Band and Orchestra

Band is Back! Beginner and Intermediate Band

We're partnering again with our amazing Band Director, Ilene Dracott, to offer a before-school beginner and intermediate band here at Thoreau. This program provides a fun and supportive environment for students to learn instruments such as the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, or trombone.

• Elementary Band rehearsals will be before school (Monday, Thursday, Friday), once for beginner band, once for intermediate band, and one day a week will be instrument-focused sectionals, where beginner and intermediate students both attend. These will be technique building days specific to your instrument.
• Band is open for students in grades 3-5.
• Band starts late Sept / early October and runs for 26 weeks.
• Cost is $450 per student including concerts.
• Scholarships are available (please reach out to Mr. Botello at (jbotello@gmail.com).

Schedule & Season

• Practices: We will be offering one dedicated beginner band practice per week, one dedicated intermediate practice per week, and one additional sectional per week. Sectionals will be technique building days specific to one or a group of instruments (depending on registrations numbers).

  • Our goal is to again offer a before school band without interfering with choir attendance.

  • Suggested mornings: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. (pending building use approval)

• Season: The season runs for 26 weeks, from September 28 to May 21 for beginners and October 12 to May 21 for intermediate band. The full schedule will be finalized and shared in September.

• Performances: The program includes three main concerts, with the possibility of additional performances at PTA events.

Cost & Registration

• Cost: The registration fee is $450 per student, which covers all practices and the cost of the three concerts.

• Registration: Registration opens on Friday, May 28th.

• Scholarships: Scholarships are available. If your family needs assistance, please contact our school counselor, Mr. Botello, at jbotello@lwsd.org.

• Instruments: Instruments and a music book are not included in the registration fee. We are collaborating with Music & Arts in Bothell to host an Instrument Night on the evening of June 2nd at 6pm, where students can try out different instruments before committing to one.

Additional Information

• Capacity: The program is for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders and limited to a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 30 students.

• Volunteers: We require one parent volunteer per session on a rotating basis. SignUp will be handled through a Signupgenius.

• Refunds: Refunds will not be issued after September 25th, unless the minimum number of participants is not met.

NEW: Orchestra at Thoreau!

Thoreau PTA is excited to share a second wonderful music education opportunity for our Thoreau Elementary students next school year: Thoreau PTA is offering a String Orchestra Program for the 2026/27 school year, in partnership with Fifth Symphony Music - a program designed to give our kids a hands-on, joyful introduction to playing violin, viola, or cello, right here at school.

• Rehearsals will be once a week before school (Wednesday).
• Start is late September.
• Orchestra is open to all students in grades 3rd - 5th.
• 2nd graders are invited to join with prior instrument experience.
• Cost is $425 per student for 20 weeks plus final concert.
• Scholarships are available (please reach out to Mr. Botello at (jbotello@gmail.com)

More Information:

Cost and Family Commitment

The program fee is $425 per student for the full 20-week session — a remarkable value when you consider that this covers the equivalent of an entire semester of guided music education.

• Instrument: Families are responsible for obtaining a violin, viola, or cello. Instruments can be borrowed, purchased, or rented — Fifth Symphony Music can provide guidance on this.

• Supplies: Families need to also provide a method book (readily available and low cost). A music stand will be provided by Thoreau PTA.

• Volunteer commitment: Each family agrees to chaperone two class sessions during the program. A SignUpGenius will be provided to make scheduling easy.

Financial aid

Scholarships are available. Fifth Symphony Music will work with Thoreau PTA to help reduce financial barriers for families who need support. Please reach out to Thoreau’s Counselor, Mr. Botello, at jbotello@lwsd.org

Additional Information

• Capacity: The program is for 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders and limited to a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30 students.

• Volunteers: We require one parent volunteer per session on a rotating basis.

• Refunds: Refunds will not be issued after September 15th, unless the minimum number of participants is not met.

• Program Growth: If we receive enough registrations, we will do our best to offer separate beginner and intermediate bands.

Question?

Fifth Symphony Music  |  fifthsymphonymusic@gmail.com  |  www.fifthsymphonymusic.com

Thoreau Music Programs  |  ThoreauPTAmusicprograms@gmail.com  |  https://thoreaupta.givebacks.com/