The Differences between Musical Instruments and Home Insurance

There might be many people for who the idea of musical instruments insurance is something out of the blue. Some even might find it utterly surprising to learn that dedicated musical instruments insurance providers do exist. Probably, you are also one of them. Right? And, therefore, you are here to clear your doubts. Let's read on!

Yes, insurance firms that specifically sell insurance for musical instruments are there. And, if you own a musical instrument for whatever reason, you should make sure to have your gears insured in the first place. It will save you a lot of hassles and financial losses while insuring your musical equipment and gear.

What kind of hassles does a musical instrument policy save you from?

Scenario without insurance!

Well, there is nothing you can predict about the uncertainties you live in. Isn't it? What if, say, your guitar is stolen? What if it gets damaged in an accident or while shipping?

To be exact, if your gear is not insured and a mishap happens, you are most likely to pay for it from your pocket. It could be a super-expensive or savings-swiping affair. 

Scenario with insurance!

However, if you have had the coverage of an all-encompassing musical instrument insurance plan, you are safe from breaking your bank to replace or buy a new guitar.

Therefore, industry experts always recommend that anyone who owns musical gear should make sure to purchase a suitable insurance plan to protect their more-than-life musical instruments.

It applies to all. Be they musicians, music teachers, students, music shop owners, collectors, or hobbyists.

Home insurance plan - does it not work?

Initially, you might think of your home insurance plan to cover the instruments because it offers personal property coverage. And, as your musical instruments are also your personal belongings, they are automatically covered.

Yes, that is correct. Home or renter's insurance plans cover your gear as personal belongings, there are some limitations, and the coverage is likely to be too low.

Therefore, if you have a costly device, it is better to get specialized insurance instead of relying on your home insurance.

Situations when your home insurance plan might not help

There are several situations where your home or renter's insurance fails to come to your rescue. The first one is already clear, i.e., if you own gear with a high price tag. The other situations are as follows:

You take your gear outside your house.

You or your kid takes the musical instrument, for example, the violin, along with them to the music school, or you are a professional musician. Any accident involving your musical instrument that happens outside your home goes uncovered under your home insurance. However, insurance for musical instruments will cover all.

You are a musical instrument collector.

You collect vintage and expensive musical instruments. Your home insurance plan is less likely to cover vintage gears owing to their extravagant price tags. Dedicated plans cover all types of gear.

You partake in paid performances.

You participate in paid performances using the insured gear. A home insurance plan is least likely to cover the gears that you use in exchange for money. However, a specialized musical instrument insurance plan covers your instruments no matter if you perform in paid shows or you just play for fun at home.

You travel with your gears.

You are a worldwide traveller (a touring artist). In any case, your home insurance policy will not cover your musical instruments worldwide. However, a standalone insurance plan for musical instruments covers you all over the world.

You got stuck in a public liability scenario.

You are involved in an accident of public liability. In such cases, you can expect almost nothing from your home insurance plan. However, an instrument-specific insurance plan will cover you.

Your gear is lost or damaged during transportation.

Also, home insurance plans do not cover any damage or loss incurred during transportation or shipping. However, your musical instrument insurance will be there for you if your gear breaks or gets misplaced, or suffers any kind of loss or damage during transportation.

All set to buy one?

Hopefully, now the differences between home insurance and a dedicated musical instrument plan are clear to you. So, why not get one for your gear too?

Interesting Facts about Viola Instrument, the Cousin of Cello and Violin

Have you decided to enroll your child in the school band? Do you intend to choose the viola, or does your child want to learn the viola? Well, that is great! Bridging the gap between the cello and the violin, the beautiful sound of the viola is commendable. Your child will have fun playing this instrument for sure.

However, before your kid joins the classroom, how about exploring some lesser-known facts about the viola? It will be an interesting chore for both you and your child. So, let's get started!

A nickname that lives up to the reality

Did you know the viola is oftentimes referred to as the Cinderella of a band or the orchestra? Yes, that's correct. And why so? The reason is pretty obvious. Among the world of musical instruments making a buzz in the world of music, this cousin of violin and cello is often the neglected or forgotten one.

So, what does it mean? Should you reconsider your choice and find some other musical instruments, the more popular ones, for your kid? Well, no. It means that if your kid happens to learn the viola with proficiency and aspires to become a viola player or teacher, they are more likely to witness less competition. It will allow them to make a better and unique career. 

The harmonizing strings

The viola is often considered to be a harmonizing musical instrument because its pitch is lower than the violin and higher than its other cousin, the cello. Also, the strings of the viola include C, G, D, and A, wherein C is the lowest, and A is the highest. Therefore, the sound it produces is mellower and earthy than that of the violin (strung with G, D, A, and E). However, as the viola is one octave higher than the cello, the former does not have the natural mournful vibe.

Music and fitness go hand in hand

The size of the viola is a bit bigger than the violin. Therefore, people often say that striking the viola may improve muscle strength, making your hands, biceps, and wrists stronger. So, learning the viola gives double advantage - music, and fitness at a time. Jokes apart, but yes, when you run your fingers through its string while holding its heavyweight, you are likely to experience the power.

Learn the clef

A viola player needs to read the notes with the viola or alto clef (related to notation) and not with the treble clef. Not every musician requires this. The alto trombone is another exception. If you are completely a novice, you do not need to worry about it because you are learning it from the beginning.

However, if you have been playing the violin or any other musical gear for this long, and now you want to switch to the viola, it may be a bit tough to relearn. However, if you happen to do it seamlessly, it would be a perk for you.

A unique instrument to play

Only a couple of people opt to become viola players. Therefore, it can be an amazing choice for your kid if they want to learn the same. It is a unique instrument but with lots of potential.

So, these are some of the many interesting facts about the viola. If your child is eager to learn this musical instrument, make sure to encourage them.

Time to discuss some important aspects

Is your kid ready for enrollment? Have you purchased the gear already? Wow. That sounds great. Did you get Viola Insurance as well? Purchasing a viola can be an enjoyable experience. However, losing it to accidental damage, theft, or any other unfortunate event is not.

Not only does a musical instrument cost thousands and millions, but you also have a hard time without it, whether you are a professional or just a beginner.

An all-encompassing Viola Insurance makes sure that your beloved gear and your savings are safe and secure in case a stroke of bad luck strikes you.

Unlike your home insurance policy, a dedicated musical instrument insurance plan offers comprehensive coverage worldwide. Plus, it has many other upsides, including all-risk cover, transportation damage cover, and public liability cover, to name a few.

So, without any second thought, get an insurance plan for your viola and let your child learn and play it without any hassle.

Get Studio Coverage and Stay Ahead of Competition

A music recording studio is a place that is an eye witness to the making of many famous artists and bands who were once new to the industry. Did you know there are more than 4000 music recording studios in the United States? Yes, that is right. Musicians and recording artists often use music recording facilities to create, record and mix music. They often use these for their final albums.

The design of music studios and quality of music

The design of a music recording studio is such that the structure does not impact the sounds and vocals that artists record inside. It provides them with an acoustic setup that is a prerequisite for music recording. A well-equipped music record is designed according to the principles of acoustics. It ensures that the final piece of music that goes out is of the highest quality and clarity.

So, when so much effort and designing goes into creating a decent music recording studio, don't you think the facility needs a comprehensive Studio Coverage plan?

It will make sure that the facility remains safe and sound. Many people do not bother about getting their studios covered because their homes are their studios. They believe that their home insurance plan will cover their studio owing to the location. However, the real scenario is not alike. It is different.

Why do home insurance plans fail to cover recording studios?

Whether your music recording studio is located right in the basement of your home or just another room of your home, your home insurance or renter's insurance will not cover it. The reason - you use that place for professional and commercial use. And any property or facility that you use professionally is not your home insurance's concern. So, to protect your music recording studio, you need a separate policy, or else you will get no coverage. 

What do you mean by recording studio insurance?

Music Studio Coverage is a kind of business insurance plan that guards recording studio owners against a plethora of unwanted perils. These include loss of business property, damage to the business property, lawsuits from third-party, among others.

An insurance policy from a reliable insurance provider offers protection options crucial to music studio owners. It allows them to create customizable plans to live up to their specific requirements. So, no matter whether your studio is a tiny home-based one or a large professional facility, getting it insured is imperative.

Get that competitive edge!

Today's business environment is highly competitive. Therefore, you always need that edge to outshine others. Right? It is especially vital when choosing an insurance plan for your business. As music recording studios are not like other businesses, you cannot insure them like any other business.

You will need a specialized policy to meet the special insurance needs of a music recording studio. Therefore, you should make sure to choose the right insurance provider. Always select an insurance company that allows you to broaden your extent of coverage according to your needs, including liability, property, in simple words, comprehensive umbrella coverage.

On what factors the cost of a recording studio insurance depends?

Although the cost of a recording studio is likely to vary from one insurance company to the other, some of the standard factors may include the following:

●    The size or area of your music recording studio
●    The location of your music studio
●    The number of years your business has been in operation
●    Your annual revenue (gross)
●    The extent of coverage you intend to have

A trustworthy music recording insurance company will ensure that you get the best possible coverage for your recording studio.

Some FAQs on music recording studio insurance

What types of damages or losses does a studio insurance cover?

An all-encompassing music recording studio insurance with a reliable and experienced insurance provider covers all risks. These include - accidental damage, theft, hailstorm, thunderstorm, vandalism, transportation damage, earthquake, to mention a few.

What types of damages or losses are not covered by studio insurance cover?

No matter which insurance plan you choose, there would be some exclusions. They may include the following:

●    Regular wear and tear
●    Manufacture defects
●    Faulty workmanship
●    Damage or loss due to mold, insects, etc.
●    Intentional damage or loss
●    Acts of terrorism

Protect Your Musical Legacy with Heritage Music Insurance

We often talk about taking care of musical instruments, maintaining them, getting them insured, and all sorts of crucial things. However, there is one aspect that almost always remains untouched or overlooked. And that is - preserving music, an integral part of our culture and heritage.

A long time ago, musical instruments and recording equipment were made up of cylinders, foils, and various metallic components. As those gears and devices lacked sturdiness, they could not withstand the test of time and eventually got lost down the lane.

As far as modern-day equipment is concerned, especially digital media, they are far sturdier and more durable. And therefore, it has become the standard in the music industry. They are less prone to damage and deterioration over time. However, no matter what, digital media should also be preserved from time to time to ensure the priceless pieces of music remain safe and intact. Moreover, you should also make sure to have Heritage Music Insurance to ensure that the legacy remains in its dignity.

Heritage is something everyone can have

Music is an indispensable part of everyone's life and experience. So, being a part of the music industry, it should be your duty to maintain and preserve the musical heritage. When we say heritage, we should know that it is an umbrella and flexible term. However, most often, people relate it with folk music and all such things. It is not the thing all the time.

When it comes to defining heritage, every entity can claim to have one for themselves. Your musical heritage can be your neighbour’s pop music. Furthermore, someone else can notice something vital in your heritage, and you may not be able to catch or understand it. 

Therefore, many industry experts opine that music is a ship of personal or community histories. Many people look forward to passing their legacy in the form of their music from one generation to the other. Here, worth as well as value are the key pointers. All of this leads to the creation of personal musical heritages.

As far as heritage is concerned, there is a difference at the group and personal level. Although it is related to the whole string of traditions, individual reflections remain more impactful and compelling.

Heritage is everywhere. Protect it.

Heritage has lived in family traditions, memories, places, and practices. Heritage is not any particular genre, but it is everything that is related to music. Heritage is there in the ways of making music, in musical instruments, playing musical instruments, choice of musical instruments, and so on. Heritage is there in the tales, sounds, and musical repertoires. And, when something is so deep-rooted, it has some value. Therefore, Heritage Music Insurance is essential.

Importance of protecting heritage music

For some people, an insurance copy could mean just a piece of paper. However, this piece of document has the potential to save your heritage and finances at the time of need. And, when you would need it is all unexpected. Accidents, mishaps, and misfortunes always come silently and out of the blue. Therefore, it is highly advisable to stay prepared in advance.

How does heritage music insurance protect you?

If you own a heritage musical instrument, a dedicated insurance plan will ensure the following benefits:

●    It will protect you from created events, such as theft, robbery, vandalism.
●    It will ensure that your musical gears and accessories, including sheet music, mics, etc., are protected from the disastrous effects of nature. These include rain, flood, fire, thunderstorm, and similar issues.
●    A dedicated insurance policy also ensures that your finances are safe, and you do not need to pay anything out of pocket if involved in a public liability case and the third party has filed a compensation claim.
●    Sometimes, due to an accident, you may lose your capability of earning. If the mishap involves your musical instruments, a heritage musical instrument insurance plan will cover loss of income as well.
●    A comprehensive insurance plan ensures protection against loss or damage due to transportation.

So, when you get all these benefits with a standalone insurance plan, don’t you think you should buy one for your gears and music right away? Find a trustworthy musical instrument insurance provider and buy your policy now.

History and Importance of Cello Instrument Insurance

Cello, an instrument that belongs to the violin family, is one of the most loved solo instruments across the music industry. It has been charming the listeners for time immemorial. Well, all credit goes to its vibrant, beautiful, and stimulating sounds and super-warm tones that are kind of similar to the voice pitch of humans.

The cello gradually became an integral member of Western music by evolving through a series of artistic and practical modifications. Although known to many as a popular string instrument, its history is still undiscovered by many.

So, let's get down the lanes of history and learn some lesser-known facts about the cello.

The history of cello

Cello is often associated with other famous string musical instruments, such as the lyre and harp. The latter two gears, i.e., the harp and lyre, were a vital part of the ancient civilizations as people, at that time, used to make music using them.

The cello got the spotlight in the year 1550 in northern Italy for the very first time. Because it is an instrument of the violin family, initially, people used to call it a bass violin. It is also famous as viola da braccio in Italy.

Who made the cello for the first time?

Andrea Amati, a luthier from Cremona, Italy, was the first one to be credited for making this stringed instrument, cello. Although he did not invent the cello, he became well-known for crafting cellos for Charles IX, the King of France. Arts and paintings dated back to the 12th and 13th centuries show the violin. It indicates that it was very much there in that era. However, as far as the cello is concerned, it originated during the 15th century.

Why did the cello make a late entry into the world of music?

Well, it is more or less because of the trends in Western European music. At that time, vocal music was given more preference over other forms of music. Thorough practices before performances during the 15th century made the singers understand that they needed a nasal and high-pitched tone. In simple words, they realized the need for a sound that was close to present-day's Eastern music. This need led to the creation of the cello.

Who introduced the standard size of the cello?

When it comes to giving credit for deciding the standard size of a cello, it is given to Antonio Stradivari. After the year 1710, he started making celli. Its size was somewhat between the too small and too large version of the instrument. Soon, the other cello makers across Europe used the standard size by Antonio Stradivari.

In the current times, the cello has made its unique place in various musical genres. Therefore, if you are a cello player, make sure to get sufficient Cello Insurance coverage for your gear. A comprehensive insurance policy ensures that your musical instrument remains protected and your finances stay safe.

Fun facts about the cello!

Let us learn some fun facts about this instrument!

●    Cello derived its name from violoncello. The latter is an Italian word, meaning small-large violin.

●    The cello is regarded as the second-largest bowed instrument in the entire world. It comes after the double bass.

●    The name of the oldest cello is known as the King. It was made by Andrea Amati between the years 1538 and 1560. Now, it is at the National Music Museum in South Dakota.

●    Originally, the guts of goats and sheep were used to create the strings of the cello. However, now, the strings are made up of metallic components.

●    The cellos are not always about four strings. During the 17th and 18th centuries, these were prevalent with 5-strings in various areas of the Dutch and German region.

●    The names of the world-famous cellists include Mike Block and Liz Davis Maxfield.

Now that you know about the history of the cello and how it became a crucial part of world music, it is necessary to understand the importance of buying a dedicated Cello Insurance policy. Your cello is delicate, and accidents can happen at any point in time. Having insurance protection ensures that you and your cello are safe from all possible risks that can damage your musical instruments and affect your livelihood.

Tips to Take Care of Your Audio Equipment

When it comes to listing down audio content, it does not end at music. Millions of people from all over the world consume audio content in various other formats, such as podcasts, audio stories, presentations, and voice-overs, to mention a few. They hear it across many platforms and places, including television, movies, audio videos, homes, theatres, work, and school.

With such a broad expanse of audio content, audio equipment and accessories dictate how a particular audio clip will reach you in its best possible form.

As far as audio equipment is concerned, it is an umbrella term and encompasses a wide range of gears and props. These include - musical instruments, speakers, record players, microphones, headphones, turntables, mixing desks, stands, and different cables and cords. And it goes without saying that some of the pieces of these gears are capable enough to burn holes in your pocket.

To ensure that your audio paraphernalia stays put and allows you to perform better every time, you need to take good care of them. Here we have some tips for you:

Try cryogenic processing to increase the durability of your gears.

Most audio equipment is almost always at work. Sometimes, a single piece of gear is handled by multiple people. It sometimes leads to mishandling.

For example - transporting a musical instrument involves many people for whom it is just a consignment. So, they tend to handle it like one. Therefore, you should try increasing the durability of musical instruments and accessories.

And, cryogenic processing is one of the best ways to do that. It is a process in which the metallic parts of your audio gears are subjected to cold temperatures.

This procedure helps modify the components and makes them more immune to stress. However, despite the process, you still need to make sure that you handle audio equipment with care.

Focus on quality of sound.

Audio instruments and sound quality go hand in hand. The fate of an audio file largely depends on the quality it happens to present to the audience. And how your audience perceives the audio can make or break the latter's popularity.

Although different audio equipment produces different sounds and comes with varying levels of quality, you can improve the same.

You can keep the sound settings of different audio devices, such as the computer system and streaming devices, synced. You may also use a digital-to-analog converter to improve the quality of sound to a great extent.

Wear and tear are integral to everything you use daily, including musical instruments. However, by using a gear properly, you can ensure the best quality of sound for a long time.

Choose the right environment.

Whether it is about storing, playing, or listening to musical instruments or any audio clip, the surroundings play a crucial role. The sound quality of a headphone and a speaker are less likely to be the same.

Plus, the environment where you are playing or storing them can dramatically impact the quality, tone, and texture. The reason? Sound is a vibration and is likely to change according to the space.

Therefore, picking the right environment can make a difference.

Get a dedicated insurance plan for your audio instruments.

Sometimes, regardless of how careful you are with your musical instruments and accessories, accidents and mishaps happen to make their ways to damage the former in many ways.

Therefore, besides doing whatever is necessary, you should also consider buying an audio equipment insurance plan. It ensures the complete safety and security of your gears.

A comprehensive insurance policy draws a thin yet powerful line of defense surrounding your audio equipment and the finances involved. Plus, it saves a lot of hassle that you might have to face otherwise.

This is how it works:

When you have an audio equipment insurance policy protecting your gears, you can rest assured of the following:

●    Protection against the loss and damage caused due to the catastrophic elements of nature, such as flood, rain, hail, thunderstorm, earthquake
●    Protection against loss and damage caused due to mishaps, including theft, fire, burglary, vandalism
●    Protection against loss of income
●    Protection against third party liabilities
●    Worldwide and transportation coverage

So, these are some of the best ways to ensure that your audio equipment and related paraphernalia give their best every time you use and play them.

Dedicated Insurance Covers Plans for Music Gear Instrument

Did you keep your guitar unattended and never see it again? Did you drop your flute during a show? Or, is your piano destroyed in a heavy flood? With all such situations that can thwart your career in no time, keeping your musical instruments safe should be on the top of your priority list. It stands true for everyone, whether you are a part of an orchestra, a guitar player, a music studio owner, a singer, or a songwriter.

Some cases make you gawk in shock!

Apart from accidental damages and natural calamities, musical instrument theft causing significant losses is pretty prevalent these days. In the month of July 2016, Zolopht, a band identified by its psychedelic reggae-rock sound, fell prey to miscreants and lost more than $24,000 worth of musical instruments from a Houston-based hotel.

Another case similar to this again happened in Houston wherein a regional band from Mexico named Los Igualados had their $50,000 worth of instruments stolen.

Needless to mention, these crime-minded people have no interest in playing or learning the stolen gears or doing something creative with them. All they are looking for is quick money by hook or crook.

The prevalence of theft involving musical gears is on the rise!

If you keep your eye on the dailies or television screens, you will find that these (the two mentioned above) are not the only cases. Such incidents have become pretty common. And the real horror behind such situations is musicians losing their income and livelihoods. It is more pathetic than it sounds.

Therefore, to ensure complete protection of musical instruments, their owners are suggested to take our Music Gear Insurance from a reputed company. Specialized insurance policies are also called all-risks policies owing to the extent of coverage they offer.

Dedicated insurance plans and their benefits over other policies

Some of the key pointers that you should know about such dedicated insurance policies include the following:

●    The advantages of musical gear protection plan far exceed home insurance policies. The latter only covers your gears inside your home, and if you have taken out an add-on off-premises plan, then inside a closed room apart from your home.

●    Furthermore, home insurance policies offer a limited portion of the value of your musical gears. Therefore, expensive musical instruments are less likely to get sufficient protection. However, an all-encompassing and dedicated plan makes sure that all your music gears are sufficiently protected.

 Music Gear Insurance covers all sorts of damages starting from simple theft, an act of negligence on the owner's part to the below-given scenarios:

●    Accidental damage to your instrument
●    Loss or damage to your gear due to extortion, theft, or robbery
●    Fraud
●    Embezzlement
●    Transportation damage
●    Loss or damage due to natural calamities, such as flood, hailstorm, rain, to mention a few

●    A typical home insurance policy only covers your musical instruments but not the accessories that come along, such as music stands, cases, mics, sheet music, among others. However, a comprehensive and specialized musical instrument insurance plan covers the accessories as well.

●    Musical instrument insurance policies with customer-centric service providers also offer worldwide cover to gears and accessories.

So, don't you think taking out a dedicated plan is a win-win streak?

Is a musical instrument insurance plan necessary for all?

If an accident involving your musical instruments poses a threat to your livelihood, it is highly advisable to get a dedicated music instrument insurance plan. For example - you lost or damaged your gear and could not perform in a gig. So, it does affect your income. Having that said, if you have had a musical instrument policy, it will cover loss of income according to predefined terms.

However, if you can weather a loss or damage financially on your own, it all depends on you if you intend to buy a specialized plan or not.

Industry experts recommend taking out a dedicated plan to every musical instrument owner.

The bottom line

A specialized musical instrument insurance policy (unlike a regular home or renter’s insurance plan) offers complete protection to your musical instruments and paraphernalia. So, before a disaster involving your musical instruments leaves you in rough waters, make sure to get the assurance of an all-inclusive music gear protection plan.