How many rehearsals will there be this year?
Each weekly group will have 37 rehearsals. Until last year there were only 30 rehearsals a year.
We received feedback that group members felt two weeks off at half term was too long, and so we decided it’s better to follow the academic holidays more closely. This means an extra 14 hours of singing and playing and having fun with music every year!
If you want to check your group dates you can find them in our online calendar. wrenmusic.co.uk/whats-on
How much is it to pay for a term upfront?
The cost of paying for a whole term works out at £8.50 per two-hour rehearsal. Previously this was £7 per rehearsal.
The actual cost of paying for each term will be variable because there are now a different number of weeks in each term.
Autumn Term 2023 has 12 rehearsals so the cost is £102.
There is an option via our website shop to spread the cost over a number of months using the payment provider Klarna.
How much it is to pay for a half term upfront?
The cost of paying for a half term works out at £9 per two-hour rehearsal. Previously this was £7.50 per rehearsal.
The actual cost of paying for each half term will be variable because there are now a different number of weeks in each half term.
Autumn Term 2023 has 12 rehearsals, split as 5 weeks before half term, then 7 weeks after half term. So, the cost is £45 then £63.
How much is it to pay to drop-in to a rehearsal?
The cost of paying to drop in works out at £12 per two-hour rehearsal. From 2021-2023 this was £8. Before 2021 this was £10.
Paying upfront for a set of rehearsals has many benefits including:
- Increased Commitment: Paying upfront creates motivation to attend regularly.
- Consistency: Having a set schedule encourages regular attendance, which is key to progress.
- Structured Learning: With the same people attending each week we can work to a clear repertoire plan.
- Accountability: Financial commitment reminds you to prioritise attendance.
- Community and Support: Being there more often can help develop relationships, further boosting motivation.
We have chosen to make it financially beneficial to pay for the whole or half term – so that you can enjoy all these benefits.
Is the free taster still available (a free first session for a new person)?
Yes. Someone’s first sessions with us is free so they can try it out with no risk. This can be booked via Eventbrite: wren-music.eventbrite.com
What if I can’t afford the new prices?
Only 27% of respondents in our recent survey said they would not be able to pay a higher fee. So, we hope that our prices remain affordable for the majority of people already taking part with us. Especially as we’ve been able to introduce the option to take out a payment plan.
But we know that many people are experiencing a loss of income (or a stable income despite increasing prices, i.e. real terms loss). And we want music making to be accessible to as many people as possible.
So, if you feel that the group fees are not affordable for you please get in touch with us for a reduced price. This is not means tested and you do not need to provide any proof of why you need the reduced price, which is as follows:
- Autumn term upfront: £60 (£5 per 2 hour rehearsal)
- Autumn Term first half upfront: £27.50 (£5.50 per 2 hour rehearsal)
- Reduced Price Weekly Drop In: £7 per two-hour rehearsal
Why have the fees increased now?
You will already be aware of the increased cost of most things – and our charity is not protected from these increases. From the tea bags you use during the break to the paper you read the music on – everything has gone up. We have also experienced increases in the costs of venue hire, and in the fees charged by our providers such as card payment processing fees and our photocopier contract.
When we moved online in April 2020 we reduced our prices slightly – with no venue hire and no musician travel our costs went down slightly. Then when we came back in person in September 2021 we kept the same online reduced prices to encourage people to come back to in person rehearsals. This is our first increase since long before 2020.