LESSONS

We currently offer lessons on Monday and Tuesday evenings and there is usually a class to suit everyone. We welcome all people of all ages, and especially welcome blind and visually impaired adult beginners. UFO lessons work well if people from the same family or friend group wish to learn together – for example a young person can learn in the same class as their parent or carer.

Please note that if you join UFOs for lessons we expect you to join the band… you will soon be playing gigs and performances all over London as well as helping run workshops. Joining a steelband means joining the teamwork – all able bodies in the band including parents, carers and friends – are expected to be there to pack the van for gigs and to unpack after gig. Its hard work – sometimes relentless – but it is so much fun! We expect all players to sign our user agreement and to abide by our ethos, code of conduct and class/gig rules.

 

Our classes take place on:

Monday Night

6.30pm – 7.45pm – mixed ability class that includes young people and adults (including beginners)

7.45 – 8pm – tea break (kids leave by 8pm after teabreak)

7.45pm – 9/9.15pm adult class for all abilities. Class occasionally runs later, especially during holidays or in lead up to Carnival.

Tuesday Night

5.30pm – 6.30pm – guided practice session/extra rehearsal time

6.30pm – 7.45pm – mixed ability class that includes young people and adults (including beginners)

7.45 – 8pm – tea break (kids leave by 8pm after teabreak)

7.45pm – 9/9.15pm adult class for all abilities. Class occasionally runs later, especially during holidays or in lead up to Carnival.

 

Cost of classes:

£270 per term for all (whether child aged 7+ or adult)

  • Fees are due in full at advance of each term, and payable by BACS bank transfer only
  • If you have not paid in advance of the new term, UFO reserves the right to ask you to not participate and can resume only when payment is made online.
  • If you want to join at any point after the term has started you still need to pay the full term, unless in special circumstances a pro-rata payment is worked out.

FeesInclude:

 Two x 3-hour lessons per week (learners can attend one or both)

 Use of a steelpan instrument

 Tuning of the steelpan

 Taking part in gigs & events, either as a player, dancer, flag waver or team member

 Taking part in occasional trainings, tours, or trips abroad

UFO Steelband is a charity –we must pay year round for hall rental, storage, hire of pans, etc. We also put in much unpaid work applying for arts funding for particular projects such as playing at Notting Hill Carnival, buying new instruments, tuning, etc. Please appreciate that it is not financially viable to run UFO classes on a drop-in basis, so fees are paid termly in advance. However we are a genuinely inclusive steelband ability to pay should not be a barrier  – if you meet our clear criteria for concessions/free lessons we always consider this.

  • Occasionally classes may be cancelled due to bank holidays, trainstrikes, etc. We will notify in advance via our WhatsApp group or Band app.
  • In the case of tutors being unable to teach a class, we will try to keep the panyard open for guided practice sessions.
  • All players intending to take part in Notting Hill Carnival with UFO (see Carnival FAQ for more info) must take part in lessons for the whole of term 2, but we recommend also playing term 1 as we start learning the Carnival set in February

Fees are non-refundable except if you leave ,or are asked to leave, within 2 weeks of starting

Cancelled classes: No refunds are offered as time is made up through

i) additional classes in prep for big events (e.g.Carnival)

ii) gigs which are learning experiences

Missing classes: No refunds are offered if you chose to miss class/classes e.g., due to holiday, social events etc.