Decoding your school's instrument list
School supply lists can be full of unfamiliar terms — here's a plain-English rundown of the items schools ask for most, so you know exactly what you're looking at.
Even easier: take a photo of your school's list and email it to info@musicrentals.au — we'll put together a draft order of exactly what you need and send it back for your approval within one business day (usually much faster). Happy with it? Pay and you're done. Want to talk it through? Give us a call.
Reeds — what strength, and how many?
Most student players begin on strength 1.5 — if you're a beginner or in your first year, it's safe to assume this is right for you; it's the easiest to play. In the second year most students move to a 2, then a 2.5 in third year, and experienced players may settle on a 3, 3.5 or 4 after several years. If you're unsure, a 3-pack is a smart way to start. Expect a beginner to go through a reed roughly every 4–6 weeks, provided reeds are dried out and cared for between playing. (And your rental clarinet or saxophone already includes one 1.5 reed to get started.)
More guides — covering things like cork grease, care and cleaning, and music stands — are on the way. In the meantime, just ask us anything via the details below.