French Horn Rental

What Is a French Horn?

The French horn — often referred to simply as the horn — is a brass instrument, in the same family as the trumpet, trombone and tuba. It’s recognized for its expansive range and its distinctively beautiful sound — warm, round and full-bodied. The instrument is also an unforgettable sight, comprising about 12 feet of coiled brass tubing and a very large bell. The French horn serves both melodic and harmonic roles and is common in symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and concert or wind bands.

How Do You Play the French Horn?

To play the French horn, the musician buzzes their lips into a mouthpiece to create vibration and sound. With their left hand, they press down on valves that change the length of the instrument’s tubing and, consequently, its pitch. Their right hand rests or moves inside the bell, where it can further manipulate pitch, intonation, tone and dynamics.

Why the French Horn Is a Great Instrument for Your Child

The French horn is a fantastic instrument for young learners with the respiratory strength to play a brass instrument. It’s also terrific for children with a natural musical ear — in other words, those who demonstrate the ability to hear, identify and adjust specific pitches. Finally, many kids appreciate the uniqueness of both its striking appearance and its gorgeous tone.

Renting vs. Buying a French Horn

When considering a French horn rental, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of renting vs. buying an instrument. If your child is already dedicated to the French horn, purchasing may be the better route. For beginners, renting is a low-risk way to discover an instrument.

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a French Horn?

French horn rental rates at Music & Arts are consistently affordable across the country, with pricing that varies by location and school. Special introductory offers make it even easier to get started. Considering that a quality French horn with accessories can cost thousands of dollars, renting from Music & Arts is a smart, budget-friendly alternative.

French Horn Products and Accessories

Your French horn will arrive with everything your child needs to start playing — including a case, a mouthpiece and valve oil. The recommended products below are also important, and will help you with regular instrument maintenance and creating an ideal practice environment.

Additionally, your child’s music teacher at school will recommend key accessories that you’ll be able to purchase during the rental process, as well as a method book.

Giardinelli French Horn Care Kit: Invest in this affordable, all-in-one kit containing a polishing cloth, a key and rotor oiler, tuning slide grease, a vinyl cleaning snake, a mouthpiece brush and care instructions.

Instrument Stand: An instrument stand provides a safe and convenient way to store your French horn temporarily, when not in use during practice sessions.

Music Stand: For comfort, convenience and to encourage good posture, musicians need a well-built adjustable music stand to hold their sheet music and method book while practicing.

Tuner and Metronome: Every practice session should begin with tuning, so pick up a digital tuner that is both precise and easy to use. A metronome is a small device that provides a steady beat to practice along to, helping your child improve their sense of rhythm and musical time. These tools are available individually or combined into a single product.

Learn more about the accessories your child needs in this Buyer’s Guide.

Next Steps for Your French Horn Rental

Private lessons: As the leading provider of private music lessons in the United States, Music & Arts is the perfect place for your child to advance their skills. Visit our Music Lessons page or find a store near you.

Continue renting: If your child is enjoying the instrument, you can extend your French horn rental period with Music & Arts.

Buy an instrument: Music & Arts rental fees act as credit toward the purchase of an instrument. If you wish to buy a rentable, student-level French horn, your accrued rental payments can cover up to 100 percent of the instrument’s purchase price. Buy early, before your rental term expires, to receive a discount of up to 30 percent.

French Horn Rental FAQs

How do I rent a French horn from Music & Arts?

You can rent online in just a few simple steps. First, visit our Instrument Rentals page. Then, search for and select your school. Choose your instrument, confirm or select your trial period, and add any method books or supplies. Finally, enter the student and renter information, choose your delivery method and complete the billing details.

What comes with my French horn rental?

Your French horn will arrive with everything your child needs to start playing — including a case, a mouthpiece and valve oil. We also highly recommend the Giardinelli French Horn Care Kit, which contains essential maintenance products.

Will my rental French horn be new?

Most rental instruments are like-new. We recommend renting a previously used instrument, as each one is professionally adjusted for optimal playability. A young learner with a poorly maintained instrument may struggle to progress.

How long will it take to receive my rental French horn?

If you choose Ship to Home, orders are processed within 48 hours and typically arrive within one to five days, depending on your location. For Pick Up at School, delivery is arranged by your child’s music teacher. If you select Pick Up at Store, the store will contact you when your instrument is ready — usually within 48 hours.