Who are the Bean Sprouts?

When the local school discontinued the curriculum string instrument program in 2001 the parents who started the String Beans realised that swift action was needed to create a feeder system of new members if the ensemble was to continue.

Subsidised lessons and a free instrument

Through the North Fremantle Community Association, String Beans parents successfully applied for a grant from Lotterywest to purchase a number of string instruments to be provided to beginners — “Bean Sprouts” — for their first year of lessons. They also set up a system where group lessons are organised with a qualified teacher and subsidised for the first year.

Following their year as Bean Sprouts, the children return the instruments to the pool for the next lot of beginners, acquire their own instruments, arrange their own lessons and join the String Beans ensemble... because they're not beginners any more!

NoFCAD now offers places for up to eight beginners each year to start learning the violin or cello. The Bean Sprouts continue to be recruited from North Fremantle and the wider Fremantle area.

The Bean Sprouts beginner program is advertised through school newsletters in the Fremantle area, local press, on-line at this site, and via word-of-mouth.

Recruiting for the 2010 program is now under way.

Email NoFCAD for more information.