renting an instrument was like doing a really bad car lease deal. Now, we’d only rent for a month to make sure the child likes the instrument enough to stick with it.

Photo: SXC/orfeonegri

Once we’re sure the instrument is a hit, we start our hunt for an instrument to purchase. Most people head straight to a music store. You could, but we’ve had better luck finding a used instrument in good condition or a new discontinued model. Often, the instruments in stores, even used ones, are pricey.

One of the best places to start your search is eBay. I know, I know. You’re thinking, “What is wrong with that woman. Hasn’t she ever heard of Craigslist?” Normally, you’d be right, but we contacted three or four different “local” advertisers when we were searching for our last instrument and a few questions revealed that they were on the other side of the country, wanted money orders…Well, it just seemed scammy to us. So, eBay.

(Do your homework before placing a bid. We made sure that we were bidding on the right size instrument and really checked into the feedback the seller had generated before bidding.)

No luck there? Try your local newspaper. You may also want to try posting a wanted ad in a local gathering place where a lot of parents tend to hang out. And don’t forget Freecycle. Someone out there just may be clearing out clutter and will be delighted that their child’s old instrument can find new life in your child’s hands.