Why Knowing Your Saxophone and Investing in Saxophone Insurance is Important

Are you planning on indulging in some Saxophone classes? It's said that buying the instrument helps in practicing it to perfection. If you are of the thought process, you should buy a Saxophone.

Here's a buying guide that will help you indulge in buying a Saxophone, whether you are new-on-the-block Saxophone player or someone who has been learning the ropes of the instrument for a while now. So, let's get started!

Buying or Renting: That's the question
We will start out with the most basic question that every person indulging in the buy asks- should I buy the instrument or simply rent one. We suggest buying a Saxophone. Here are our reasons for this suggestion

• If you rent an instrument for a long time, you might end up paying more than you would buying the same instrument. The buying cost is relatively less

• If you maintain the instrument that you have bought, you might end up getting more value when you go to sell it. The chances of getting profitable value at the end of few years of owning it would be higher than when you rent an instrument for years

• When you rent an instrument for long, you may need to be wary of the tear that happen to it. You will be asked to pay for the damages that are caused to the instrument.

Hope this strengthens your decision to buy a Saxophone.

Knowing the Saxophone family
The Saxophone, since its invention, has become one of the most popular and featured wind instrument in the pop and jazz world. There is versatility in the instrument, which tends to attract you towards it. The saxophone combined with the diversity in pitches help create music for a wide range of moods.

Before you make the choice, you should be introduced to the wide variety of Saxophones available in the market.

• Alto Saxophone: This is the starter instrument. With a compact layout, and need for less air, it is the perfect choice for the new-on-the-block Saxophone student. It is affordable and has a variety of classical music written for it. Once you have attained the skills necessary to play the Alto variant, you can always use them to play the other Saxophone instruments too

• Tenor Saxophone: This is the choice made by Jazz players. It is easier for beginners to adapt to. It has a large, curved shape, which makes it damage prone. You need to make sure the instrument is made of a durable material before making the purchase

• Bass & Baritone Saxophones: They are low-pitched saxophones. They are most often found in classical music variants.

• Soprano Saxophones: they cost less compared to the others. They are smaller in size and require less material to build it. This is the best choice for rich and classical sounds

When you make a Saxophone choice, you should ideally be aware of the types of Saxophone available, and which one suits the beginner best. It is important to invest in saxophone insurance cover as it is a delicately wounded instrument that is prone to damage. Choose a reliable provider for the coverage needs.

How to Choose an Instrument & Instrument Coverage for Your Child?

Music is a source of relaxation and happiness for children. It is recommended that kids learn to play at least one instrument or opt for singing lessons, when in school. It helps relieve them of the academic stress.

According to Atarah Ben-Tovim and Douglas Boyd's book "The Right Instrument for your Child", nine out of ten children learn how to play an instrument. Those who fail to learn an instrument are the ones who have selected a wrong instrument. It is important for your choice of instrument to meet the individual personality needs as well. This will create the passion and the zeal to learn it, and further in music.

Here we will discuss the personality requirements for the individual instrument choices made by people

• Concert flute: This instrument is most often played by children who are shy and love staying in their own world. They are dreamy and are wrapped up in creating their characters and story, which is distant from the world that is. This instrument suits them perfectly as it allows them to create the music in loneliness. A child with strong and dominant personality is less likely to play the instrument or find any happiness playing it

• Clarinet: A sociable child who is both bright and alert finds solace playing this instrument. The child will showcase varied interests and delve into a wide range of hobbies

• Oboe: The stubborn introverts will take up this instrument. If you observe the oboe players within an orchestra, you will see that they are a small clan that keeps to themselves. These kids are introverts

• Saxophone: If your child is absentminded or very casual about most things in life, then they will choose this instrument over others. The saxophone is for those who are not seeking a teacher but want to create good music with friends over leisure hours

• Trumpet: Sociable children or those who are dominant and aggressive, the trumpet favors both types of personalities. It is basically the best choice for the independent children

• Trombone: If your child prefers hanging out with a small group, is persistent and hard working but, does not mix with others easily, then this is the instrument that you should get them. It is a difficult instrument but, for those who like challenges, this is the apt choice

• Tuba: If your child is good natured and leads from behind the curtains, than this is the apt choice for them

• Violin: This is for the quiet and well-behaved child. They will be able to contribute their lessons to a group rather than playing alone

• Viola: It is the choice of a responsive child who works in a group

• Drums: If your child is nervous, highly irritable, restless than the drums is the perfect choice for them

Purchasing the instrument comes with investing in instrument coverage. You should make sure you have insured the instrument, else you will have to pay for the damages and replacements from your pockets. Choice of the ideal coverage depends on the provider's experience and expertise in insurance solutions.

Investing in String Instrument Insurance? Here's Everything You Should Know

An instrument has a good shelf life if you take proper care, and maintain it properly. The regular servicing will help improve the shelf life. As an artist, we are deeply passionate about everything that is music. You would ideally keep the instrument in its case, and make sure you dust it regularly. The string instrument owners would tune up their instruments even when they don't play it regularly. The care and the caution actually help improve the life.

However, the regular maintenance is not quite adequate when it comes to protecting your instrument, especially the string instrument. You will need to ensure it with appropriate string instrument insurance to give it a long and healthy life.

A good insurance requires validation from the right sources. You will need to find the right provider who has offered the solution to musicians who seem happy with it. There are quite a few things involved. Let's dig deeper to see how you can get the right and perfect solution.

• So, do you own a new or a used instrument? Why do we ask? Well, a used instrument in a good condition can be valued at around the same rate as a new instrument. Of course, the value would be a couple of bucks lower. However, if the condition is not so good, you might not be able to value the instrument well, which might result in decline of the insurance or an insurance value that will not cover your costs. It is important to search for insurance providers who deal with used instrument insurance and offer a good price. Only then will you be able to get a good deal

• How long do you want to pay the premium for the instrument insurance? That will decide the premium amount and the duration for your payment. You will need to consider this as that will also decide the type of insurance you should invest in.

• Is the provider offering you a deal that you think can match your needs? For instance, if the provider can give you all the inclusions that you need in the budget you want, you can surely go ahead with the insurance solution. That is why you will need to study the inclusions and your requirements before approaching the provider for further details. If the solution does not contain what you need, it may not be useful to you

• Do you hear good words from the different people who have purchased a solution from this provider? This is yet another factor that will help you choose the provider. If people have received good solutions, they may rank the provider high. This will also help you review the provider. So, before you join hands with a provider, you will need to make sure you know the ratings that they have received.

A good insurance solution is a result of need analysis, requirement understanding and the experience of the solution provider. If you have all three in one, you should choose them for the string instrument insurance.

Points to Consider When Choosing a Performance Insurance

The performance insurance is important for your instrument, as it helps you pay up for the instrument in case it comes with performance issues. The performance in the instrument could be related to the tone, the strings (in case of string instrument) or other things associated with the instrument. A good performance insurance will help you make sure your instrument does not cause too many losses, and can be maintained easily.

Here are a few things you ought to consider when buying the performance insurance.

• What type of performance insurance are you interested in? Are you looking for a very basic insurance that will cover just the performance of the instrument or do you want a good insurance that will cover the costs of the audio equipment involved? The answer to this question will dictate your choice of the insurance

• Once you have chosen the type of insurance, you will need to consider the inclusions for your insurance. What all aspects do you want covered?

• A good performance insurance is reliable if it can cover the repair costs in case the strings are broken or some damage is caused, thus lowering the performance of the instrument. You should ideally add a repair cost even for basic scratches in the insurance cover

• What if the instrument is dropped accidentally just before a show? This can add up to the costs. You might need to buy a new instrument or get a rented one for the time being. You should have this covered in the performance insurance you are buying

• Are you buying performance insurance for a used instrument or for a new one? The answer will determine what all factors you need to consider. If the used one is slightly older than the specific period, your valuation might fall and the total premium to be paid will be more if you want too many clauses included. A new one will be fairly cheaper when compared to the insurance for a used instrument

• How often do you want to pay the premium will decide the premium amount as well? You should define this at the start, and it will help choose the right performance insurance for your instrument

Choosing the right provider

• A good provider is a result of experience and expertise. If the person has both knowledge and the right application methods, they would be able to provide you with the apt insurance solution for your instrument needs

• The provider should have the experience of providing performance insurance, the type that you are seeking. This will help you know if they can provide you with the solution you are seeking

• The budget of the premium is of major concern when choosing a performance insurance provider. You don't want to ruin your chances of getting good maintenance and service for your instrument with the wrong provider. It is a good idea to keep a set budget and opt for one that matches your budget needs perfectly

• Finally, you might want to check their ratings and reviews before finalizing them. This will help you know if they are worth the money you are investing or not.

How to Buy a Saxophone for the Beginner with Saxophone Insurance?

Have you started learning saxophone? A beginner in any field of music should own the instrument, as it helps them practice and improves the art. The same thing applies to a saxophone as well. Buying a saxophone may seem like an uphill task but, that's not the case. With the right guidance, you will be able to buy a good saxophone that will get you through the beginner years.

Unlike the flute or the clarinet, the saxophone comes with different requirements. To play the instrument well, you need to maintain a good posture and hand position. It is important for you to pay attention to breathing, articulation, relaxation, hand position and manual dexterity, which will help you play it the way you want.

For the saxophone players, concentration is important and integral. If you are a beginner, you might face difficulty producing the low notes or the bell tones or even the high notes.

Few pre-requisites that will help you learn the instrument in a better way

• Perception of sound is a must for the beginners. If you can perceive the sound, and understand the notes well, you are on your way to excelling the saxophone

• You will need to improve your embouchure, breathing and articulation to improve the art of the instrument. For this, you will need to go through a process of trial and error, till you hit the right combination.

• It is important to listen to others play the instrument if you want to improve the art in a good way

The ideal way to improve your tones and notes is practice, obviously. For this, you will need to instrument, which will help you keep up with practice regularly.

Here are a few things you might want to consider when investing in an instrument

If you are beginner saxophone, alto saxophone is where you need to start. The literature for classical saxophone has been exclusively written for the alto, which makes it easier for you to learn. If you have learnt the embouchure for Alto Saxophone, you have learnt it for the others as well. It is easy to replicate your embouchure as well as the angle of air flow from this saxophone to the others. The air requirement for alto is preferably less as compared to the tenor saxophone.

Points to consider when choosing a saxophone

• What stage of learning are you in? A beginner can easily adopt the alto saxophone before moving on to tenor or the others. It is important to get the instrument that allows you to stay comfortable in your learning stage

• The price is another factor that helps you make the right choice as far as instrument purchase is concerned. You won't want to invest a lot of money if you are the beginner stage.

• Do you want to go for a new saxophone or used one? This will depend on the budget, and how good is the used saxophone's condition.

• Finally, it is important to invest in saxophone insurance when purchasing the instrument. It will help you save money when the instrument is damaged or lost.

Why Studios Invest in Audio Equipment Insurance

What is audio equipment? Let's start with the Wikipedia definition, which states that audio equipment is a device that reproduces, records or processes sound. Microphones, radio receivers, AV receivers, CD players, tape recorders as well as amplifiers and mixing consoles are included in the list of audio equipment owned by a studio. The audio equipment listed out here is all expensive and cost a lot. As a studio owner, it becomes important for you to own it, which means you have to invest in it. However, when something happens to the audio equipment, you are required to spend more money. This can cause a hole in your pockets, which can in turn cause losses to your studio.

Audio equipment insurance is something that can protect your money, and save your profits. Let's see how it works?

• Get an audio equipment insurance that covers all the audio equipment that your studio owns. The list should be included in the insurance cover you take

• When your equipment is damaged or needs service/maintenance, you need to claim the insurance

• They will let you know if you will be paid before or after the process is done

• Once you have claimed, you will be asked to wait for a few days before you are paid the amount in full

• In some cases, if you just want to know the places from where you can rent out the instrument or get the equipment serviced, the insurance provider will help you with the same.

What all is covered with the insurance that you buy for the audio equipment?

• In case, the equipment is damaged while you are traveling for a music gig, you may want to get it repaired at the earliest or find another equipment that you can rent out during the period. The insurance will not only cover the cost of getting the equipment repaired but also ensure you can get another equipment for rent at a lower cost

• The equipment, when stolen, adds to the expenses of the studio. You need an immediate replacement and don't want to spend too much on the replacement. With the insurance, you get the money for the replacement. In this way, you won't need to pay much for the new equipment

• Equipment needs to be replaced at some time. As a studio, the replacement cost can be quite high. Instead of you paying for the replacement, you can add it to the insurance cover. So, when you want to replace the equipment, you can claim the insurance and get half the amount that needs to be paid.

Choosing the right insurance makes a difference
It is important that you choose the right insurance for your equipment.

• Survey all the providers that offer audio equipment insurance, and check what is included in their offering

• List down your requirements, and match them with the offering. Shortlist the ones that match your needs perfectly

• Set a budget for your insurance needs, and ask the providers to give you quotes

• Compare quotes, check the reviews and ratings, before finalizing the provider for your insurance needs.

Should You Own a Music Studio Insurance as a Studio Owner ?

A studio owner is one who has more liabilities than assets. Don't laugh! It is true. If there are studio owners reading this, they are already nodding their heads. If you think the property or the music you are composing is your asset, then think again! You are actually owning a liability; if something happens to it, then you have to pay to compensate the damages.

So, is there no way to keep your life as a studio owner protected and stress-free? Well, you won't be completely stress-free; however, a music studio insurance can always help you stay protected and keep your assets secure. Let's see why music studio owners should invest in the studio insurance.

• What is your biggest fear as a studio owner? You think you might lose your assets to the next fire or human rioting? Don't deny this! This is what most studio owners think most often, and it intensifies when they get to hear a similar news. Well, the good news is that with a studio coverage, you can easily protect your assets. So, when the next fire blows up your place, you just need to produce the insurance and get the money for the repairs. This will save your expenses. Never said it would actually make you happy. You will still feel sad that you lost the space that you had built so painstakingly.

• A music studio has a lot of assets which includes instruments, audio equipment, and the console. They cost a bomb, and you don't want to shell that kind of money again. You would rather protect the instruments and take care of them. A small scratch can also cause a heavy dent in your pockets. The best way out is to invest in a music studio insurance. It will pay for the instrument repair costs, and make sure you don't need to put a hole in your pockets. It will even take care of the rental and replacement costs in case your instrument or equipment does not work at the right time.

• Bands at the studio work hard to create music. If your music is not copyrighted, you may find a lot of copies of the music, which can cause losses for you as well as the band. Sometimes, the compositions are stolen too. To avoid the losses caused by these issues, you should ideally protect your bands and the studio with the apt insurance. You can even get compensated for the lawsuit with this insurance

• When the bands are involved, you need to protect the interests of the people involved. There could be days when the bands are a no-show for the composition. Such days can prove to be a loss for you, and in extreme cases, you may have to pay out the salaries, despite the delay in getting out the album. This means you need insurance that can protect both your band's and your best interests.

With the right music studio insurance, you are actually protecting the rights of your business, and ensuring nothing stops you from getting ahead.

Top Reasons to Invest in Event Liability Insurance

When you think of insurance, you mostly think of car, life or medical insurance. That is not the end of the insurance types available in the market. One such segment that is unaware of insurance available for them would be the musicians. They understand the liabilities that they deal with; however, they don't understand the need nor do they know about the existence of a wide range of custom and pre-defined insurance solutions available for them.

Musicians are known to have a lot of events, and the organizers are under immense pressure during these events. For the event to be successful, all aspects of the event should be considered, and they should be protected.

Event liability insurance helps the organizers and vendors of these events heave a sigh of relief, as it not only protects the assets but also reduces the liabilities involved.

Here we will take you through the top reasons why you should insure your music events.

The accidents that occur
It is not the first time that you are hearing about accidents that occur when you are holding an event. A lot of events end in mishaps owing to natural or man-made disasters. An event insurance policy will help you against these mishaps, and will prevent you from facing the losses that comes with it.

Damage to the property
Imagine what will happen when someone gatecrashes your event, and breaks everything they can get hold of. You will start looking into your pockets for money to pay for this damage. The property damage is more expensive when compared to the other types of damage that occurs in the events. The cost of repairs can put a hole in your pockets. With the right insurance, you will get money for the repairs. This means, you just need to stress on a lost event.

Care & control liability
This is yet another factor that most people tend to ignore. When you are renting out your event on someone else's property, the care for the property becomes your headache. A small mistake by the crowd can cause damage to the belongings of the owner, which can irk them. This can become a liability for you, which needs to be paid off from your pockets. To avoid this, you should take the insurance that protects the assets and controls the liabilities involved.

Protects from liquor problems
An event involving liquor can be a problem. If your audience misbehaves after consuming the liquor and someone sues you for the same, the liquor clause in your insurance can help you. If someone destroys the property because they are drunk, you can pay for the repairs and other liabilities with the insurance money.

People protection
When the bands play for you, there is a certain liability involved. If they don't show up or owing to some issues at the premises, they are unable to play, you have the costs covered by the insurance. If one or more of the band members get hurt, you can cover their medical expenses with the event liability insurance.