Violin, Viola, Cello & Bass Rentals for Westport, CT Students

Atelier for Fine Stringed Instruments is the closest dedicated string instrument specialist to Westport, CT. Our Norwalk showroom at 20 Fitch Street is just 7 miles from Westport — about a 10-minute drive — and is our closest location for Westport families. We also have a Cos Cob showroom in Greenwich for families closer to the western side of Fairfield County. Unlike general music stores, our entire staff, inventory, and repair shop is dedicated exclusively to string instruments. Every rental is professionally set up by a master luthier, correctly sized for the student, and backed by local repair and exchange service.

Violin: $24/month for fractional sizes, $35/month for full-size 4/4 or 7/8.

Viola: $30/month for 11"–13", $40/month for 14"–15.5", $45/month for 16"–16.5".

Cello: $40/month for fractional sizes, $55/month for full-size 4/4 or 7/8.

Double Bass: $60/month for fractional sizes, $75/month for 5/8 or 3/4.

Rentals are paid annually upfront. Every price includes professional luthier setup, a bow, a case, rosin, free size exchanges, and access to our full repair services. Optional Damage & Theft (D&T) coverage is available for an additional fee.

Most Westport 4th graders (typically 9–10 years old) need a 1/2 size violin. However, sizing depends on arm length, not just age. A child measuring 18.5"–20" from the base of the neck to the middle of their palm is best fit for a 1/2 size violin. If your child is on the smaller or larger side, they may need a 1/4 or 3/4. Our string specialists can measure your child precisely at either the Norwalk or Cos Cob showroom before setup.

Most Bedford and Coleytown Middle School orchestra students (grades 6–8) are ready for either a 3/4 or 4/4 (full-size) violin. Sixth graders often start on 3/4 and move to 4/4 during middle school. Eighth graders are usually on full-size instruments. Come to our shop for a proper fitting — we've measured thousands of Fairfield County middle schoolers and know how to match instrument size to student growth.

Cello sizing depends on the player's height:

1/4 size: Child under 4' tall (typically ages 6–7)

1/2 size: Child 4' to 4'6" tall (typically ages 8–10, most Westport 4th–5th graders)

3/4 size: Child 4'6" to 5' tall (typically ages 10–12, most 5th grade and early Bedford/Coleytown Middle School students)

4/4 (full): Child 5'6" and taller (Staples High School students)

Because a cello player sits with the instrument between their knees and reaches up to the fingerboard, proper cello sizing is more sensitive than violin sizing. We strongly recommend an in-person fitting at our Norwalk or Cos Cob showroom.

When school delivery is available and permitted by the school's music program, we can coordinate delivery to the school music room. This depends on the school and time of year. Alternately, families are welcome to pick up their rental at our Norwalk showroom (just 10 minutes from Westport) or Cos Cob showroom. Pickup is often preferable because it lets us do an in-person fitting and setup adjustment.

Bring it to our Norwalk or Cos Cob shop and we'll fix it, usually the same day. Common issues — broken strings, shifted bridges, slipping pegs, bow rehair — are handled in-house by our luthiers. This is a significant advantage over ordering from an online rental company, where a broken string can mean weeks of downtime while the instrument ships back and forth. If you added Damage & Theft coverage to your rental, most incidents are covered at no additional charge.

Every Atelier rental includes free size exchanges. When your child is ready for the next size, bring the current instrument to our shop, we measure your child, and swap it for the correctly sized instrument. There's no additional fee for the exchange — you simply continue at the same monthly rate for the new size.

Yes. Atelier offers rental credit toward purchase, which varies by instrument:

Violin & Viola: Up to 2 years of rental payments can apply toward the purchase of a step-up instrument.

Cello: Up to 1 year of rental payments can apply toward purchase.

Bass: Up to 6 months of rental payments can apply toward purchase.

This program only applies to instruments purchased at Atelier and only for step-up purchases (buying a higher-quality instrument than the rental). It's a great way to build toward owning a quality instrument over time.

Atelier is a three-generation family-owned business that specializes exclusively in string instruments. Every instrument is set up by a master luthier before it goes out. National chains send instruments from a central warehouse without individual setup — a difference you can immediately hear when your child plays the first note.

Local service also matters. When something breaks or your child needs an exchange, you drive 10 minutes to our Norwalk shop rather than shipping the instrument back to a warehouse. Our staff plays string instruments, understands what Westport orchestra teachers expect, and can help you troubleshoot in real time.

Absolutely. Many adults in Westport, Weston, and Fairfield County are starting or returning to string instruments. Adults typically play 4/4 full-size instruments (or 16"+ viola). We're happy to rent to adult beginners at the same rates and terms as students, and we can recommend teachers in the Westport area if you're looking to start lessons.

Our rental fleet includes carefully selected European-made instruments (primarily from Romania and Germany), plus select Eastman models from China. These are step-above quality instruments compared to the mass-produced rentals used by big-box music stores. Every single one is inspected, adjusted, and set up in our Norwalk workshop before it becomes part of our rental fleet.