School-year rentals filling now
Your child's first instrument deserves a luthier — not a warehouse.
Teacher-approved violin, viola, cello, and bass rentals — set up by hand in our Cos Cob and Norwalk shops. Delivered free across Fairfield County and Westchester.
40+
Years local
6
In-house luthiers
#1
Eastman dealer in CT
Free
County-wide delivery
Transparent Pricing
Fractional rentals from $24/month
✨ Fractional rentals: pay 10 months, play 12
Standard tier is what most families rent — quality European-made instruments, hand-prepared by our luthiers. Advanced tier is available when a teacher recommends a step-up instrument. All rentals paid annually upfront. Damage & Theft coverage strongly recommended — 97% of our families add it.
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Violin
Sizes 1/16 through 4/4
StdFractional
1/16 – 3/4 · 10+2 promo
1/16 – 3/4 · 10+2 promo
$32.50per month, with D&T
StdFull size
7/8 or 4/4
7/8 or 4/4
$43.50per month, with D&T
AdvFull size step-up
For advancing students
For advancing students
$55.50per month, with D&T
Standard from $24/mo without D&T coverage
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Viola
Fractional through full size
StdFractional
11″ – 13″ · 10+2 promo
11″ – 13″ · 10+2 promo
$38.50per month, with D&T
StdFull size
14″ – 16.5″
14″ – 16.5″
$50.50per month, with D&T
AdvFull size step-up
14″+ · for advancing students
14″+ · for advancing students
$60.50per month, with D&T
Standard from $30/mo without D&T coverage
🎶
Cello
Sizes 1/16 through 4/4
StdFractional
1/16 – 3/4 · 10+2 promo
1/16 – 3/4 · 10+2 promo
$50.50per month, with D&T
StdFull size
7/8 or 4/4
7/8 or 4/4
$65.50per month, with D&T
AdvFull size step-up
For advancing students
For advancing students
$90.00per month, with D&T
Standard from $40/mo without D&T coverage
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Double Bass
Single tier · Helicore strings + adjustable bridge
StdFractional
1/10 – 1/2 · 10+2 promo
1/10 – 1/2 · 10+2 promo
$77.00per month, with D&T
StdFull size
5/8 or 3/4 · 12-mo billing
5/8 or 3/4 · 12-mo billing
$92.00per month, with D&T
From $60/mo without D&T coverage
All rentals paid annually upfront — no monthly billing surprises, and rentals are non-refundable. A portion of rental payments may be applied toward purchase of a qualifying instrument when your student is ready to step up.
Not sure what size your child needs? See our instrument sizing guide — or just start your rental and we'll confirm sizing before the instrument ships.
Every Rental Includes
Hand-prepared. Ready to play.
A poorly set-up violin is the #1 reason beginners quit. Stiff pegs, a high bridge, the wrong string height — that friction is invisible to a parent and devastating to a beginner. We eliminate it before the instrument ever leaves the shop.
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✓Professionally set up by a luthier Bridge fitted, pegs adjusted, strings checked, tone verified
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✓Quality bow & protective case Bow rosined and inspected. Hard case for safe daily transport
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✓Free size exchanges as your child grows No additional fees when moving from 1/2 to 3/4 to 4/4
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✓Walk-in repair, no appointment Broken string, slipped peg, fallen bridge — we fix it on the spot
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✓Rental payments may apply toward purchase When your student is ready to step up, a portion of rental payments may be applied toward a qualifying instrument
The Honest Comparison
Atelier vs. the national rental chains
Both options exist. Here's what actually changes for your child.
National Rental Chain
- ✕ Instrument ships from a warehouse, often unchecked
- ✕ Mass-produced, lowest-cost rental stock
- ✕ Repairs require mailing the instrument away
- ✕ Call-center support — not a musician
- ✕ No relationship with your child's teacher
- ✕ Monthly billing surprises and fees
Atelier
- ✓ Every instrument hand-set-up by a real luthier
- ✓ European-made fleet from Romania and Germany, plus Eastman instruments stocked by teacher request
- ✓ Walk-in repairs at Cos Cob & Norwalk — same day
- ✓ Talk to a musician, every time
- ✓ Direct relationships with Greenwich, Westport, Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Stamford schools
- ✓ Clear annual pricing, no monthly billing
What Families Say
40 years of trust, one student at a time
★★★★★
"I visited several shops in the area, and nothing came close in terms of quality or value. The owner personally helped guide me through the selection process. His knowledge and genuine passion for string instruments were immediately evident."D. ManciniFairfield County parent
★★★★★
"Amazing job repairing my violin. They were so patient and answered all my questions. The price was fair, and everyone was professional. I will definitely be a repeat customer."S. PatelVerified Google review
★★★★★
"The service is the best I've come across — friendly and knowledgeable. The prices are very competitive and they even recommended companies that can insure the instrument. That kind of honest, helpful service is rare."M. ThompsonWestchester parent
Common Questions
What parents actually ask
What if my child quits after a few months?
Rental instruments may be returned to our Cos Cob or Norwalk shop at any time. To keep our pricing low, all rentals are paid annually upfront and are non-refundable — so we encourage families to give music a full school year to take root. In our 40 years working with local students, we've found that most who feel stuck in the first few months end up loving it by spring.
How do I know what size my child needs?
Our team confirms sizing based on arm length, age, height, and any guidance from your child's music teacher. When in doubt, we contact the teacher directly. You can also use our instrument sizing guide or just start your rental — we sort it out before the instrument ships.
What happens if the instrument breaks?
Walk into either our Cos Cob or Norwalk shop — no appointment, no phone call required. A luthier fixes it on the spot. With Damage & Theft coverage, every accidental mishap is fully covered (97% of our families add it). Without coverage, repair costs are billed to you.
Can rental payments apply toward a purchase?
Yes. A portion of rental payments may be applied toward the purchase of a qualifying instrument. The structure differs between violins/violas and cellos/basses — when your student is ready to step up, our team walks you through the specific eligibility and terms that apply to your rental. No upsell pressure. See our full rental terms for the details we share publicly.
Do you deliver, or do we need to pick up?
Both. Free delivery across Fairfield County, CT and Westchester County, NY. Or pick up at our Cos Cob (403 East Putnam Avenue) or Norwalk (20 Fitch Street) locations.
How quickly can we get started?
Most rentals ship within a few business days. During the late-August school rush, demand spikes — we strongly recommend reserving by August 15 for guaranteed first-week-of-school delivery.
Visit Us
Two shops. One standard.
Atelier · Cos Cob (Greenwich)
403 East Putnam Avenue
Cos Cob, CT 06807
Cos Cob, CT 06807
Mon–Fri 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (May 15 – Oct 15)
Sun Closed
Sat 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (May 15 – Oct 15)
Sun Closed
Atelier · Norwalk
20 Fitch Street
Norwalk, CT 06855
Norwalk, CT 06855
Mon–Fri 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat–Sun Closed
Sat–Sun Closed
2026–27 reservations open · Aug 15 deadline for first-week delivery
Let's get your child ready to play.
Takes just a few minutes to reserve. A luthier handles the rest.
Start Your Rental →
Questions? Call 203-661-9500 or 475-317-1275
Rentals from $24/month
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