Join Beginning Band!

Welcome to the Oak Lawn-Hometown School Dist 123 Beginning Band information page!

Follow the steps below...It's as easy as 1. 2. 3.

Band Teacher Information

5th Grade Band Teacher: Mr. John Kehl, jkehl@d123.org (708) 952-7836

6th/7th/8th Grade Band Teacher: Mrs. Beth Lyons, blyons@d123.org (708) 952-4385

Step 1

Learn about Beginning Band in D123

Excellence!

Tradition!

Friendship!

Fun!

In Beginning Band, students learn the fundamentals of playing a band instrument and playing in an ensemble. Students receive a small-group lesson at their elementary school once a week and also attend before-school band rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School. Musicians are expected to practice at home at least 5 days per week, for 20-30 minutes each day, in addition to small-group lessons, before-school rehearsals, and all performances.

Beginning Band Instruments

Percussionists need a background of 2 or more years of piano or drum/percussion lessons prior to starting Beginning Band.

Pro Tips About the Instruments

Flute

Requires strong fine motor skills

Oboe

Requires independence
Reeds are fragile and costly
1-2 players per band
Requires long fingers
Requires strong fine motor skills

Clarinet

Highest number of students play clarinet (almost 1/3 of the Band)

Alto Saxophone

Heavy
Uses a neck strap
Loud sound

Brass Instruments

Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba all require lip buzzing.

Watch this video to learn how to buzz your lips!

Trumpet

Must be able to buzz lips and make higher sounds

French Horn

Must be able to buzz lips and make higher sounds

Requires an advanced musical ear

Prior music experience is helpful
Larger instrument

Trombone

Must be able to buzz lips and make medium to medium-high sounds

Only instrument with a slide

Euphonium (Baritone)

Must be able to buzz lips and make lower sounds
Looks like a smaller version

of the tuba

Plays the same notes as the trombone but uses valves

Tuba

Must be able to buzz lips and make very low sounds
Big instrument

Percussion

Need piano/drum lessons first

Organizational skills and independence helpful

How much does an instrument cost?

Most families rent-to-own through Quinlan & Fabish Music Co.

* IMPORTANT! In the past, we have experienced instrument supply shortages at the beginning of the school year. For this reason, we highly recommend that families secure an instrument before the end of this school year, which can be done at the upcoming Beginning Band Registration and Instrument Rental Meeting. Don't get stuck without an instrument in the fall!

Click the links below for pricing from Quinlan & Fabish on most instruments.

Please note that the "4 month introductory rental period" price covers the months of September through December. The "regular monthly payment" price starts in January and continues each month until the instrument is paid off.

Quinlan & Fabish Price Sheet (English, Spanish, Polish, Arabic) CLICK HERE

Other Required Materials/Supplies:

All students will also need to purchase additional required materials including: instructional book, music stand, and supplies specific to each instrument. Click here to view the required supplies and acceptable brands of instruments and list of additional required materials.
Some instruments (tuba, euphonium, french horn) can be rented through D123 for a low yearly payment and are available on a first-come basis at Beginning Band Registration.
When possible, D123 provides 2 instruments for students who play larger instruments (tuba & euphonium): one for home and one for school, so students won't have to carry the instrument back and forth from home. This is included in the school-instrument rental fee.
Percussion students will use D123 xylophones/drums at school and their own xylophone/drum kit at home.

When does Beginning Band meet?

Lessons

Small-group lessons are during the day at the student's elementary school for 30 minutes, once per week, starting in September. Lesson schedules will be distributed to the students at the beginning of the year. Students who rent through Quinlan & Fabish will receive their instrument and materials at their first lesson in September. All others must bring their instrument and supplies to the first lesson.

Morning Band

Morning Band rehearsals are held at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting in October, at 7:30am, with all Beginning Band students from each elementary school practicing together as a full ensemble. School buses transport the students from the grade schools (except Sward) to OLHMS. All 5th grade students (including Sward) will be bussed back to the elementary schools for the regular school day. Students must bring their instrument, music stand, and all supplies to morning band rehearsals.

Practice at Home

Students are expected to practice at home, at least 5 days per week, for 20-30 minutes per day. Practice at home is essential to their success!

Concerts

There will be 2 Beginning Band concerts, in December and May.

Step 2

Return the "Golden Ticket" to School

The “Golden Ticket” is a permission slip which allows students to try

their top 2 instrument choices at Instrument Fitting Day:

Monday, May 11: Hometown

Tuesday, May 12: Kolmar

Wednesday, May 13: Hannum

Thursday, May 14: Sward

Friday, May 15: Covington

All 4th grade students received a "Golden Ticket" at the band concert in May at OLHMS.

Step 3

Attend a Beginning Band Registration & Instrument Rental Meeting at OLHMS (Parents only)

2026-27 Beginning Band registration and instrument rental meetings are at

Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School on the following date and times:

Tuesday, May 19 at 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm - OR - Wednesday, May 20 at 9am

(Parents may choose 1 meeting to attend. No students, please.)

Instruments and supplies will be purchased at the meeting, as parents sign their rental contracts with Quinlan & Fabish Music Company. Families who rent through Quinlan & Fabish will receive their instrument and supplies in September at the Beginning Band student's first lesson with the D123 Band teacher.

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