I was actually going to suggest openening an account at Wachovia with the "Way2Save" option on it. Everytime you swipe your debit card or use your card online it puts a dollar into a high-interest savings acount. I love it. I've had mine for almost 4 months, and I've got a little over $200 in my savings by doing practically nothing. It really adds up.

You betcha! Double reeds and french horns are the way to go if you're looking for free tuition but having to listen to an oboe or bassoon is like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Get a wii, then you can drum with one hand and hold the wiimote in the other

Just like Crash suggested, take online drivers ed, its only about $50, saves you, what, a couple hundred $? You can save up for your xbox 360 with what you save from that.

Shoot, I can't even stand the sound of a experienced bassoonist, Guess my band director was'nt lieing when he said it would be cheaper to feild the battery then to get 2 bassoons.

Nope, he wasn't lying.

Two bassoons = $6,000
My school's battery (4/2/5 plus carriers) = $5,600

i realize your intentions with your post, but it ended sounding like you complaining about not having money and wanting video games etc...The drumset: don't upgrade it, if you have a kick, snare, hi-hats, ride, and 2 toms, you are fine. You really don't need more than that, it will teach you how to become more creative with the sounds. Drivers ed: an online course sounds a little sketchy to me, but if you want to go for it. Don't buy a car...you probably don't need one, gas is expensive and judging by your situation you will probably end up paying for insurance. Seeing as you don't have a job you would have a good time paying for that. Do drivers ed and get a job. Right now i am working 8 hour days at an apple farm to raise money for drumcorps next year. Is it always fun? Not always. Do i enjoy it? yes. Farm labor is probably your friend, usually the bosses are very lax about schedules, which is good for band students. Get a job and you wouldn't have to worry about what to get and you wouldn't have to ask strangers on a drumline forum what to do.

Im not sure what hole you live in, but online drivers courses are very common nowadays and are THE alternative, if not THE main option, of taking drivers ed, usually if you go to DoT sites for your state they recommend good online drivers ed websites.

www.DMV.ORG
click on your state.

I was just on there today helping a friend sign up for a driving school class instead of paying the full price on a ticket.

Check it out.

Creekynoise,
im not sure what hole you live in where you automatically denounce someones opinion by more or less calling them stupid simply because they live in a state which you probably consider a hick state and has never heard of, seen or experienced online drivers ed courses. The only thing i have ever been exposed to in terms of drivers ed is what my parents, brothers, and i went through with a real person teaching us. So excuse me for expressing my opinion about something that is foreign to me. Notice i said that if it works for him to do it. I didn't discount it so don't discount me.