Rock Band Program

You don't need to be an expert in your instrument, but you'll need to be able to follow along during rehearsals. We hand out sheet music, tab and chord charts, so if you aren't familiar with any of those, you may want to go over the appropriate one for your part in private lessons before trying out for the band.

It's okay if you can't read or play all your parts right away!

If your sightreading is slow, don't worry! As long as you're willing to work between rehearsals to get your parts down, that's what counts - and our band leaders can simplify parts as needed too. We can't spend group practice time teaching everyone their individual parts, but band members will get plenty of guidance and encouragement, especially when they're learning something new, and we'll reach out to your private teachers too to make sure they know which parts you still need the most help with.

Note: Band practice is fun, but it's work too! We cover a lot of ground in practice each week, and when members start chatting whenever a song stops, things can get off track quickly. Members are expected to stay in practice mode even when they’re not actively playing, and be ready to jump in when their part’s up.

Band fees are separate from private lesson fees, and cover a one-hour 45-minute rehearsal once per week, plus recital and performance fees.

Current Sense & Color private lesson students: $139/month
Students not currently in private lessons at Sense & Color: $179/month

Rehearsals are one hour and 45 minutes long, held once per week (except for the school's regular vacation weeks). Occasionally we'll need to reschedule to work around group schedules, but current practice days and times are:

Band I: Sundays from 6:00-7:45pm

Band II: Fridays from 6:15-8:00pm

Band rehearsals are held in a separate location about nine minutes from our Leander school, near New Hope and Lakeline Blvd (very close to the Good Lot). We moved rehearsals here since there's more space, and we don't need to worry about disturbing piano students in the next room. 🙂

Read more about the location and see a photo here.

As of this writing, Band I is ages 11 - 18, and Band II is ages 10-16, but this will shift over time.

Open space for band members depends on several things, including which instruments are currently in the band, the abilities of each player, complexity of the bands' current music, etc. If you're interested in joining a band, text us at 512-817-3663 or email us to see which spots we currently have open.

If there isn't a band opportunity that works for you right now, we can add you to a waiting list for a future group. If a current player has to stop, students in other groups or on waiting lists will be the first ones given the option of filling the open roles.

We create our own arrangements of songs, so there's room for all instruments! Just because Green Day doesn't have a violin doesn't mean we can't add one. 🙂

Your first band session is free and serves as an evaluation for both the students and the teachers. Joining the band is a commitment and we want to make sure it’s the right fit! You won’t be automatically enrolled after your first session, so when you decide you’re ready to join for real, be sure to let us know.

This isn't a set-length program that ends after a certain number of weeks, or after a specific performance. It's a real band with no set ending date, so it lasts for you as long as you want it to.

You'll create real bonds with your bandmates, and as you continue to play together, you'll get better (both individually and as a group). And as your set list grows, you'll get to play cooler shows over time! Members will be replaced over time as needed, but for the most part, band rosters will stay pretty consistent.

We cover a lot of ground each week, so it's important to attend rehearsals!

If you need to miss a rehearsal, be sure to notify us ASAP via text (to 512-817-3663) or email (at staff@senseandcolor.com) so we can arrange to cover your part that day.

There are no makeups for missed band rehearsals. If a member misses enough rehearsals to affect the band’s ability to perform, their parts may be given to other members, at least temporarily.

Bring your music (and a pencil) every time! You'll learn MUCH faster if you pay attention to your music and take notes to use at home.

If you're on guitar, bass, or violin, bring those to every practice. Be sure to get a protective case (and never ever leave stringed instruments sitting in a hot car)! If you have pedals you like to use, bring those too.

Practices can get a little loud, so if you have audio earplugs, they're not a bad idea either.

We have cables, amps, drums, keyboards, music and mic stands, and microphones, so you don't need to bring those.

Our rock bands play at the end of our recitals (approx. four times per year), and there are band-only shows as well.

Our favorite venues have been Kick Butt Coffee in Austin and the Lucky Rabbit in Jonestown, but we've hosted recitals at a number of live music venues in Cedar Park, Leander, Pflugerville, and Austin over the years, including Steamer Lane, One-2-One, Hanovers, Smooth Village, and Cherrywood Coffeehouse.

We usually debut 2-3 new songs at each performance, but the goal is to build a polished set list long enough to play real shows—so songs will stay in the rotation indefinitely.

As our repertoire grows, we won’t have time to play every song each week in rehearsal, which is where practicing at home will become vital! The older songs are still in our set list, and we’ll need them when we play longer shows. (Of course, if the band collectively decides they don't like a song and want to toss it, they have that power.

Songs are nominated by band leaders and members, so we expect the bands' set lists to have a different feel based on the members in each group. Our current set lists include songs like:

• Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden

• American Idiot - Green Day

• Say It Ain't So - Weezer

• Zombie - Cranberries

• Love Song - The Cure

• Carry On Wayward Sun - Kansas

• Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes

• Twilight - Boa

Billing is month-to-month, with no contracts.

We require at least 7 days’ notice before the end of the month in order to cancel billing, but remember that being in a band is different from private lessons. Every part is important!

If you need to leave the group, we ask that you please don't leave in the few weeks before a show, and try to give as much notice as you can so we can start recruiting for a new member. (Ideally, we'd love it if departing members stayed with the band until their replacement is found—but that's just a request, not a requirement!)

Tuition is non-refundable once billed! If you cancel in the middle of a month after paying for that month, you can still attend all remaining sessions that month if you choose.