Our instrument store is vast.  We have over 25 different instruments to choose from and around 7,000 instruments - string: violin, viola, cello, double bass; woodwind: flute, oboe, clarinet; brass: trumpet, cornet, tenor horn, euphonium, baritone horn, french horn, trombone, tuba.

Hiring an instrument 

Hiring an instrument from us is easy.  Complete our instrument hire application form to tell us what you want. Once we have confirmed availability, payment will be required and then the instrument can be collected from our store. For student hires, delivery to the student’s school may also be possible.

Who can hire 

• Instruments can be hired by anyone at our standard (non-subsidised) hire rate. Specific rates may apply to more specialist or high value instruments. 
• Subsidised or free instrument hire is available to young people aged 18 and under who are living in Worcestershire or attending a Worcestershire school and resident in the UK. 

Hire fee (from 1 September 2023) and delivery/collection

• Instrument hire is on a termly basis (or part thereof) and payment is required in advance. 
• The subsidised young person hire rate is £36.40 per instrument. Free instrument hire is available if your child qualifies - see our  free instrument hire criteria  for more details. 
• The standard (non-subsidised) hire rate is £43.70 per instrument (different rates and deposits may apply to more specialist or high value instruments and this will be advised as part of confirmation of availability). 
• Instruments will be available for collection as soon as payment has been made. Collection is from our store at Malvern Gate in Worcester between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. 
• Young person hires can be delivered to a school provided we teach in that school. This can be requested at the point of ordering. The cost for delivery is £5.00. Please note that we require at least two weeks' notice for delivery (longer during the peak August and September period). Delivery cannot be confirmed until payment has been received. 

Insurance and replacement

• The hirer is responsible for taking good care of the instrument. 
• Hires to Worcestershire young people on the subsided or free rate are insured by us for accidental damage and loss. 
• Any instrument that is hired on the standard (non-subsidised) rate is not covered by our insurance and is the sole responsibility of the hirer. We therefore strongly advise that the hirer takes out suitable insurance or arranges for the instrument to be included with their household insurance. 
• We provide a replacement instrument free of charge if your instrument needs repairing due to fair wear and tear or if you need a different size of the same instrument, simply complete our  request a replacement  form and we will arrange the rest for you.  
• All instruments will be supplied ‘ready to play’, but the replacement of consumables such as reeds and strings during the hire period is the responsibility of the hirer.

Apply for instrument hire

Replacement instrument

If your instrument is damaged or develops a problem, or if your child needs a larger sized stringed instrument as they grow, Severn Arts will provide a replacement instrument free of charge.

• Simply contact our office using our request a replacement form and an exchange date will be agreed
• Return the instrument to the school reception by the exchange date, so that we can collect it at the same time as leaving a replacement

Request a replacement

Cancelling instrument hire

If for any reason you need to cancel your instrument hire it isn’t a problem all we ask is that you: 

• Complete our  instrument hire cancellation form 
• Return the instrument to our store at Malvern Gate in Worcester. 
• If you have a student hire and the school is willing to accept instrument return, the instrument can be returned to school. In this case, ensure you obtain a receipt from the school and email us at [email protected]  when the instrument is ready to be collected. 
• You will continue to be liable for charges until such time as the instrument is received back at our store and has been checked. 

Please note instrument hire is not linked to school lessons and will not be cancelled unless you complete and return our instrument hire cancellation form.  

Instrument hire cancellation form

For more information about our terms and conditions please see Severn Arts music services terms and conditions - section 3 covers instrument hire.