This year, we are proud to present three different course options!

Beginner - No previous music experience is required. All students will learn a new instrument from scratch!

Intermediate - Perfect for students who know their first five notes on their instrument. 

Experienced - This option is perfect for any student who is comfortable performing 

Please see the parent guide below for a complete date listing. Beginners and intermediate students rehearse from 6:00 to 7:00 PM while experienced musicians rehearse from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday evenings at Georgian Bay District Secondary School.

Our 2025-26 session runs from October 8th 2025 to May 6th 2026. 

The cost to participate in this program is $150.00 for the year and includes instrument rental, Jr. Bears Band T-shirt, a method book, and all necessary supplies for instrument maintenance (reeds, valve oil, etc). Financial subsidies are available for families in need. 

Refund Policy: Please note that because we order and pay for all the supplies for each child in June, we are unable to accommodate any refunds for this program. 

Please reach out to Matt Rodnick at mrodnick@scdsb.on.ca if you have any questions about the program. 

What instruments are available?

The instruments available to beginners include the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and percussion. 

Experienced musicians may choose from the instruments above plus the oboe, french horn, and tuba. 

Will I get my first choice in instrument?

We do our best to accommodate everyone’s first choice of instrument. However, some people naturally fit certain instruments and we want to ensure that they are successful with whatever instrument they choose. All students get to submit their top three choices and we do our best to match them to an instrument that they will be successful on. 

My child has never taken music before, can they join?

Yes! Our beginner Junior Bears course is specially designed to meet the needs of those who are new to music.