Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Last verified: .
The quick answer
- 1A certificate of occupancy for your intended use is required. Whether the building department classifies your school as "assembly" or "educational" depends on local code — both classifications trigger stricter requirements than retail or office occupancy.
- 2Music performance in private lessons is covered by the Copyright Act's face-to-face teaching exemption. Recitals open to parents and the public are not — PRO licenses from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC are required for public performances.
- 3Soundproofing work typically requires a building permit before construction. Unpermitted acoustic modifications can result in required tear-down and re-inspection delays.
- 4Professional liability insurance covering instruction is essential — hearing damage, repetitive stress injury claims, and similar instruction-related harms are excluded from general liability policies.
1. Zoning, occupancy classification, and noise ordinances
Choosing the right location for a music school involves three overlapping compliance questions that must all be answered before you commit to a lease: zoning (is music instruction permitted at this address?), occupancy classification (does the space have the right certificate of occupancy?), and noise (can you legally make music at the volume your instruction requires?).
Music schools are classified differently by different jurisdictions. Some cities classify them as "personal service" uses alongside tutoring centers and dance studios. Others classify them as "educational facilities" with formal school-like characteristics. Others put them in "assembly" occupancy because groups gather there. The classification affects which commercial zones permit the use, whether a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required, and what building code standards apply to the space.
Noise is the distinguishing compliance challenge for music schools compared to other instruction businesses. Drum instruction, amplified electric guitar, and group ensemble rehearsals produce sound levels that can easily exceed standard noise ordinance limits at property lines — typically 65–70 dB during daytime hours in commercial zones. Before signing a lease, check your city's noise ordinance and consider whether the physical space and your planned instruction activities can stay within limits. An acoustic engineer reviewing the space is money well spent.
Practical due diligence: visit the city's planning counter before committing to a space. Ask: (1) Is music instruction or a music school a permitted use at this address under current zoning? (2) Is a CUP required? (3) What noise ordinance applies, and what are the dB limits at the property line? (4) What is the current CO classification for the space? Get answers in writing.
2. Business entity formation and federal requirements
Form your LLC before signing the lease. A music school working with minors, employing instructors, and holding instruments on premises has meaningful liability exposure on multiple fronts, and personal asset protection should be in place before any legal agreements are executed. File Articles of Organization with your state Secretary of State ($50–$500 depending on state), get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS (free, online, 10 minutes at irs.gov), and open a dedicated business bank account.
If you're forming a multi-owner LLC, an operating agreement is essential. It doesn't get filed with the state, but it governs the ownership relationship — profit distribution, decision-making authority, buy-sell provisions, and what happens when a partner wants to exit or dies. For a music school where the key relationships are with specific instructors who may also be owners, the operating agreement needs to address what happens to the business if a key instructor-owner departs.
Some music school founders consider nonprofit status, particularly if their mission includes making music education accessible to underserved communities. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit requires IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ, a board of directors, and governance documents — a more complex setup than an LLC. Nonprofit status enables grant funding and tax-deductible donations but comes with ongoing compliance obligations (annual Form 990, conflict of interest policies, etc.). For most commercial music schools, an LLC is the more practical choice.
3. Certificate of occupancy and soundproofing construction
Getting the right certificate of occupancy for a music school involves the same fundamental process as other assembly or educational uses: a building department inspection confirming the space meets code for its intended use, including egress, fire safety, occupancy load, ADA access, and ventilation. But music schools add a layer that other instruction businesses don't: soundproofing construction, which almost always requires building permits.
Any construction that alters the physical structure of the space — adding interior walls to create lesson rooms, installing room-within-a-room acoustic isolation, adding mass-loaded vinyl to walls or ceilings, or modifying HVAC to reduce noise transfer through ductwork — requires a building permit filed before work begins. Unpermitted work is illegal and can result in stop-work orders, required demolition of unpermitted structures, and delays that push back your opening date by months.
Acoustic treatment approaches and their building permit implications:
- Acoustic panels (fabric-wrapped fiberglass or mineral wool panels mounted on walls): Typically no building permit required. These are surface-mounted and don't alter the structure. Effective for echo reduction within a room but do not prevent sound transmission to adjacent rooms.
- Mass-loaded vinyl (MLV) barriers on walls and ceilings: Typically no permit required if surface-mounted without framing changes. Improves sound transmission loss (STC rating) meaningfully. Cost: $1–$3 per sq ft for materials.
- Double-wall construction (adding a second framed wall with air gap): Requires building permit. Significantly improves sound isolation — STC ratings of 55–65 are achievable versus 35–45 for a standard single wall. Cost: $15–$35 per linear foot installed.
- Room-within-a-room (decoupled walls, ceiling, and floor on resilient channels): Requires building permit. Best-in-class sound isolation for drum rooms and recording studios. Cost: $8,000–$25,000 per room.
For a typical music school with 6–10 lesson rooms, a practical approach is: surface-mount acoustic panels in most rooms for echo reduction, add mass-loaded vinyl barriers where cost permits, and invest in true double-wall or room-within-a-room isolation only for the drum room and any group rehearsal spaces where the loudest instruments are taught.
4. Music performance licenses and the copyright teaching exemption
The copyright rules for music schools are more nuanced than for most other businesses, and getting the nuance right matters for both your budget and your legal compliance.
The face-to-face teaching exemption (17 U.S.C. § 110(1)) allows performance or display of a copyrighted work by instructors or students in the course of face-to-face teaching at a nonprofit educational institution or in instructional activities. For commercial music schools, this exemption is narrower than it appears: it technically applies to "nonprofit educational institutions," which most private commercial music schools are not. However, in practice, the music industry rarely pursues enforcement against individual music teachers playing repertoire in private lessons. The practical risk is low for private one-on-one lessons.
Where the exemption clearly does not apply: recitals, showcases, and performances presented to parents, families, or any audience beyond the immediate classroom. Once a student performs a copyrighted piece at a recital — even in a school lobby, even with no admission charge, even with only parents present — that's a public performance under copyright law, and PRO licenses are required.
PRO licenses needed for recitals and background music:
- ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers): ascap.com/music-users. Annual cost: $300–$700 for a small school.
- BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.): bmi.com/licensing. Annual cost: $250–$600 for a small school.
- SESAC: Operates by invitation/application. Annual cost: $200–$500 for a small school.
Total annual PRO licensing: approximately $750–$1,800 for a small music school. These are tax-deductible business expenses.
For music schools that produce and distribute recital recordings (DVDs, digital downloads, YouTube uploads), the situation is more complex. Distributing a video recording of a performance of a copyrighted composition requires a synchronization license from the music publisher — something PRO blanket licenses do not cover. Many schools handle this by using royalty-free music for recorded/distributed content, or by working with videographers who have established their own licensing arrangements.
5. Business license, seller's permit, and local registrations
A general business license from your city or county is required in most jurisdictions before you can legally operate. It's a basic operating authorization — separate from your CO, zoning approval, or any state-level registrations — that renews annually. Cost: $50–$250 per year in most cities.
A seller's permit (sales tax registration) from your state's department of revenue is required before collecting any payment. Sales tax treatment of music instruction varies by state:
- Music instruction as a personal service is generally exempt in California, Pennsylvania, and Illinois (instruction portion).
- Music instruction is taxable in New York (music and performing arts instruction is taxable as a "personal service" if sold for physical performance), Texas, and Ohio.
- Retail sales — instrument sales, sheet music, accessories, branded merchandise — are taxable in virtually every state regardless of how instruction is treated.
- Instrument rentals may be treated as taxable sales or as leases, with different tax treatment depending on state.
Consult a local CPA about your specific state's treatment before setting prices and taking payments. Get the seller's permit before the first transaction.
If you offer instrument rentals, most states require you to have a reseller's certificate (or resale certificate) from your wholesale supplier to purchase rental instruments without paying sales tax, then collect and remit sales tax on the rental payments from students. The mechanics of tax on rental income vary by state, so a CPA review is worthwhile.
6. Insurance strategy for music schools
Insurance for a music school involves standard business coverages plus some music-specific considerations.
General liability
Covers slip-and-fall incidents on premises, property damage to third parties, and similar non-instruction claims. Required by most landlords as a lease condition. Does not cover injuries arising from instruction, hearing damage, or professional service claims.
Professional liability (errors and omissions)
Covers claims arising from instruction — hearing damage from volume levels, repetitive stress injuries from technique (embouchure problems in wind players, tendinitis in pianists and string players), or allegations that instruction caused or worsened a health condition. These are excluded from GL policies and require a separate professional liability policy.
Commercial property / instrument insurance
Covers school-owned instruments, teaching equipment, computers, and build-out improvements. Ensure the policy covers your full instrument inventory — a Steinway grand piano alone is $40,000–$100,000. Many standard commercial property policies have per-item limits that may not cover high-value individual instruments adequately; a scheduled instrument rider or standalone instrument policy may be needed.
Workers' compensation
Required in virtually every state upon hiring your first W-2 employee. Music instruction involves repetitive motion and some risk of hearing-related occupational injury — workers' comp covers employees injured at work, regardless of fault.
7. Instructor classification: employees vs. independent contractors
Music schools have a particularly high rate of contractor misclassification because the music teaching world has historically operated on informal contractual arrangements, and many schools assume the traditional practice means it's legally defensible. It often isn't.
The IRS test looks at behavioral control (does the school control how, when, and what the teacher teaches?), financial control (does the school set the rate, provide the space and instruments, and is the teacher financially dependent on the school?), and type of relationship (permanent, exclusive, with benefits?). Regular music teachers assigned to students by the school, teaching on the school's schedule, in the school's rooms, at rates the school sets, are employees in the eyes of the IRS regardless of contract language.
True contractor music teachers exist: they rent a room from your school by the hour, bring their own students, set their own rates, and you have no involvement in their teaching decisions. This is the "space rental" model — legally distinct from employment — and it's used successfully by many music schools. Under this model, the teacher is paying you for space access, not receiving compensation from you. The relationship is more like a commercial landlord-tenant arrangement than an employer-employee relationship.
If your current arrangement doesn't fit the space rental model, and you have teachers who are assigned students by the school and paid per lesson by the school, classify them as W-2 employees. Calculate the true cost (employer FICA of 7.65%, workers' comp, state unemployment insurance) and incorporate it into your pricing. The cost is real, but it's far less than the retroactive misclassification liability.
8. Child safety requirements, background checks, and supervision policies
Music schools working with children are subject to child protection requirements that vary significantly by state but have common themes. Most states require criminal background checks for employees with unsupervised access to minors. Some states have formal registration requirements for businesses that provide services to children on a regular basis.
State-specific examples: California's CANRA (Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act) designates music teachers as mandated reporters if they work regularly with minors, requiring them to report suspected abuse to authorities. New York's Child Protective Services Act has similar mandated reporter requirements. Texas requires background checks through the Department of Family and Protective Services for workers at certain child-serving businesses depending on the nature and hours of service.
Beyond state minimums, best practices for music schools working with children include: maintaining a written policy on appropriate physical contact during instruction (instrument position guidance, posture correction), using visible lesson rooms with windows whenever possible, implementing a two-adult policy for situations where a child would otherwise be alone with an adult instructor, and requiring all instructors working with minors to complete child safety training (many nonprofit organizations offer free online training).
Check with your state's department of health, family services, or professional licensing to determine specifically which requirements apply to your school's programming and student age range.
9. Enrollment agreements, instrument policies, and consumer protections
A comprehensive enrollment agreement for a music school should address: tuition rates, payment schedule, and late fees; cancellation and makeup lesson policy (a frequent source of disputes); whether tuition is monthly flat rate or per-lesson; policy on teacher changes if the original teacher is unavailable; recital fees; instrument storage policy; liability for student-owned instruments on premises; photo/video release; and a dispute resolution clause.
Makeup lesson policy is one of the most contentious areas in music school operations. Clearly written policy — stating exactly how many makeup lessons are offered per year, how they must be requested, and what the deadline is — prevents significant disputes. Many schools offer a fixed number of makeup credits per semester rather than guaranteed per-lesson makeups, which makes scheduling more manageable.
Consumer protection considerations: Several states have enacted laws limiting prepayment requirements for service contracts. If you collect monthly tuition in advance, ensure your state's consumer protection laws permit the amount collected and the terms under which it is refunded. California, New York, and Illinois all have specific rules about prepaid service contracts that may apply.
For students under 18, the enrollment agreement must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. A minor cannot enter into an enforceable contract in any state.
10. ADA compliance for music schools
Music schools are places of public accommodation under ADA Title III, regardless of size. There is no small-business exemption. Requirements cover the physical accessibility of the facility and, increasingly, the accessibility of digital services.
Physical accessibility: accessible entrance (no step threshold, automatic or push-button door if needed), accessible path of travel to all publicly used areas, accessible restrooms meeting 2010 ADA Standards, and accessible reception counter height. For new construction or substantial renovation, full ADA compliance is required. For existing buildings, the standard is "readily achievable" barrier removal.
Soundproofing and ADA: Room-within-a-room acoustic isolation typically raises the floor level of the lesson room, which can create step thresholds that are ADA-non-compliant. If you're constructing raised floor systems for acoustic decoupling, plan for ramped transitions or threshold ramps to maintain accessibility.
Website accessibility: While the ADA's application to websites is still evolving legally, the Department of Justice has issued guidance indicating that websites of places of public accommodation should comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards. For a music school, this means: image alt text, keyboard navigation, sufficient color contrast, captioned video content, and screen reader compatibility.
11. Instrument rental programs and retail sales compliance
Many music schools operate instrument rental programs as an additional revenue stream — renting beginner instruments (violins, cellos, flutes, clarinets, trumpets) to students on a monthly fee basis. This is common at school age, when parents want to try an instrument before committing to a purchase. Rental programs involve additional regulatory considerations.
Sales tax on rentals: In most states, instrument rental fees are subject to sales tax, treated similarly to short-term tangible personal property leases. Some states apply a "rental option" rule that changes the tax treatment if the rental is structured as a rent-to-own arrangement. Confirm your state's treatment with a CPA before launching a rental program.
Wholesale purchasing: To purchase instruments wholesale without paying sales tax on the purchase, you need a resale certificate (provided to the supplier), which is based on your seller's permit. This allows you to pay sales tax at the point of the rental transaction rather than when you purchase the instrument inventory.
Rental contracts: Use a written instrument rental agreement specifying the monthly fee, responsibility for damage beyond normal wear, what constitutes acceptable return condition, and what happens if the instrument is lost or stolen. A security deposit is common. Include language addressing whether the rental fees apply toward a purchase option.
If you sell retail instruments, accessories, or sheet music beyond just renting, you're operating a retail business and may need a separate retail business license in some jurisdictions, depending on your local licensing requirements.
12. Startup cost summary and financial planning
Here is a realistic cost summary for opening a small independent music school (1,500–3,000 sq ft, 6–12 lesson rooms) in 2026.
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation + legal | $500 | $2,500 |
| Permits and inspections | $800 | $4,000 |
| Acoustic treatment and soundproofing | $8,000 | $60,000 |
| School-owned instruments (piano, etc.) | $5,000 | $40,000 |
| Teaching equipment (stands, amps, mics) | $3,000 | $12,000 |
| Build-out (HVAC, lighting, lobby, signage) | $10,000 | $40,000 |
| Insurance (year one, all policies) | $2,500 | $7,000 |
| Music licensing (PROs, year one) | $750 | $1,800 |
| Software and tech (scheduling, payments) | $600 | $2,000 |
| Marketing and initial enrollment | $2,000 | $8,000 |
| Working capital (6–12 months) | $15,000 | $50,000 |
| Total | $48,150 | $227,300 |
Most music schools reach breakeven with 80–120 active students paying $60–$120 per hour for weekly lessons. At the midpoint of that range — 100 students at $80/hour, weekly lessons — monthly revenue is roughly $32,000. Breakeven typically requires 12–18 months.
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Music School Permit Requirements by City
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Frequently Asked Questions
What licenses do you need to open a music school?
If your school works with minors, several states require background checks for all employees with unsupervised access to children, and some states have formal registration requirements for schools or tutoring services that exceed a certain number of students or hours per week. Check with your state's department of education or licensing.
Professional liability insurance is essential — standard general liability policies exclude instruction-related claims. If students suffer hearing damage, repetitive stress injuries from instrument technique, or other instruction-related harm, professional liability (errors and omissions) coverage is the only policy that responds to those claims.
For music schools that issue credentials, diplomas, or degrees, state authorization requirements apply. Post-secondary institutions that issue credentials are regulated by state education agencies and must obtain formal authorization — a completely different process from a standard business license.
Do music schools need music performance licenses?
Group classes and ensemble rehearsals: When students perform copyrighted music as part of instruction, the performance is generally covered by the "face-to-face teaching exemption" under Section 110(1) of the Copyright Act, which permits performances in a classroom by instructors or students in the course of face-to-face instruction. This exemption is meaningful: it means a piano teacher playing a copyrighted piece to demonstrate technique, or a student ensemble rehearsing a copyrighted work, is likely covered without a PRO license.
Recitals and performances open to parents and the public: Once a performance steps outside the classroom and is presented to a broader audience — even if admission is free and attendance is restricted to families — the face-to-face teaching exemption no longer applies. You need PRO licenses (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) for any public performance of copyrighted compositions.
Recorded music playback (background music, waiting areas, events): Playing any recorded music in a business setting requires PRO licenses regardless of the teaching exemption. Personal streaming subscriptions do not provide business performance rights.
For most music schools, the practical recommendation is: obtain blanket licenses from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Annual costs for a small school run $900–$2,000 total across the three organizations. The protection is worth the cost.
Is a special license required to teach music professionally?
K-12 music teachers employed by public schools: Must hold a state teaching credential with a music endorsement. This is irrelevant for private music school owners unless they also teach in the public school system.
Therapeutic music instruction: If your school offers music therapy services — using music as a therapeutic intervention for clients with disabilities, mental health conditions, or developmental challenges — the Music Therapy credential (MT-BC, certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists) may be required or expected. Some states are moving toward formal music therapy licensure.
Post-secondary music education: Schools that offer degree programs, diplomas, or formal credentials are subject to state higher education authorization requirements, which are distinct from and far more demanding than a business license. This applies if you're offering a curriculum that looks like a degree program.
For a standard private music school offering lessons in guitar, piano, voice, drums, violin, and similar instruments, no state music instruction license is required. Your business license, CO, and insurance are the primary compliance requirements.
What insurance does a music school need?
1. General liability ($1M–$2M per occurrence): Covers slip-and-fall incidents on your premises, property damage to third parties, and similar non-instruction bodily injury claims. Most landlords require this as a lease condition.
2. Professional liability (errors and omissions): Covers claims arising from instruction itself — a student alleging that improper technique instruction caused a repetitive stress injury (a real risk in string, piano, and percussion teaching), hearing damage from volume levels, or similar instruction-related harm. Standard GL policies exclude professional services claims.
3. Commercial property insurance: Covers your instruments, teaching equipment, sound systems, computers, and build-out. Music schools often have significant instrument inventory — studio pianos alone can represent $10,000–$60,000 in value. Make sure your policy covers instruments owned by the school, and separately address whether student-owned instruments left on premises are covered.
4. Workers' compensation: Required in virtually every state once you hire employees. Even part-time instructors on payroll trigger this requirement.
Optional but worth considering: instrument insurance (standalone policy for high-value instruments), cyber liability (if you store student data or process payments online), and business interruption insurance.
How much does it cost to open a music school?
The major cost drivers unique to music schools:
Soundproofing: Lesson rooms need acoustic treatment and soundproofing between rooms to prevent sound bleed. Basic acoustic panels and mass-loaded vinyl barriers run $1,000–$4,000 per room. True soundproofing (room-within-a-room construction with decoupled walls and ceilings) can cost $8,000–$20,000 per room. Most music schools operate with acoustic treatment rather than true soundproofing, accepting some sound bleed as a tradeoff.
Instruments: A school piano (upright or baby grand) costs $3,000–$15,000 new. If you stock instruments for student use or rental, costs escalate quickly. Many schools minimize instrument investment by requiring students to bring their own or by establishing instrument rental arrangements with local music stores.
Teaching equipment: Music stands, chairs, amplifiers for electric instruments, microphone setups for voice lessons, and audio interfaces for recording all add up. Budget $500–$2,000 per room for basic teaching equipment.
Software and scheduling: Lesson scheduling software (Jackrabbit Music, iClassPro, or similar) runs $50–$150/month. Payment processing adds 2.6–3.5% per transaction.
Most music schools reach breakeven with 80–120 active students at average lesson rates of $60–$120 per hour, which typically takes 12–18 months.
Can music teachers at a school be independent contractors?
The IRS three-factor test (behavioral control, financial control, type of relationship) and most state equivalents will classify music teachers as employees in most typical music school arrangements. The indicators of employee status: the school sets the teacher's schedule, assigns them students, controls what they teach and how, provides the teaching space and instruments, and the teacher works primarily or exclusively at that school.
The fact that a music teacher has private students outside the school, or teaches at other locations, does not automatically make them a contractor at your school. Each working arrangement must independently satisfy the contractor test.
California's AB5 (the ABC test) is particularly strict: a worker is presumed to be an employee unless the hiring entity can prove (A) the worker is free from the company's control in how they perform work; (B) the worker performs work outside the company's usual course of business; and (C) the worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade or business. Most regular music school teachers fail the B prong — teaching music lessons is the school's core business, not outside it.
The practical recommendation: classify regular music teachers as employees (W-2), especially in California and other strict-test states. For true guest artists, one-time masterclass instructors, or teachers who independently rent your space and set their own rates and bring their own students, contractor status may be defensible — but consult an employment attorney first.
What zoning is required for a music school?
The specific zoning classification that applies to a music school depends on how your local zoning code categorizes the use. Some codes classify private music instruction as a "personal service" use (like a tutoring center or dance studio). Others classify it as an "educational facility" if it operates on a school-like schedule. Others classify it as an "assembly" use because groups of people gather there. The distinction matters because different classifications have different permitted zones and different CUP requirements.
Building noise is a significant zoning concern unique to music schools. Some jurisdictions have specific sound ordinances that limit noise levels at property lines, and music instruction — particularly drum instruction, amplified guitar, and voice — can trigger complaints from neighboring businesses or residents. Before signing a lease, check local noise ordinances and consider whether the space is sufficiently sound-isolated to comply.
Practical steps: visit your city's planning counter before committing to a space. Ask: what use classification does music instruction fall under at this address? Is a CUP required? What sound ordinance applies? Get answers in writing if you can.
Do music schools need to comply with COPPA or FERPA?
COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act): Applies to operators of websites and online services that collect personal information from children under 13. If your music school has a website, app, or online student portal that collects information from students under 13 — names, email addresses, payment information, schedule data — you must comply with COPPA. Compliance requires a privacy policy, parental consent before collecting data from children under 13, and limits on how that data is used and shared.
For most music schools, the practical COPPA implication is: (1) have a privacy policy on your website; (2) if you use student management software that stores student data, ensure the vendor is COPPA-compliant; (3) if you use any online scheduling or communication tools with student accounts for minors, verify they have appropriate parental consent mechanisms.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): Applies to educational institutions that receive federal funding. Private music schools that do not receive federal Title IV funding (federal student aid programs) are generally not subject to FERPA. If you partner with a public school system or receive federal grants, this analysis changes.
State privacy laws: California's CCPA/CPRA and similar state laws may impose additional requirements if you collect personal data from California residents. A privacy policy reviewed by an attorney is a worthwhile investment for any school with an online presence.
How should a music school handle student instruments on premises?
Your commercial property insurance likely covers the school's own instruments and equipment against fire, theft, and covered perils. It almost certainly does not cover student-owned instruments stored on your premises. This creates a gap: if a student's $3,000 violin is stolen from your school or damaged in a flood, your insurance won't pay the claim, and the student's family may look to you for compensation.
Address this proactively with a written instrument storage policy — ideally a clause in your enrollment agreement — that specifies: (a) the school assumes no liability for student instruments stored on premises, (b) students are encouraged to obtain their own instrument insurance (renter's insurance or a standalone instrument policy through companies like Anderson Musical Instrument Insurance covers this), and (c) you will take reasonable precautions to secure the storage area but cannot guarantee against all loss.
For high-value instruments, consider whether you want to offer optional coverage as a revenue item — partnering with an insurer to offer instrument insurance to your students — or simply direct them to obtain their own coverage.
For school-owned instruments rented to students: you'll need your own instrument rental contract that specifies condition, repair responsibility, and what happens if a rented instrument is lost or damaged.