Forbes Music Company in Baltimore: Where Student Musicians Rent and Buy Instruments

Forbes Music Company is a retail and lesson studio in Baltimore that sells, rents, and repairs band and orchestra instruments, serving school music programs, private students, and adult learners across the city and surrounding counties.

What Forbes Music Company actually is

Forbes operates as both an instrument retailer and an independent music education hub. The shop stocks new and used instruments across woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion, with rental programs that serve Baltimore City and County schools. The company also employs a roster of private instructors who teach from a studio space adjacent to or within the retail location. Unlike big-box retailers that stock instruments but offer no teaching, Forbes pairs instrument access with educational support, making it a single point of contact for families starting lessons or schools needing ensemble equipment.

Instruments, rental pricing, and what to expect on the shelf

Forbes rents student-model instruments on month-to-month terms, with rental rates varying by instrument size and newness. Clarinet and trumpet rentals typically start around $40 to $60 per month; larger instruments like trombone or baritone saxophone run $50 to $80 monthly. Rental agreements usually apply a percentage of paid rent toward eventual purchase, a feature that matters when a student commits to an instrument after a trial period. The shop also sells used instruments in the $200 to $800 range for buyers ready to own outright, and new professional-grade instruments at standard retail markup.

Inventory shifts seasonally: expect fuller selection in late August and early September when Baltimore schools prepare for the fall music program year, and tighter stock in June and July. If you need a specific instrument by a school start date, calling ahead rather than dropping in reduces disappointment.

How Forbes compares to other Baltimore-area music retailers

Baltimore has limited true music education retailers. The Peabody Conservatory's instrument shop serves primarily current students and carries a narrower range. Guitar Center (multiple locations in Baltimore and the suburbs) stocks guitars, drums, and some woodwinds but employs no music instructors and charges higher rental rates (typically $60 to $100+ monthly for band instruments). School music directors often direct families to Forbes because the rental-to-own model and instructor network lower barriers for students trying a new instrument, and because Forbes staff understand school program calendars and ensemble needs in ways big-box staff do not.

For families seeking affordability, Baltimore County Schools' instrument loan program (available to enrolled students) offers free rentals; Forbes serves families outside that district or those who prefer private lesson instruction alongside rental. For adult learners picking up an instrument, Forbes instructors often provide context on realistic expectations that purely online retailers cannot.

Who Forbes suits and who it does not

Forbes is strongest for school-age students (roughly ages 8 to 18) entering or continuing band or orchestra, and for parents who want rental flexibility without major upfront cost. It also serves adult hobbyists seeking an instructor familiar with returning musicians. The shop is weak for players seeking rare or specialist instruments (historical woodwinds, non-Western instruments) and for those wanting the widest new-instrument selection; it caters to bread-and-butter school repertoire needs. If you play cello, violin, or bass and want a serious lesson teacher, Forbes may have options, but other independent studios in Canton, Fells Point, and Roland Park carry deeper classical string expertise.

What to expect on a first visit

Call ahead to confirm current hours before coming in. Bring information about your child's school (or your own music background) and what instrument you're interested in. A staff member will discuss rental terms, show you available instruments in your price range, and explain the rental-to-own calculation. If you want to pursue private lessons, ask about instructor availability and pricing; lesson rates vary by teacher and range from roughly $60 to $120 per 30-minute session. You can rent and start lessons in the same visit, or rent first and find a teacher later. Expect the whole process to take 30 to 45 minutes if you're renting only, longer if you're also booking a lesson.

Hours, location, and parking

Forbes is located in Baltimore proper. Confirm current hours by phone or website before visiting, as retail hours in the city can shift seasonally. Street parking is typically available on or near the storefront, though on-street spots fill during peak after-school hours (3 to 6 p.m. weekdays). There is no dedicated lot.

Forbes Music Company serves as a practical entry point for school musicians and a fallback for adult learners without easy access to big conservatory resources, making it a working part of Baltimore's non-elite music education landscape.