<p>What have you done about insuring your kid's instrument at school? Any recommendations?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1264075-instrument-insurance.html?highlight=instrument+insurance[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/1264075-instrument-insurance.html?highlight=instrument+insurance</a></p>
<p>This topic has been covered, so you might wish to look at this thread from the not-too-distant past. Personally we use Anderson, which I will admit is not the cheapest (but also not the most expensive). We have never needed to make a claim yet (knock on wood) but find them very accessible, patient, and prompt when I have questions by phone or email. They were also willing to cover us when D was still under 18 when no one else would. Other issues that will come up are covered in the previous thread but include coverage for theft from a school locker (not every company insures this), travel, and shipping if repairs are needed.</p>
<p>I believe some colleges/universities have recommendations for rental insurance, some of which have additional riders for items like instruments. Have you checked with the school? You might also check with your home owner’s insurance, too. Just a suggestion as where to start.</p>
<p>We have additional coverage on our homeowners insurance for my daughter’s oboe. Relatively inexpensive and a good pieces of mind. We did the same for my son, the composition major’s, macbook pro. For $19 a year, the computer is covered for replacement value.</p>
<p>There’s a topic discussing insurance for computers and such right now for college students and at least one includes instruments. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1374555-dont-forget-your-renters-insurance-policy.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1374555-dont-forget-your-renters-insurance-policy.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the link, CLRN8MOM. I just called our homeowners insurance company, and they say everything will still be covered (loss from a locker, or a car, or her dorm, etc) once my daughter and her viola are at school (even in Canada). But reading all this gives me pause. I see you use Anderson. Can anyone else recommend their instrument insurer?</p>
<p>We’ve been using our homeowners with good results (including a claim from expensive damage at a summer festival), but will probably have to move some of the instruments off once they’re being used for paid gigs.</p>
<p>My homeowers covers instruments too, but with my deductible. Not sure I want to file a claim on my home insurance for an instrument (or laptop, etc) in any case. </p>
<p>For those reasons I may pick up this policy: [Affordable</a> Laptop Insurance, College Student Insurance, Personal Property, & Laptop Theft | National Student Sevices](<a href=“http://www.nssi.com/]Affordable”>http://www.nssi.com/)</p>
<p>Our son followed after his Dad and insures his many tubas and basses through the company off of the American Federation of Musicians website. Not expensive and we also preferred not having it tied to our homeowners with a rather high deductible.</p>
<p>We use [CSI</a> College Student Insurance - Instant Quote](<a href=“College Student Insurance”>College Student Insurance) for D (who is in grad school).</p>
<p>D3 recently bought a new instrument and included in the paperwork was this list of musical instrument insurance companies…simply passing along information here.</p>
<p>Clarion Associates (NY)
Sedgwich James (National) Ltd, England
British Reserve Insurance Company Ltd, England
Metz-Huber Company (also associated with ASTA) ¶
Neil Trainor, Doliff Insurance (MN)
Ellis Hershman or Joan Gallo, Heritage Insurance Services ¶</p>
<p>I have been wondering about this too!</p>
<p>Son just acquired a new double bass over the winter break and we added a rider to our homeowners for it. It covers breakage, theft,etc whether it’s at school on the road or at home. It was surprisingly affordable without a deductible.</p>
<p>Momofbassist,</p>
<p>You may want to check with the writer of your homeowners insurance policy to see whether or not the instrument is covered if he starts doing paid gigs. Some homeowners riders exclude anything considered professional use, even if it only amounts to gas money. A homeowners rider may also not cover the cost of a replacement instrument for the time period after a covered loss but before the claim is paid. They may also place some restrictions on where the instrument must be stored at school when not in use.</p>
<p>You will probably find that it is difficult to get insurance for a double bass from the insurers that cater to music professionals (Clarion, for instance) until your son turns 21.</p>
<p>BassDad is correct about professional use of the instrument. By the time they are in conservatory, most of our kids are being paid on the record (W2 and 1099s) for some of their work, so this detail bears consideration.</p>
<p>Also, sometimes homeowner policies are not the best choice for antique instruments because they depreciate the value of the instrument over time, the way they would a TV or computer, whereas instruments tend to appreciate. If you own a new, factory-made instrument, this is probably not an issue.</p>
<p>I recommend Total Dollar, the company we’ve used, which was recommended to us by Bein & Fushi in Chicago. They are a kind of strange niche insurer, specializing in fine musical instruments, laundromats, and dental practices (not kidding.) We received a lower rate from them than from Clarion and Heritage.</p>
<p>DH and DS both play professionally.
Have purchased their instrument coverage through the AFofM union website…
Seabury and Smith?? We’ve never had to submit a claim…knock knock on that wood…but the coverage is not expensive and seems complete.</p>
<p>As always, thanks for the heads up! We certainly don’t want to find out it’s not covered after the fact. Son had a blast at David Gage in NYC checking out basses with his friend and former teacher last month.</p>
<p>I use the CSI College Student Insurance as well. We have took a rider on their insurance for the upright bass. The regular coverage was sufficient for the electric bass. Plus it covers all his other junk, like computer, cell phone, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks Binx and Electricbassmom. Just bought a policy tonight. Wish I had it in December when S’s macbook was stolen. This deductible is a lot less!</p>