Brass Lessons 2007 – 2008

We are coming to the end of the third year of the brass project which began when your child was in Year Three! It has been wonderful to see and hear the children develop their skills over this time.

I am writing to you, now, to inform you that this project will end for this group of pupils at the end of the school year and to alert you to the possibilities if your child wishes to continue learning her/his instrument. There is a reply slip for you to return, if appropriate, so that we can make more detailed plans before September.

Having spoken to Mr Thomas we have agreed that we have achieved all we can achieve by teaching the children in a whole class group. Some children will see this as the time to stop. Three years is a good length of time to decide whether or not to take things further.

The pupils who wish to continue have the choice of individual, small group or large group tuition. An individual lesson costs £18.90 for a 30 minute session. Small group tuition costs £5.80 per lesson based on three or four children learning together. If 15 children want to learn as part of a large group, lessons can be offered for approximately £1.50 per week. In addition, it costs £52 to hire a brass instrument for the year. Please note that to offer this type of lesson we would need at least 15 children for the whole year.

At present we are unable to confirm that we can offer these lessons. In the first instance we need to gauge levels of interest. We shall then need to liaise with Somerset Music to ensure that the lessons can be timetabled. However, we shall do our best to ensure that we can continue to offer brass lessons for those who want it.

Please use the reply slip to indicate your preference. The information will be used by governors to consider what can be offered so a commitment is not needed at this stage.

Yours sincerely,

Roger Whitewick