The After-School Music Program will hold sign-ups for the fall semester on Thursday, in the Vintage High School Cafeteria between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. The program offers not only the Napa Valley Youth Chorus, but also affordable private, semi-private and group instruction on several different instruments. New and returning students are encouraged to come for information and to sign up for lessons.

To study a band instrument, the student should be enrolled in a band class at his or her school. String and piano classes, open to all grades, use both the traditional and Suzuki methods. The latter encourages parent participation, the importance of listening, ear development, cumulative repertoire and the enjoyment of playing music with others.

Instruction for instrumental lessons is in weekly half-hour sessions and will begin the week after registration. Lesson fees for the 15-week session are $225-$270 for semi-private, $300-$375 for private lessons. There is an additional $20 registration fee, and payment is expected at time of registration.

The Napa Valley Youth Chorus includes both a Preparatory Choir as well as the Performing Choir. Sharon Olson directs the Performing Choir, which is open by audition to fifth- through 12th-graders. They perform several times a year and study a wide variety of musical styles.

The Preparatory Choir has a new teacher this year, Marie Butler, and is for those in second grade and above. No audition is required for this choir. The Prep Choir introduces the basics of music literacy, teaches children how to produce a proper vocal tone and prepares them for singing the more difficult literature presented in the Performing Choir. Both choruses meet once a week, on Thursdays.

The semester fee for the Performing Choir is $99; $81 for the Preparatory Choir.

The Band Program is directed by Bill Gantt and includes the Jazz Band for grades seven, eight and nine, the NV Youth Band for fifth- and sixth-graders and the Beginning Brass and Woodwinds class, open to all students.

Students enrolling in the Jazz Band must have a minimum of two years experience on their instrument and those enrolling in the Youth Band must have a at least one year of experience on theirs. The NV Youth Band and the Jazz Band meet weekly, on Thursdays. Fees are $134 for Youth Band and $159 for the Jazz Band. Beginning Brass and Woodwinds meets on Monday and Wednesday, and the fee is $84.

Fees for the chorus and bands include registration.

The After-School Music Program is sponsored by the Napa Valley Unified Education Foundation. For more information, or to register after Thursday, call 244-9133.