It may or may not be the responsibility of a music educator to acquire or maintain the instruments used by the students in a program. However, no matter what level of involvement the educator has in this process, knowing how things are done--as well as what other options may be out there--can only help to keep things running smoothly. This knowledge can also help to ensure that each student who wants to play has access to an appropriate instrument in good condition, as well as the opportunity to repair and refurbish that instrument when needed. Acquiring instruments has always been a challenge for many, if not most, and today's environment has not made it any easier. This article offers a few ideas that might help. The author spoke with several music educators about how the instruments in their programs are acquired and otherwise managed.