Musical instruments

Players have a number of options for obtaining instruments. Many schools have a supply of the more common instruments that students can hire at a set fee per term. Alternatively many music shops have excellent rent-to-buy schemes which enable young people to start on an instrument without having to make an expensive purchase if they decide after a few months the instrument is not for them.

Several stores in the Plymouth area offer an excellent range of instruments and professional and helpful advice to all potential players and their parents. For further information on local instrument suppliers who offer rent-to-buy schemes please contact the Music Tuition Co-ordinator, Plymouth Youth Music Service.

Assisted purchase scheme

This scheme enables students to purchase musical instruments without paying Value Added Tax (VAT) on them.

The assisted instrument purchase scheme is strictly for pupils attending Local Education Authority schools who receive musical tuition as part of the curriculum.

The scheme was approved by HM Customs and Excise and reviewed in September 1994 by the VAT Office. The scheme operates nationwide through schools, music centres and education authorities.

Here's how the scheme works:

• the student/parent selects an instrument
• the parent pays the VAT free figure to the school
• the school places an official order
• the school is invoiced with the full amount inclusive of VAT
• the school claims the VAT in the usual way
• the student collects the instrument from the school.

Rules

There are conditions to abide by to be able to use this scheme:

• the student must be in full-time education at a Local Education Authority School
• the student must be either receiving tuition at the school as part of their curriculum or receiving private tuition in support of a curricular activity such as GCSE music
• the instrument must be appropriate for the student's needs
• the instrument must be portable
• the instrument must initially be sent to the school and then passed to the student in a designated teaching room
• the instrument must be charged to the students at or below the normal schools cost, exclusive of VAT (ie non-profit-making).

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