Crossword Genius

Hire purchase securing a rookie’s first musical instrument (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

harp

'musical instrument' is the definition.
(I know that harp is a type of free-reed instrument)

'hire purchase securing a rookie's first' is the wordplay.
'hire purchase' becomes 'HP' (abbreviation).
'securing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'rookie's first' becomes 'r' (1st letter of 'rookie').
'a'+'r'='ar'
'hp' going around 'ar' is 'HARP'.

(Other definitions for harp that I've seen before include "Heavenly instrument?" , "David's instrument" , "semitone higher, abandoning intro" , "Musical symbol" , "Chordophone" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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