Training Band

The Training Band is comprised of children who are new to their instruments. Children spend the first year in the Training Band learning important skills on their instruments and learning how to be part of a musical ensemble.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

In term 4 of year 2, students will receive information about joining the band and also have the chance to see our bands perform. Once their interest is registered, they will participate in an instrument matching test to determine the best instrument for them.

Please understand that we need a diverse range of instruments in the band. Students may not get their first preference of instrument although our team does their best to listen to the students’ preferences. Also keep in mind, choosing an instrument for a student cannot solely be decided on their preference, but also their lung capacity, size and facial structure.

After the instrument matching tests, students will receive an offer to join the Training Band. Upon acceptance, you will need to fill in some paperwork. Rehearsals will start in Term 1 of year 3.

Please contact fpsbands@gmail.com if you are interested in joining Training Band.

INSTRUMENTS

Below is a list of instruments offered in our band program. To see our very own FPS students demonstrating the instruments, please click here: https://www.fpspandc.com.au/band/instruments

Bass Guitar
Clarinet
Euphonium
Flute
French Horn
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Percussion
Trombone
Trumpet

INSTRUMENT HIRE

Most families choose to hire their instrument through the band program; however, you can use your own instrument or choose to hire externally (see list below). All information regarding renting will be provided.

External instrument rental providers:

CONDUCTORS

Our Training Band Conductors for 2026 are Colden Anderson and Evie Kacskovics.

Colden Anderson

Raised on the Northern Beaches, Colden is an experienced musician and educator and has been developing Instrumental and Band Programs at both public and private schools for many years. He has first Class Honours in Music from ANU, a Licentiate & Associate Diploma in Music and a Graduate Diploma in Education.

Specialising in reed instruments, Colden has performed throughout Australia and internationally across Europe and America. He has a passion for music education and has seen his students accepted into both Classical and Jazz degrees across Australian universities.

In his spare time Colden enjoys playing golf, clarinet & saxophone and following the Formula One.

Evie Kacskovics

Evie is a passionate conductor and woodwind tutor with nine years of private teaching experience and a strong performance background.

Familiar with band programs on the northern beaches, having been a devoted part of many including the Arts Alive Combined Schools Band (now called Sydney North Public Schools Band Program), The Arts Unit NSW Public Schools Jazz Orchestra and Schools Spectacular, she is excited to now give back to the band programs post-school.

Evie completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the University of Sydney in 2025 and plans to pursue further studies in music education over the next few years while teaching and conducting at multiple schools across northern Sydney.

REHEARSALS

Training Band rehearsals:

Monday mornings (with Evie Kacskovics) 7:30am – 8:45am in the hall
Tuesday afternoons (with Colden Anderson) 3:15pm - 4:00pm in the hall

Students are expected to arrive on time so they can set up the hall ready for rehearsal. Every rehearsal requires a parent/ carer volunteer to supervise and parents will be rostered on by the parent coordinator. Their role is to assist in the running of the rehearsal under the direction of the conductor.

COMMITTMENT

The Band is like any other team – it needs all its members in order to function successfully.

Children joining the Band are expected to commit themselves for the full year, and to attend all rehearsals and performances.

The Band Committee’s financial budget is based on the number of children enrolled in the band program at the beginning of each year. We make significant investments in new instruments at the beginning of the year in good faith that students will continue with band for the full twelve months. We ask parents to be cognisant of the “team” and financial impacts of withdrawing their child part-way through the year.

The Band Directors are very happy to speak with parents at any time to discuss their child’s progress in Band. It’s especially important to speak to the Band Director if your child isn’t enjoying Band or is worrying or struggling with some aspect of the programme. It’s our experience that these concerns are often easy to resolve when they are addressed early. You can speak with the Band Directors after rehearsals or by contacting them at fpsbands@gmail.com.

TUTORS

In addition to the weekly rehearsal, every student is required to have tutoring each week with a teacher specific to their instrument. A tutor will teach the student how to play their instrument whilst the band rehearsal is where they learn to play as a group. Our list of tutors will be distributed early in the year.

COST

The Band Program is self-funding. The band fees pay for our conductors, sheet music, band folders, our annual music workshop (Music Mania) and performance fees.

Band fees are assessed every year and communicated to parents in a Band Fees Schedule. Additional fees are payable for Music Camp (Term 2), and will be communicated separately.

Instrument hire (optional) is invoiced per semester, and those fees cover instrument purchases, insurance, annual servicing and maintenance. Percussion fees are separate and invoiced annually to contribute to maintenance of the percussion suite, which remains at school for student use.

Band fees are to be paid annually in Term 1 and invoices are sent via email. On request, band fees can be paid by semester. Anyone experiencing difficulty in paying fees on time should contact the Band Treasurer or Band President as soon as possible prior to the due date for the fees, to agree a payment plan.

We accept the NSW Creative Kids Voucher.

WHAT TO BRING TO REHEARSAL

Instrument and accessories

(drip cloth, lip cream, cork grease, spare reeds, valve oil, amps, leads etc)

Music Folder (will be provided at the first rehearsal)
Sharp pencil

TRAINING BAND PARENT CO-ORDINATOR

We need one parent to volunteer as the Training Band Parent Co-ordinator. This parent will:

Liaise with the conductor, committee and teachers.
Communicate with parents about upcoming events and general information as well as organise a roster for parent/carer helpers during rehearsals.

This is not an intensive role and the amount of work is mainly focussed around setting up a roster at the beginning of each term.

COMMUNICATION

TeamApp is our main form of contact and is downloadable via app on your phone. All essential and timely information will be sent through here.

Email - In addition to TeamApp you may receive emails from your parent coordinator. Please ensure your email address is always up to date.

Newsletter - We also have a section in the school newsletter.

Please feel free to contact fpsbands@gmail.com should you have any other questions.