Joining The Band Collective
What age or year level can my child join?
Students can join our Primary Program from Year 3. Our High School Program is open to students in any high school year level. If you’re not sure where your child fits, get in touch and we’ll help you find the right starting point — contact us.
What's the difference between the Primary Program and the High School Program?
Our Primary Program combines a weekly band rehearsal with a small-group tutorial (where students learn technique on their instrument), so beginners are supported from day one. Our High School Program is rehearsal-only — students attend a weekly band rehearsal to play together as an ensemble. Small-group tutorials are not included at High School level, so students are expected to already have foundational skills on their instrument.
My high schooler has never played an instrument before — can they still join?
Yes, but because our High School Program is rehearsal-only, we strongly recommend pairing it with private lessons (with us or an independent Tutor) so your child can build the fundamentals and keep pace with the rest of the ensemble. Contact us and we’re happy to talk through the best starting point.
What is the process to enrol?
Most schools begin with a band demonstration followed by a blow test, students will indicate a preference of instrument. Enrolment opens ahead of the following term or year and our online enrolment form needs to be completed. Please contact us at any stage with questions — we’re here to help.
My child already played in a band at their previous school and is moving to a school that partners with The Band Collective mid-year — can they join?
Absolutely — students who already play are very welcome to join us mid-year. Please contact our office and we’ll get them settled into the right group as quickly as possible.
Choosing & Getting An Instrument
What happens at an instrument trial (“blow test”)?
Children get to try out real instruments with one of our Tutors, who assesses embouchure, hand size, coordination and other physical factors to recommend the instrument they’re likely to succeed on and enjoy most. It’s a relaxed, low-pressure session — there’s no right or wrong answer, just useful information to guide the decision.
How do I choose which instrument my child should play?
The results of the instrument trial are a great guide, but your child should ultimately play what they love — they’ll practise far more happily if they’re excited about their choice. Watching and listening to different instruments on YouTube is a great way to explore, alongside practical factors like size, portability and cost. Check out these great clips from the NSW Police Band demonstrating the full range of instruments available.
My child only wants to play drums — why do you keep talking about “percussion”?
Drums are only one part of the percussion section. Percussion students also learn glockenspiel, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum and other auxiliary instruments, taking turns across the different parts within a piece.
Do I need to buy percussion equipment?
No — percussion equipment (such as the glockenspiel and drum kit) is supplied by the school or by The Band Collective for use at school, so you won’t need to buy this to get started. You may wish to purchase a drum kit or other items to assist practice at home, but this isn’t required. All percussion students will need their own sticks/mallets to use at school.
Do I need to buy an instrument, or can I hire one through you?
It depends on the instrument. Some instruments are available to hire directly through The Band Collective, while for others families arrange their own purchase (with our guidance). We’ll let you know which option applies once your child’s instrument is confirmed — just contact our office for the current list. Hire instruments are covered by our separate Hire Instrument Policy — just ask our office for a copy.
How much does an instrument cost?
Musical instruments are a real investment, and prices vary by instrument. Even entry-level models typically run to several hundred dollars. Where we offer hire, this is a more affordable way to get started — contact our office for current pricing.
Should we rent or buy?
If you’re not yet sure whether band is going to be a long-term fit, hiring (where available) is a low-risk way to start. Many families move to buying once their child has settled in and is clearly enjoying their instrument.
Can I buy a second-hand instrument from Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or a friend?
Please be cautious with second-hand instruments bought outside a music shop. We recommend sticking to known, reputable brands (such as Yamaha, Pearl, Bach, Buffet or Jupiter), and having any second-hand instrument properly serviced and checked before use — you often can’t verify its condition or service history otherwise.
A big retailer is selling cheap instruments — should I buy one?
We’d advise against “budget” instruments from discount or department stores. They’re often poorly made, hard or impossible to repair, have little resale value, and can genuinely hold your child’s progress back. A quality student model from a reputable brand will serve your child far better over time.
What happens if there is a problem with my instrument?
During the course of your child playing their instrument, issues may arise which need attention. These can be from very simple fixes (sometimes performed in band) or may need further investigation. Please reach out to us for assistance as we have access to our own repairers as well as a list of industry professionals we can recommend.
We do encourage instruments to be serviced annually — this includes repairing any working components and a thorough clean, inside and out.
Lessons & Rehearsals
What does a typical week look like for Primary students?
Primary students attend one band rehearsal (playing together as a full ensemble) and one small-group tutorial (learning technique on their instrument alongside a few peers) each week during term.
What does a typical week look like for High School students?
High School students attend one weekly band rehearsal. Tutorials are not included at this level, so students are expected to arrive with the foundational skills needed to play as part of the ensemble.
Why are Primary tutorials taught in small groups?
Group tutorials suit younger, beginner students particularly well — they learn alongside peers at a similar stage, and a bit of friendly competition tends to keep motivation and practice levels high.
My child already has a private Tutor outside school — do they still need to attend Band Collective sessions?
Yes — keep your private Tutor if that’s working well for your family, but where a group tutorial or rehearsal is offered as part of your program, we do expect students to also take part in that. It’s where the ensemble skills are built.
Can my child just do tutorials without joining the band?
No — tutorials and band participation go hand in hand in our Primary Program. Students enrolled in tutorials are also expected to take part in their school’s band rehearsal, as this is where the group learning is put into practice.
How many lessons or rehearsals are held each term?
We run rehearsals and (for Primary) tutorials across most weeks of each term. Should a rehearsal need to be moved, we will be in touch with you by email or text message.
What if my child has a school excursion or event on their lesson day?
If school excursions occur on band days that only affect a small number of students, band will continue as normal; however, if a school has a major event that affects most or all students, the rehearsals will be rescheduled.
What if my child is sick or away on holidays on their lesson day?
Please advise us by email should this be the case so we can advise the Band Conductor or Tutors.
What equipment does my child need?
Your child will need their own instrument, plus a music stand at home for practice (important for good posture and breathing) and a tutorial book, available through our office. Depending on the instrument, ongoing consumables such as reeds, cork grease, valve oil or slide grease may also be needed.
Fees & Payment
What's included in the program fees?
Fees are calculated per term and cover all scheduled tutorials and rehearsals for the term. Current pricing for your child’s program is available by contacting our office.
How do I pay my fees?
Invoices are issued each term, with payment due before the first lesson of term. We accept direct deposit or payment through our online portal.
Do I have to pay extra for performances?
There’s no additional cost for regular in-school performances. Optional extras — such as band camps, workshops or external festivals — may attract a separate fee, which we’ll always communicate in advance.
What happens if fees aren't paid on time?
Please reach out to us as early as possible if you’re having trouble meeting a payment deadline — we’re happy to talk through options. Our full late payment policy is set out in our Terms & Conditions.
Communication
How do I contact my child's Tutor or Band Conductor?
The best way to reach your child’s Tutor or Band Conductor is to contact us — we’ll pass your message on directly. For privacy, we don’t share Tutors’ personal mobile numbers.
What should I do if my child will be away from a lesson or rehearsal?
Please let your child’s Tutor know by email in advance where possible. Missed group tutorials and rehearsals aren’t generally made up, except where the whole group is away for a school-wide event.
What are your office hours?
Our office is available during normal business hours. Messages received outside these hours will be answered on the next business day. Please understand that we are not always in office, we love being out on-site with our school bands as much as possible. Please feel free to leave a message or drop us an email if we don’t answer your calls.
How will I know what's happening in band each week?
We’ll keep you posted by email or text message, including reminders for lessons and rehearsals and updates on performances and events.
Performances
Where will my child get the chance to perform?
Students typically perform at school assemblies and events throughout the year, with opportunities to take part in eisteddfods, band festivals and other special performances along the way.
Does my child have to participate in performances?
Performing in a band is like a team sport and needs every player in the ensemble to play their part. We understand that occasionally it may not be possible to attend — please contact us as soon as possible, as we may need to make contingency arrangements for the performance.
Will my child be filmed or photographed at events?
We’ll occasionally take photos or videos of your child in band or group settings for genuine performance or promotional purposes, such as our website or social media — we love showing how wonderful our students at The Band Collective are! If you’d prefer your child not to be included, just contact us with your child’s name and school, and we’ll leave them out of our own promotional content. Full details are in our Terms & Conditions.
We’re not able to control filming or photography by other parents, schools, or third parties at shared events such as school assemblies or concerts.
Changing Or Ending Enrolment
My child wants to stop lessons or band — what do I do?
Please have a chat with their Tutor or Band Conductor first, and also notify our office by completing the withdrawal form so we can process the change. Please let us know before the end of the current term, to avoid being charged for the following term.
Do I need to re-enrol every term or year?
No — enrolments roll over automatically each term and year. Just let us know if you’d like to withdraw by completing our Withdrawal Form.