Better Sooner!
This program provides 3 FREE 30-minute private lessons for every 6th grade student in the Mercer Island Band program.
Lessons will take place after school at either Islander Middle School or Mercer Island High School.
Email a Better Sooner instructor to get started!
Flute: Torrey Kaminski – torrey.kaminski@gmail.com
Clarinet: Carol Krell – carolkrell@gmail.com
Saxophone: Kandin Neri – kandinneri@gmail.com
Oboe: Darlene Franz – darlene.franz@gmail.com
Bassoon: Francine Peterson – fgpet50@hotmail.com
French Horn: Rodger Burnett – RBurnett54@msn.com
Trumpet: Walter Cano – walt@waltercano.com
Trombone: Nathan Vetter – sharpnine@gmail.com
Tuba: Ryan Schultz – rwstuba@yahoo.com
Percussion: Scott Ketron – scottketron@gmail.com
Research shows that individualized instruction at an early stage gives students a significant boost in musical confidence and skill. We hope you’ll take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to help your student grow as a young musician!
Thank you to our community for making this possible. The Better Sooner program is funded by our annual “Band Together” fundraiser and our generous band families and sponsors.
How to Get Started
Email a private teacher from the list above who matches your child’s instrument. The teacher will coordinate directly with you to schedule lesson times and confirm which school they’ll be teaching from.
Once your lesson is confirmed, mark it on your calendar, and you’re all set!
Lesson Locations
Your private teacher will confirm the exact location of your student’s lessons.
-
At the High School: Park in the lot off 92nd Avenue, walk up the stairs beside the large glass windows, and enter the practice room hallway.
-
At the Middle School: Lessons are held in the music hallway of the New Building—right next to where your student takes band.
What to Bring
-
Instrument (percussionists bring sticks only)
-
Band book
-
Pencil
-
Any band music currently being practiced
-
Tuba players may borrow a school instrument from the high school but should bring their own mouthpiece.
-
Middle School Tubas are available at IMS.
Instrument Changes
If your student is switching instruments, please confirm the change with your band director before scheduling lessons. Once the switch is finalized, sign up for lessons on the new instrument. If you’re unsure, feel free to contact your director for guidance.
Coordination or messages
If you need to contact a private lesson teacher with specific questions regarding lessons or have any questions for them, please reach out directly via their email. Our band directors often work across multiple sites and may not be able to relay messages promptly. Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can parents attend the lessons?
Absolutely! You are welcome to sit in on the lessons or wait nearby if you prefer.
What if I need to cancel a lesson?
We understand that things come up. Please give as much notice as possible if you need to cancel. Forgotten lessons or those not communicated in advance will still be charged to MISBB and will still count toward your three-lesson allocation.
Can my student take more than three lessons?
The Band Boosters are generously covering three lessons per student. If your student wishes to continue, we encourage you to speak directly with the private teacher about ongoing lessons and their rates.
More Questions
For any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kyle Thompson at kyle.thompson@mercerislandschools.org or your student’s band teacher. We are so excited to see our young musicians take their next steps toward musical growth through this incredible program, and thank you Mercer Island Schools Band Boosters!