Buying an Instrument
For families interested in buying an instrument, we would love to be involved with the process of selecting the best instrument for your child. Purchasing an instrument is a big investment, and we want to be sure to set your child up for success. To get some background about various levels of stringed instruments, please start by watching the videos below. Lloyd Palmiter has a wealth of knowledge and is an expert in purchasing instruments.
If you are ever considering buying an instrument at Q&F or anywhere, please reach out to us! We are always glad to help! Instruments are not created equally and many online purchases can hinder students' progress. We want to always be sure that our students are set up for success! Again, please reach out to us at any time to help!
While renting is the perfect starting point for string instruments, eventually families will hit a point that it makes more financial sense to purchase a high quality instrument through Q&F (rather than continuing to rent throughout high school). The rental credit that you have accumulated while renting applies towards the purchase of an instrument! Please feel free to contact Q&F if you currently rent an instrument to see how much rental credit you have to apply to the purchase of a new instrument!
The event is most beneficial for students who are on the full size for their instrument:
For more information about Quinlan and Fabish’s Standard Step Up Instruments, click here.
For more information about Quinlan and Fabish’s Star-Level Step Up Instruments, click here.
For more information about Quinlan and Fabish’s Master-Level Step Up Instruments, click here.
To get an idea of approximate prices for high-quality instruments that will be a good investment for your child's future years of music making, please click the links below:
Performance-level Violins
Performance-level Violas
Performance-level Cellos
Performance-level Basses - Many of our students purchase and enjoy the Samuel Shen Flamed Hybrid bass.
Step Up Night - An Annual Event Hosted at Quinlan & Fabish
A Private Event for Only Our Families at Crone, Gregory, Neuqua Valley, and Scullen
Q&F Fox Valley Location: 291 Montgomery Rd. (Southwest corner of Montgomery Rd. and Douglas Rd.)
Next event is TBA.
You are invited to join us for Step Up Night at Quinlan & Fabish. This is an opportunity to explore and try out quality instruments that are a step up from rental instruments because they are higher quality, a better investment, and are easier for your child to play and produce a richer and more mature sound. For most students, this will be their forever instrument that they can play in high school and beyond. Some students obtain college scholarships just to play in the orchestra and not even major in music. Other students may seek community orchestras in their adult lives for enjoyment.
Many parents come in to our Step Up Night saying, “I’m not a musician. I won’t be able to hear a difference.” We are always amazed by how many families walk out saying, “Wow! I didn’t realize it made that much of a difference. I could actually hear it!” Mrs. Lauff and Mrs. Lein as well as the District 204 orchestra staff will be present at this event to help you find the perfect instrument that will be a great fit for your child throughout middle school, high school and beyond.
Buying an instrument is an involved process because every instrument is unique. Even the exact brands and models can sound completely different. Bows have differences as well and sometimes even a tenth of a gram of weight can completely change the sound of an instrument! This is why the instruments and bows are sold separately; we can help you try them out and find a bow that will be a perfect match for the selected instrument. Cases are also sold separately to allow students the option to choose their favorite interior and exterior colors. Rental credit applies toward the total purchase (instrument, bow, and case).
We offer appointments for Step Up Nights for each family in order to meet with a teacher one-on-one. This helps us give you the attention you and your child deserve for such a valuable investment.
Please feel free to contact Q&F if you currently rent an instrument to see how much rental credit you have to apply to the purchase of a new instrument! You need not rent from Q&F to attend. All are welcome, and Q&F often offers a discount to families even if you do not rent from their store. Also, if you would like to watch a few short videos that describe Step Up level instruments, please click our link and scroll down to the videos. Lloyd Palmiter is an incredibly valuable resource for purchasing instruments.
If you are ever considering buying an instrument at Q&F or anywhere, please reach out to us! We are always glad to help! Not all instruments are created equally, and several online purchases can severely hinder students' progress. Several instruments are intended for decorative purposes and are not built to the same standards as even rental quality instruments. These can be very discouraging for students. We want to always be sure that our students are set up for success! Again, please reach out to us at any time to help!! We are glad to explore other options with you if you’d like. Your children matter to us, and helping each student find the perfect instrument is something we value greatly. Thank you in advance for allowing us to be a part of this process with your family!
If you are ever considering buying an instrument at Q&F or anywhere, please reach out to us! We are always glad to help! Instruments are not created equally and many online purchases can hinder students' progress. We want to always be sure that our students are set up for success! Again, please reach out to us at any time to help!
While renting is the perfect starting point for string instruments, eventually families will hit a point that it makes more financial sense to purchase a high quality instrument through Q&F (rather than continuing to rent throughout high school). The rental credit that you have accumulated while renting applies towards the purchase of an instrument! Please feel free to contact Q&F if you currently rent an instrument to see how much rental credit you have to apply to the purchase of a new instrument!
The event is most beneficial for students who are on the full size for their instrument:
- Violin 4/4
- Viola 15” or larger
- Cello 4/4
- Bass 3/4 (this is considered "full sized")
For more information about Quinlan and Fabish’s Standard Step Up Instruments, click here.
For more information about Quinlan and Fabish’s Star-Level Step Up Instruments, click here.
For more information about Quinlan and Fabish’s Master-Level Step Up Instruments, click here.
To get an idea of approximate prices for high-quality instruments that will be a good investment for your child's future years of music making, please click the links below:
Performance-level Violins
Performance-level Violas
Performance-level Cellos
Performance-level Basses - Many of our students purchase and enjoy the Samuel Shen Flamed Hybrid bass.
Step Up Night - An Annual Event Hosted at Quinlan & Fabish
A Private Event for Only Our Families at Crone, Gregory, Neuqua Valley, and Scullen
Q&F Fox Valley Location: 291 Montgomery Rd. (Southwest corner of Montgomery Rd. and Douglas Rd.)
Next event is TBA.
You are invited to join us for Step Up Night at Quinlan & Fabish. This is an opportunity to explore and try out quality instruments that are a step up from rental instruments because they are higher quality, a better investment, and are easier for your child to play and produce a richer and more mature sound. For most students, this will be their forever instrument that they can play in high school and beyond. Some students obtain college scholarships just to play in the orchestra and not even major in music. Other students may seek community orchestras in their adult lives for enjoyment.
Many parents come in to our Step Up Night saying, “I’m not a musician. I won’t be able to hear a difference.” We are always amazed by how many families walk out saying, “Wow! I didn’t realize it made that much of a difference. I could actually hear it!” Mrs. Lauff and Mrs. Lein as well as the District 204 orchestra staff will be present at this event to help you find the perfect instrument that will be a great fit for your child throughout middle school, high school and beyond.
Buying an instrument is an involved process because every instrument is unique. Even the exact brands and models can sound completely different. Bows have differences as well and sometimes even a tenth of a gram of weight can completely change the sound of an instrument! This is why the instruments and bows are sold separately; we can help you try them out and find a bow that will be a perfect match for the selected instrument. Cases are also sold separately to allow students the option to choose their favorite interior and exterior colors. Rental credit applies toward the total purchase (instrument, bow, and case).
We offer appointments for Step Up Nights for each family in order to meet with a teacher one-on-one. This helps us give you the attention you and your child deserve for such a valuable investment.
Please feel free to contact Q&F if you currently rent an instrument to see how much rental credit you have to apply to the purchase of a new instrument! You need not rent from Q&F to attend. All are welcome, and Q&F often offers a discount to families even if you do not rent from their store. Also, if you would like to watch a few short videos that describe Step Up level instruments, please click our link and scroll down to the videos. Lloyd Palmiter is an incredibly valuable resource for purchasing instruments.
If you are ever considering buying an instrument at Q&F or anywhere, please reach out to us! We are always glad to help! Not all instruments are created equally, and several online purchases can severely hinder students' progress. Several instruments are intended for decorative purposes and are not built to the same standards as even rental quality instruments. These can be very discouraging for students. We want to always be sure that our students are set up for success! Again, please reach out to us at any time to help!! We are glad to explore other options with you if you’d like. Your children matter to us, and helping each student find the perfect instrument is something we value greatly. Thank you in advance for allowing us to be a part of this process with your family!