2026/27 Founding Year Program

The First Downbeat

Mentorship, classes, and resources for new beginner band teachers.

You do not have to figure out beginner band alone.

A year-long mentorship and cohort course for new, early-career, or new-to-beginner-band teachers who want practical support, resources, reassurance, and a plan for the 2026/27 school year.

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17 Live Group Classes
34 Hours of Group PD
Replay Access Included

Program Overview

Practical support for the real rhythm of the school year.

The First Downbeat is practical, realistic, and built around the actual rhythm of the school year. Through live classes, recorded sessions, resources, checklists, guided practice, discussion, and optional one-on-one support, participants will build a beginner band program that fits their students, timetable, school context, teaching style, and capacity.

The course is grounded in one important reminder: there is no one right way to teach beginner band, and you do not have to know everything before you begin.

Want to know more?

Hear more about The First Downbeat.

Want to know more? Watch this short introduction, then scroll down for pricing, support options, course details, and registration.

Founding Year Pricing

Choose the level of support that fits.

Because this is the first full year of The First Downbeat, 2026/27 participants receive founding year pricing. Additional spring sessions may be added based on the needs of the group, but pricing will not increase.

Group Course Access

Ensemble Access

$597 CAD

or 3 payments of $249 CAD

Best for teachers who want the course structure, community, resources, and replay access, but do not need scheduled individual mentorship throughout the year.

Register for Ensemble Access

Individual Mentorship + Full Course

First Chair Mentorship

$1,997 CAD

or 5 payments of $475 CAD

Limited to 4 teachers for 2026/27.

Best for teachers who want regular personal guidance, accountability, troubleshooting, and someone to walk with them through the first year of beginner band.

Apply for First Chair

Program Details

Explore the details when you’re ready.

Is The First Downbeat for me?

See who this program is designed to support and what is included.

Click for more ✨

Who is this for?

  • New beginner band teachers
  • Early-career music teachers
  • General music teachers assigned to beginner band
  • Teachers returning to beginner band after time away
  • Teachers who want structure, resources, and community

What is included?

  • Live Thursday evening group classes
  • Recordings of every group class
  • Course resources, templates, checklists, and planning tools
  • Discussion, guided practice, examples, and question time
  • Optional or included one-on-one mentorship, depending on tier

Choose your level of support

Compare Ensemble Access and First Chair Mentorship.

Click for support levels ✨

Group Course Access

Ensemble Access

Best for teachers who want the course structure, community, resources, and replay access, but do not need scheduled individual mentorship throughout the year.

  • All 17 group classes with the full cohort
  • 34 hours of group instruction
  • Group class recordings and resources
  • Course templates, checklists, and class materials
  • Option to book one-on-one support at an additional cost, if available

Individual Mentorship + Full Course

First Chair Mentorship

Best for teachers who want regular personal guidance, accountability, troubleshooting, and someone to walk with them through the first year of beginner band.

Limited to 4 teachers for 2026/27.

  • All 17 group classes with the full cohort
  • 34 hours of group instruction
  • Group class recordings and resources
  • Weekly 1-hour individual Zoom mentorship sessions in August and September
  • Monthly 1-hour individual Zoom mentorship sessions from October to June
  • 17 hours of personalized mentorship
Tier Group Classes Group Hours Individual Hours Total Live Support
Ensemble Access 17 34 0 34 hours
First Chair Mentorship 17 34 17 51 hours

What will we cover?

View the 17 course topics covered across the year.

Click for topics ✨

The First Downbeat follows the school year from setup and first sounds through concerts, assessment, diverse learners, instrument care, events, advocacy, and planning forward.

1. Setting Up Your Program
2. Systems and Procedures
3. Instrument Petting Zoo
4. Assigning Instruments
5. Band Bootcamp
6. First Sounds Bootcamp
7. Squeak and Squawk
8. Building Capacity
9. Repertoire, Method Books, and Warm-Ups
10. Rehearsal Skills and Conducting
11. Concert Preparation
12. Assessment in Beginner Band
13. Supporting Diverse Learners
14. Instrument Repair and Maintenance
15. Squeaks, Squawks, and Sound Problems
16. Events, Festivals, Travel, and Fundraising
17. Advocacy and Communication

View the full schedule

Weekly group classes in August and September, followed by monthly classes from October to June.

Click for schedule ✨
# Date Topic
1Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026Setting Up Your Beginner Band Program
2Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026Systems, Procedures, and Classroom Routines
3Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026Instrumentation and Creating Your Own Instrument Petting Zoo
4Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026Assigning Instruments with Student Needs in Mind
5Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026Band Bootcamp: Essential Music Literacy Skills
6Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026First Sounds Bootcamp
7Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026Running Your First Squeak and Squawk
8Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026Building Capacity in Students
9Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026Choosing Repertoire, Method Books, and Warm-Ups
10Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026Rehearsal Skills, Pacing, and Practical Conducting
11Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026Concert Preparation
12Thursday, Jan. 7, 2027Assessment in Beginner Band
13Thursday, Feb. 4, 2027Supporting Diverse Learners
14Thursday, Mar. 4, 2027Basic Instrument Repair and Maintenance
15Thursday, Apr. 1, 2027Squeaks, Squawks, and Common Sound Problems
16Thursday, May 6, 2027Planning Events, Festivals, Travel, and Fundraising
17Thursday, June 3, 2027Advocacy, Communication, and Planning Forward

How does registration work?

Review registration, payment, invoices, receipts, and First Chair availability.

Click for registration info ✨

To register, complete the online registration/application form. First Chair Mentorship is limited to 4 teachers, so that tier may involve a short application or confirmation step before your space is held.

After your registration is received, an invoice will be sent for the course fees. Payment is accepted by e-transfer. Credit card payments are not currently accepted.

Receipts will be provided for all registrations. Participants may use receipts for school professional development funding, reimbursement requests, or tax records where applicable. Please check with your school, district, accountant, or tax professional to confirm eligibility.

Ready to Join?

Register for the 2026/27 founding year.

Complete the registration/application form to start the process. If you have questions before registering, you can email Sarah directly.

Complete Registration Form Email Sarah With Questions