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With each new school year, parents begin a yearly ritual by going on a musical instruments shopping spree with their children. These shopping sprees may last one day, or they may go on for weeks on end with no end in sight. Parents are usually caught unaware by the notice they get about their child's school curriculum change. The child may not be very happy about being in the school band, but in retrospect, thinks it's a better alternative than taking a gym class.

On a musical instruments shopping spree, mother's grab their children and head off to every music store in town, and check every newspaper ad looking for a musical instrument their child could use during the school year that they would be well-suited for. The musical instrument would not have to be brand new either. So, consulting the list of suitable instruments that the school gave her to use as a guide, she continues on with her musical instruments shopping spree.

The musical instruments shopping spree took her clear across town in the middle of rush hour traffic. By the time she entered a music store recommended to her by a friend, she was frazzled. The selection of instruments that matched her list were quite expensive, but there were several that qualified for a student rental program. She made a note of that offering, and continued to another location to check prices.

The next stop on her musical instruments shopping spree, landed her in a resale shop that had two instruments in the front window. Weathered by the sun, the cases looked a bit dry, but the price on the instrument, a flute, was within her price range. They did not have anything that her daughter wanted to play. She cleared the purchase with her son, who did not have a problem with playing the flute in the school band. His viewpoint was that he would be able to at least sit down during every concert. She made the purchase and scratched one shopping item off her list.

She asked her daughter what instrument she wanted to play. Her daughter wanted to play a guitar, or maybe some drums. Her mother suggested that she try a clarinet, and the girl balked at that idea entirely. Her mother stressed that she could try the piano but that would require lessons. Lessons would take away from her social life and that idea was not appealing in the least. The musical instruments shopping spree proceeded to the nearest pawn shop.

There was a set of electronic drums in the middle aisle that showed promise. The price of this set of drums was a bit steep, and the women decided she would try and get them to lower the price. She noticed that there was a cleaning set for a flute in the display case, which included a carry case for a flute. That price was quite reasonable, and when she offered to buy both items, the salesman promptly offered her a $25.00 discount on the drum set. Feeling that she had made a wise purchase the mother helped her daughter carry her drum set to the car.