Beginner Registration

This page contains detailed information about the Beginning Band and Orchestra program in District 205 as well as how to register your student. For a brief overview of the information below, consider watching the informational slideshow HERE.

District 205 Elementary Instrumental Music Program Description

This program includes two components: Instrument Lessons and Ensemble Rehearsals. Attendance at both is required of all students enrolled in band or orchestra. There is a District fee of $30.00 for participation in the program. This fee covers instruction for one school year and does not include the cost of instrument rental, method books, or accessories. Families who are eligible for free/reduced lunch or fee waivers are also eligible to have this fee waived.

Band and Orchestra Instrument Lessons

Instrument lessons focus on students’ individual musical performance skills. Students enrolled in band or orchestra will attend one 30-minute small-group instrument lesson per week during the regular school day. Students leave their regular classes to attend their instrument lessons, taught in a small group of two to five students. During lessons, directors demonstrate and explain instrument-specific concepts and skills, teach students to read standard music notation, and assess each student’s individual progress. Directors will distribute a schedule of lesson times to all students the week before lessons begin. Lessons for Beginning Band and Orchestra students will start in late September.

Band and Orchestra Ensemble Rehearsals

Ensemble rehearsals focus on group performance. Students rehearse in a Band or Orchestra for approximately 45 minutes one day per week. During ensemble rehearsals, directors teach students to perform together as a large group and prepare music for two or three performances per year. Families must provide their own transportation for ensemble rehearsals. Busing may be available depending on which school the student attends, additional information will be provided where applicable. Rehearsals for 5th graders will begin in October and 4th graders will begin in November. Directors will distribute a rehearsal schedule to all students the week before lessons begin. Rehearsals for 5th graders will begin in October and 4th graders will begin in November. **NEW for 2022-2023: These rehearsals are tentatively scheduled to occur before school at the student's elementary school. Students and families will receive additional details from their directors in September.**

Registration Process

Three Step Process

Step 1: Instrument Demonstration Assembly

A small group of band and orchestra directors, accompanied in some years by middle school instrumental music students, will demonstrate each of the band and orchestra instruments in a short in-school assembly. Students are encouraged to listen to which instrument sparks their interest and decide on a first and second choice instrument they wish to try when the directors return to their school for instrument fittings and recommendations. Students may select one of the following instruments for the first year:

Band: Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, or Percussion (Bells and Snare Pad)
Orchestra: Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass

Step 2: Instrument Fittings and Recommendations

Students will have the opportunity to try their instruments of interest during a 3-5 minute conversation with a band and/or orchestra director. During this time, the director will work with your student to determine which instrument they might be best suited to play. Directors will work with students and families to finalize their instrument selection.

Step 3: Instrumental Music Registration

Sign up after instrument fittings will be either online or at an in-person registration night. Parents/guardians can contact Quinlan and Fabish (qandf.com), our instrument rental partner, and arrange for a rental online or in person at a registration night.

Fall 2022 registration information:

In-Person Registration: Thursday, September 8, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Sandburg Middle School Cafeteria
Online Registration Link (Registro en Línea en español) - open until Friday, September 9

**After September 9, please contact a director if you are interested in registering your student.**

After registration, students are assigned to an instrumental music course in Powerschool. Once assigned, the District registration fee of $30 will be automatically applied to your account. Expect this to be finalized by the end of September.

More About Instruments

Your student will have the opportunity to try their instruments of interest in a short conversation with a band and/or orchestra director. During this time, the director will work with your student to determine which instrument they might be best suited to play. Students begin lessons on one of the following instruments:

Band: Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Percussion (Bells and Snare Pad)
Orchestra: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass
Secondary Band Instruments (by director approval only): Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone, French Horn, Tuba

The goal is to match your student with an instrument they will both enjoy and be able to play successfully during their first few years in the program. One of the D205 band or orchestra directors will send home a document detailing the instruments your student tried, which instrument is recommended for your student, and any additional instruments your student might be interested in playing at a later time.

Recommendations for Participating Students and Families

Practice

We recommend practicing 20-30 minutes every day. Learning an instrument takes practice. More practice leads to more success. When students experience success, they enjoy playing even more! Students also need support and encouragement from their families to be successful.

Evaluation

Students receive regular feedback and an Instrumental Music evaluation as part of their standards-based report card. Evaluations are based on music literacy, technical performance skills, self-reflection, and peer feedback. Parents/guardians will receive an evaluation of their student’s progress with their report card at the end of each grading period. Questions or requests for additional updates are welcome and should be directed to your student’s director.

Performances

Each ensemble will have two to three public performances during the school year. A calendar of performances will be provided at the beginning of the year.

Financial Assistance

Elmhurst Music Boosters may be able to provide some financial assistance for band and orchestra students who qualify for the free/reduced lunch and/or fee waiver programs. Families seeking financial assistance for instrument rental must complete an EMB financial assistance application and an instrument rental contract with the instrument vendor.

Instruments and Supplies

All band and orchestra students must provide their own instrument, method book, and accessories. (Some exceptions are made for students playing certain large band instruments.) The cost for these items is separate from the district registration fee. A list of recommended instruments and required supplies are included in the registration materials and available from the directors.

You may acquire a musical instrument from a number of different sources. However, we highly recommend that you start with a rent-to-own program with a reputable school music dealer. This allows you to obtain a high-quality instrument for a trial period that can extend to a rental period before making the financial commitment of a purchase. For your convenience, we have invited Quinlan and Fabish to be available at our registration nights. This dealer offers high-quality instruments, on-site repair facilities with loaner instruments, books and supplies, and weekly road services to and from our schools.

If you plan to have your student use an instrument that is already in your possession, please see that it is examined by a director or professional repair person to determine if it is in an acceptable playing condition.

Please be careful to consider quality when shopping for a musical instrument. Many discount stores, big box retailers, and internet vendors market imported “off brand” instruments that are of very poor quality. Some are machined poorly or made of substandard materials. Others have pieces that break or fall off easily, pegs that don’t tune properly, or mechanisms that don’t open and close correctly. Students that attempt to take lessons using these instruments are at a disadvantage and can easily be frustrated. A good rule-of-thumb is to only buy an instrument from a store that is able and willing to repair it. If you are looking at alternative sources for an instrument, please ask one of the directors for suggestions. Loss, damage, and repair insurance for the instrument is highly recommended.

Director Contact Information

4-8th Grade Instrumental Music Staff

Brian Berg	Bryan Area Band	bberg@elmhurst205.org	630-617-2350 ext.3025
Kevin Snyder	Bryan Area Orchestra	ksnyder@elmhurst205.org	630-617-2350 ext.3026
Ricardo Vazquez	Churchville Area Band	rvazquez@elmhurst205.org	630-617-2370 ext.3419
Cassandra Deck	Churchville Area Orchestra	cdeck@elmhurst205.org	630-617-2370 ext.3902
Heather Knight	Sandburg Area Band	hknight@elmhurst205.org	630-617-2356 ext.3324
Matthew Cotton	Sandburg Area Orchestra	mcotton@elmhurst205.org	630-617-2356 ext.3325
Anna Holbrook	Elementary Lessons	aholbrook@elmhurst205.org
Jamie Steinberg	Elementary Lessons	jsteinberg@elmhurst205.org
Megan LeResche	Elementary Lessons	mleresche@elmhurst205.org
Phoenix Melvin	Elementary Lessons	pmelvin@elmhurst205.org
Amanda Petit	Elementary Lessons	apetit@elmhurst205.org
William Ernst	Elementary Lessons	wernst@elmhurst205.org
Patrick Baker	Director of Arts, PE, & Health	pbaker@elmhurst205.org	630-617-2464

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