We at Arena Sound Music Instruction no longer sell or rent instruments. Instead, we prefer to offer advice on selecting the right instrument for you. We also wish to share the name, location, and ratings on which we feel are the best instrument dealers. This page will first deal with selecting an instrument and then where to purchase one.

What instrument should I play?

It is best to avoid playing a string instrument if the child is younger than age 8. A string instrument demands a great deal more work, focus, and hand strength than some of the other instruments we teach. For example, the beginning guitarist struggles for the first few months to get a clear sound from the instrument. One must have a lot of patience and frustration tolerance to train the fingers to remain on their tips and directly behind the fret at all times. This takes some time to train in. In the meantime, the student struggles with getting their first notes on the instrument to sound clear. Many youngsters soon find out that the guitar isn’t as easy as it looks on TV. The guitar soon finds it’s way to the closet for "storage."

We recommend the piano for this age group. It is an excellent foundation for all musicians. Many conservatories require all of their students to study the piano. Compared to other instruments, it is easier to see your hands and the notes you are playing. The beginning pianist has the use of an additional sense -sight- to assist them in learning the instrument. Unlike string instruments, one does not need to struggle to make their first notes sound good, making the piano a user-friendly instrument to the beginning musician.

The notes on the piano are also laid out in a simple, logical order. It is easier for beginning music students of all ages to understand the location of the musical alphabet compared to many other instruments. Once a student masters some of the musical basics on the piano-music theory, sight-reading, and ear training-their learning of another instrument is accelerated.

What is the best age to start learning an instrument?

We have children as young as 4 years of age on our roster. We also have many working adults as well as senior citizens.

In order to succeed on any instrument, one must allow a minimum of 30 minutes a day for practice.

Where is the best place to purchase an instrument?

Foxes Music has the best rental prices in the tri-state area. They do not, however, rent guitars or pianos. We highly recommend them for the purchase of guitars. Their sales staff will spend the time necessary to help the customer select the right instrument for the student. Their phone number is 703-533-7393.

Where do I purchase a Piano?

www.music123.com or www.musiciansfriend.com. We have used musiciansfriend.com several times and have never received less than excellent service.