Q: Where is High School Music Service?
A:  High School Music Service is located at 2106 NW Military Hwy (6 blocks North of Loop 410) in the Castle Hills area of North Central San Antonio.  A second location is scheduled to open in July 2009.  That store will be located in the Alamo Ranch Shopping Center on Loop 1604 at Culebra Rd.

Q:  How long has High School Music Service been in business?
A:  Since 1946.   We have been servicing San Antonio and the South Texas area for over 60 years!

Q:  What are your available options for instrument rentals?
A:  We offer two monthly payment plans – A Month-to-Month “Rent Only” Plan and a “Rent/Purchase” Plan.

    •    Instruments available on the “Rent Only” Plan are selected from a pool of pre-owned     instruments.  While not all brands are available on this plan, these instruments are in excellent     playing condition and satisfy the main objective of the “Rent Only” Plan – to keep monthly payment     pricing at a minimum.  Also, all payments on this plan may be applied towards the purchase of a new     instrument should your student elect to continue after his/her first year.

    •    The “Rent/Purchase” Plan is our most popular plan.  Any brand of student line instrument, new or     used, is available on this plan.  All payments go towards the ownership of that instrument.  There is     no interest charged.  The cost is the retail price plus sales tax; no other charges are added. When all     payments have been made, ownership converts to the customer.

Q:  What if my child quits band?
A:  You will never be stuck with an instrument that is not needed.  On either plan, you can return the instrument at any time should your student elect to get out of band.  You pay only for the time you had the instrument.  The balance of “Rent/Purchase” contract dollars due will be cancelled without any penalty.

Q:  Is there a minimum number of months necessary for a rental contract?
A:  No.  There is no minimum length of contract.

Q:  My school has given me a list of certain requirements and suggested specific brands for instruments.  Why?
A:  Band directors want their students to have every opportunity to succeed, so they identify specific brands that they know will help a student’s ability to succeed.  The brands recommended have been around for many years and have been proven to help students progress and get the most from their musical experiences.  There are many new off-brand instruments that have surfaced recently that are harder to play and can actually hinder musical training.

Q:  Is there a large down payment for rentals?
A:  No.  Down payments are equal to the normal monthly payment of the specific contract, usually $25 to $45 depending on the instrument.  Month-to-Month rentals have an additional refundable deposit that is equal to the first month’s charge.

Q:  If I want to buy an instrument instead of renting, are there any advantages?
A:  Yes.  When paying for an instrument all at once, you can receive a substantial discount off the list price of that instrument.  Depending on the instrument, that discount can range from 25 to 45 percent.  You have until 30 days after you take delivery of the instrument to take advantage of this discount.

Q:  What if I purchase an instrument and my child quits band? 
A:  You haven’t wasted money.  After paying for an instrument outright, you can still return the instrument if your student elects to get out of band.  We will pro-rate the charge for the time that you had the instrument, charging you rent only for the months that you had the instrument.  We will refund the balance of your payment.  This is our “Buy Back Guarantee” to you.

Q:  What concerns should I have buying an instrument from a pawn shop or directly from individual? 
A:  Instruments bought from a pawn shop or from someone could be of poor quality or be in need of expensive repairs.  You are assured that an instrument purchased from a reputable music store has been checked out and repaired to function properly.  Obstacles that an inferior quality instrument poses to a beginning student will be interpreted by that student as his/her lack of skill, thus undermining self-confidence and opportunity for success.

Q:  Do you have any additional advice that might be useful to a novice shopper?
A:  Yes.
 
    •    Shop Early:  Waiting until mid August to get started is like waiting until Christmas Eve to do your     Christmas shopping.  By shopping early, you can avoid uncomfortable crowds, and while new     instruments are always available, used instruments are not.  We have the most quantity of used     instruments in our store beginning in June.  They are shopped heavily, and by mid August, our stock     of used equipment is usually getting very low.

    •    Consider Pre-Ordering:  You can sign up for an instrument and reserve it for your student by     making a down payment.  There will be no further payments necessary until 30 days after you     receive the instrument.  You can come in, call us, or order from this website to reserve an instrument     for August.  You can pick up the instrument when you need it.
 
    •    Take Advantage of Delivery:  We can deliver to many schools.  Your order must be placed by     August 1st.  We will deliver the instrument before school starts. The Band Directors will give     instruments to their students when they are ready to have their equipment.