Tolbert Music is honored to serve Word of Life Christian Academy with our Symphonic Orchestra program.

please note a major change this year:

• Students are now pulled from class at the end of the school day. This allows us to take multiple groups and put the students together by ability level, though students will need to make up any missed work.

This is an elective program offered to all students grades 1 and up. Mr. Ozzie Backus will be running this program on Tuesdays at the end of the school day. Students may choose to study any standard band/orchestral instrument including Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Percussion, Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass. We have developed our own method book that allows students to learn all these instruments in the same classroom.

The Commitments:

• One rehearsal per week: Rehearsals will take during school hours at the end of the school day on Tuesday for 45 minutes.

• $40/Month or $350 paid up front for the full year: You will be provided a payment link on signup, or invoiced via Quickbooks monthly if you elect to pay that way. Please note that we charge this program on a 10-month Cycle. There is a lot of work done in August and in June outside of regular classes getting things set up and taken down at the end of the year. You may not have a full month every month due to holidays or the end of the year date, but we have figured that into our pricing. If more than 3 classes are missed due to unexpected cancellations across the year, we will offer makeup time.

• Full-year commitment. These instruments need time and commitment to get a real sense of them. Also, our teachers need to have clear expectations for the income across the school year. If you would like to request an exception and disenroll, please write to us so there is opportunity to repair before we grant a disenrollment.

• Instrument: You will need to make sure your student has an instrument for our classes. We have a rental partnership with Music and Arts that provides a discount on their superb rent-to-own program. Exact price depends on the instrument you rent but will range from $25/month to $45/month and every dollar you spend on the rental fees accrues equity towards owning the instrument. You do not have to go through us (and shouldn’t if you already own an instrument!) but we provide maximum convenience, the best pricing, high quality instruments, and the best repair network on offer. Please DO NOT buy a cheap instrument on Amazon. It will not work properly and when it inevitably breaks down it will not be worth repairing. Even if you do not use our rental service, please find a reputable rent-to-own program that provides quality instruments.

• Other Incidental costs: These will include some sheet music and instrument accessories, for example reeds for woodwinds. Nothing in this category is expensive but we want you fully informed. When you go to the store it is wise to get the “instrument care kit” they offer you - they are not upselling you and you will need what it contains!

• Make up missed work: Because our program will be pulling students during daytime class hours, students are committed to making up any work that they miss.

• Practice: All these instruments are difficult. Progressing and enjoying the activity involves some regular practice. We recommend a minimum of 4 practices per week - roughly 30mins while accounting for some differences based on age and individual student focus level.