Instrument Loans

Instrument Loans

Borrower’s Request form

College of Music Instrument Loans

All registered music students and students in official College of Music ensembles are eligible to receive a loan for instruments IF:

  • They do not own or have access to that type of instrument and need to use one for a College of Music function AND
  • The Instrument Inventory Office has an appropriate instrument available at their enrollment level AND
  • They wish to borrow the instrument for a limited period of time (one semester or less) OR
  • The cost of purchasing one independently is prohibitive AND
  • No other holds or limitations have been placed on the student for instrument check out.

Students must check out/in College of Music instruments from the Instrument Inventory Office (16 Music Building) during a scheduled appointment. Appointments are currently scheduled by submitting the Borrower’s Request form. 

College of Music inventory staff will use the provided information to arrange a scheduled appointment time to complete the loan process.  Please allow 2 – 4 business days to process requests and to finalize an appointment.

Students must provide written documentation from the appropriate faculty if attempting to borrow an instrument if it is:

  1. Outside the dates of Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters
  2. Of greater complexity/quality than the student’s enrollment level indicates

Any rental fees will be collected at the loan appointment.

Return deadlines will be finalized during the appointment.  Students should expect to return an instrument during the last week of classes, BEFORE Finals Week begins.

Instruments in high demand may have shortened loan times, to allow other students the opportunity to use the instrument.

During a check-out appointment, students will be required to:

  • Examine the instrument for any damage beyond what has been reported
  • Pay any rental fees 

During use, students are responsible for:

  • Reporting any damage or wear
  • Being reachable should an immediate return be necessary
  • Sharing any instrument in high demand
  • Scheduling their return appointment before/during the last week of classes; instruments checked out for the semester and returned during finals week will be considered late unless a signed extension has been granted prior to the due date

During a check-in appointment, students will be required to:

  • Report all damage and wear that has occurred to the instrument
  • Pay any applicable fees (e.g., $20 late fee, cost of replacement or repairs, etc.)
    • Wear caused by routine use (worn pads or threads, loose screws, etc.) will be repaired by the College of Music
  • Provide contact information should follow-up contact be necessary

Instrument loan policies may change at any time without prior notification. All problems may be taken to Professor Michael Kroth (Kroth@music.msu.edu), associate dean. 

Consignment Instruments Loaned to Music Education Classes

Only students enrolled in a music education instrumental teaching class are eligible to receive a consignment instrument loan and then only IF: 

Students must check out/in consignment instruments as a class. Arrangements must be made by the professor of the class with staff in the Instrument Inventory Office (16 Music Building) by submitting the Borrower’s Request form.  For more information, email inventory@music.msu.edu.

For further details on the standards and expectations for instrument loans, see the “College of Music Instrument Loans” section above.

College of Music Instruments Loaned to College of Music Faculty

All College of Music faculty may check out instruments IF:

  • They specialize in the instrument or a field related to the instrument they wish to borrow AND
  • The Instrument Inventory Office has an appropriate instrument available AND
  • They wish to borrow the instrument for a limited period of time (one semester or less) for a College of Music function AND
  • There are no other unresolved instrument loan issues in effect
  • They have written consent from the dean if the instrument will be used out of state or overseas

All College of Music faculty must check out/in instruments by appointment or arrangement with staff in the Instrument Inventory Office (16 Music Building). Appointments are currently scheduled by submitting the Borrower’s Request form. 

For further details on the standards and expectations for instrument loans, see the “College of Music Instrument Loans” section above.

Instrument Studio Representatives

Studio Representative form

Each instrument studio must provide one representative as the "Instrument Specialist" to be available to the Instrument Inventory management.  Instruments split between multiple studios should arrange for one joint representative.

Representatives may change throughout the semester/year, as long as there is always someone designated.  Until a replacement designee is assigned as the "Instrument Specialist," the last person to assume the role will continue to be held to the position's responsibilities.

The "Instrument Specialist" must be able to accurately access basic instrument condition, perform minor repairs, and be available for a minimum of five (5) "condition inspections" for their studio's College of Music-owned instruments.

Time periods for the "condition inspections":

  1. During the two (2) weeks leading up to the start of Fall Semester classes
  2. During two (2) weeks in the middle of the Fall Semester (week 7 and week 8)
  3. During Fall Finals Week or any time over Winter Break prior to the start of Spring Semester classes
  4. During two (2) weeks in the middle of the Spring Semester (week 7 and week 8)
  5. During Spring Finals Week or during the one (1) week immediately after the conclusion of Spring Finals Week

"Instrument Specialist" must schedule a time with the Instrument Inventory management staff to inspect their assigned instruments.  Please allow 2-4 business days to process requests and to finalize an appointment.

At the time of inspection, the "Instrument Specialist" should be identifying any minor repairs/maintenance work that they will need to complete, and to arrange a time to do so.

At the time of inspection, the "Instrument Specialist" should be identifying any major repairs/maintenance work that must be completed by professional staff outside of the College of Music.

Borrowers will not be identified to Representatives and vice versa.

Representatives will need to make arrangements with staff in the Instrument Inventory Office (16 Music Building) before coming in to evaluating the instruments. Email inventory@music.msu.edu with questions.

The inventory staff will make as much information as possible on each instrument available prior to the inspection. Instruments may be assessed in a reserved Instrument Inventory Room.