For those of you that have a system where you check out beginner instruments to some students but not all, how do you handle that? We right now only provide the larger instruments, and everybody else has to provide their own.
We have an inventory of a number of instruments that we would like to be able to check out to those who really can't afford one, but we do not have enough for everyone.
I've heard of people in similar situations that check out instruments to students based on certain criteria. We'd like to be able to do something like that but realize there has to be a very diligent system for it.
If you do something like this, please comment how you do it along with the size school you are.
We always provide the big instruments but when it comes to the other instruments we ask parents to purchase instruments. When it comes to students using school owned instruments that are normally purchased I tell students that they are on a first come first serve basis and if I run out of school instruments you might have to play an instrument that is not your first choice. I never ask parents to verify why they need a school instrument. My theory is I don't want to lose any student that is interested in band. So if providing an instrument will allow the student to be in band I will make it happen. I have several students that wanted to play Alto on tenor sax instead because that is what is available and they are doing great.
We used to issue instruments (Fl, Cl, SX, Tp, Tbn) to some students before we started issuing all instruments. The criteria included (but did not have to be all) free & reduced lunch, McKenny-Vento, reference from their counselor, history of utilizing resources from district social services. It was a long process and honestly upset parents who applied and didn't qualify. I eventually made it to where we just issued everyone an instrument unless they stated they were providing their own. Made the start of the year so much easier.