St. John School is pleased to offer Beginning Band Classes for students in grades 4-8 before school. Learning a band instrument and being in a band is a lot of fun, and students are expected to commit to attendance and practice.
Please Read Carefully Before Registering: Beginning Band Classes are intended for students who did not participate in Mr. White’s class last year and have never had instrument instruction.
Beginning band students should choose their instruments before the first day of band and from these five instruments: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone and snare drum. They should also obtain the Essential Elements for Band (beginning band book – bk.1) corresponding to their instrument when renting their instruments.
Where and how students acquire the band instrument is incredibly important. Contrary to popular opinion, new instruments are the wrong choice to make, or that the special, “low” price advertised for band instruments is not actually worth the money. They are almost always unplayable because they have not been adjusted properly and will only become playable if a considerable amount of money is further invested. A reputable music rental store is, by far, the best way to proceed because these instruments are already in playing condition for beginners.
Beginning band students should only rent, or rent to own, from music stores that have rental programs and not buy instruments, at first, and especially, not buy off the internet. The main music stores in our area that have good rental programs are Ted Brown Music, (University District) or Kennelly Keys Music (Lynnwood).
Once you have decided on an instrument or have rented one, send a message to kmwhitestudios@gmail.com, so the director can pre-plan for first-day activities and answer other questions you may have regarding the first steps you can take at home to get ready.
Details:
- October-May. The first day of Beginning Band is Monday, 10/13.
- Monday and Wednesday on days when school is in full session (band will not meet on early dismissal and no-school days and during Holy Week).
- 7:30-8:10am, Mezzanine
- Registration Fee: $605. In order to bring Band to St. John School, students and their families must commit to the entire program, October through May. Refunds will not be issued. Fees will not be prorated if the student registers after classes start, stops instruction before the end of the program, or misses class for illness, sports, trips, etc.
- Financial aid is available for the registration fee only (financial aid is not available for equipment rental fees). To request financial assistance for clubs, complete the attached form and return it to Andrea Marquez, amarquez@st-johnschool.org. Please note: all applicants requesting financial aid must complete the club registration, which requires payment upfront. Should a financial aid award be granted, a refund is processed for that amount. Please contact Andrea Marquez, amarquez@st-johnschool.org with questions.
- Registration opens Monday, 9/22, 7:01pm. Please make sure your questions are answered before submitting your registration. Questions can be directed to Mr. White, kmwhitestudios@gmail.com. The deadline to register is 10/17/25.
