loaning music

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

What do other teachers do when a student or friend wants to borrow music? I have lost hundreds of dollars’ worth of harp music by loaning it and never getting it returned. I think, from now on, I will ask for a deposit for the replacement cost of the book, to be refunded when the book is returned.

[unknown-user]

I think that holding something “hostage” is a great solution.

[tony-morosco]

I never loan anything. If I am not willing to give it to that person then I tell them “sorry”. If I am willing to give it to them then I just give it to them and if they return it then they return it and if they don’t they don’t.

Often I get things back anyway, but I never count on it.

It is OK to say ‘No’.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

Good old-fashioned library cards. Make them sign out the piece, and you hold the card telling you who borrowed it and when. Your collection is no doubt too valuable not to do it. Keep a stack of index cards by your studio door and use them for signing out everything. And put a due date on the card too, give one to the student and keep one. I wish Miss Lawrence had done that, she lost so much important music.

[rosalind-beck]

Oh, Elizabeth! You are so right.

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

I LOVE the library cards idea! Thank you, all for the excellent feedback so far, and thank you, Saul, for that brilliant suggestion.

[rod-anderson]

take their firstborn hostage ……….

[Author]

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