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Legal and General Article on Instrument Insurance
For professional musicians a musical instrument represents a lot more than a recreational object. It has a value beyond its material value and, in the event that anything should happen to it – in terms of damage or theft – problems may be multifaceted. If the instrument cannot be immediately replaced or repaired this could impact upon a musician’s capacity to earn for a short period. And getting used to a whole new instrument brings with it its own set of challenges. There are a range of things that can be done to help protect and prolong the life of your musical instrument. Sound maintenance is a must. From making sure to clear the resin from the strings at the end of each rehearsal and performance to replacing strings regularly to repairing any chips and scratches in the body of the instrument, keeping your violin in tiptop condition will help you to get the very most out of it each time you pick it up to play. Paying close attention to the instrument will also help to alert you to any slight technical defects before they cause any major inconvenience. The next step is to invest in a solid insurance policy for your instrument. Whilst contents insurance will cover possessions kept under your roof up to a certain value, if your instrument represents a fraction of your income or if the cost of replacement will greatly exceed the face value of the instrument itself you may need to investigate other options. Mainstream insurers such as Legal and General allow their customers to name specific items of particular value on their contents insurance policy so that they are covered in their own right, apart from your other possessions. You can decide how much you want to insure your violin for based on your own estimation of its value. The higher you price it the more you will pay for your premiums but the greater the level of protection you will receive. The other option is to choose a company that deals specifically with the insurance of musical instruments. However you go about it, making sure that your violin is fully protected today will help to avoid unnecessary difficulties in the future.
Designed and written by: Mick Quinn W.S.V.M: Gerard KilBride N.S.V.M 2010© ver: 6