Program Overview

• 5th grade beginning band students learn the basic fundamentals of playing a woodwind or brass instrument or percussion. They will learn proper breathing, posture, instrument hold, finger technique, and sound production for their chosen instrument, as well as how to read music. They will learn in a small group setting with other beginners who play the same instrument as them at their elementary school, once per week. We have concerts twice per year, in December and in April. There are no practices or rehearsals outside of the school day except for on the day of the concert.

• Band is a 5th Grade Special in District 41. Students are not "pulled out" of classes to attend band - it is scheduled into their week via the Specials time.  5th Grade Students attend the following specials: Art 45 minutes, PE 45 minutes, PE/Music and PE/Digital Media classes, with band being the 5th Special in the weekly schedule.  Band replaces one day of PE/Music. Band students are grouped with other students who play the same or similar instruments.

• Band lessons start when school starts and continue through the end of the school year.

Instruments and Supplies:

• The band director does not sell or provide books and supplies to students.  

• All students need a lesson book:  Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician by Scott Rush and Jeff Scott.  

• Clarinet and saxophone students will need cork grease, a reed guard, and a box of ten reeds, strength 2 ½.  Recommended brands of reeds: Vandoren, Rico Royal, D'Addario, Juno. Optional for clarinet and saxophone - mouthpiece patch and thumb saver. 

• Woodwind instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone) need a cleaning swab. Silk swabs are preferred.

• Brass instruments will need a mouthpiece brush, cleaning snake, valve oil (trumpet and euphonium) and slide grease and slide cream (trombone). 

• A music stand for at-home practice

• Students will be issued a separate tote bag for books, mallets, and supplies:  lesson books should not be squeezed into the instrument cases as this causes damage to the instrument.

• Percussion students will purchase a stick bag containing the various sticks and mallets they will need for 5th grade and beyond in band at Hadley. 

Instrument Rental and Repair Service

• Our school uses the services of Quinlan and Fabish Music Company.  You can contact them by calling 630-654-4111 or rent/purchase online at Mrs. Pressly's personal "Q" page: https://www.qandf.com/directors/elle-pressly 

•  If you need repair service, a representative from Quinlan and Fabish comes to the district once a week to pick up instruments for repair and deliver supplies.  When renting from Q & F, they will provide a loaner instrument for your child if his or her instrument should need repair.

Financial Aid and the D41 Lunch Waiver program

• The school district offers a school-instrument loaner to students who qualify for the D41 Lunch Waiver program.  Families can apply during beginning band registration by selecting that option on the registration page. You will be notified a few weeks after registration whether your child qualifies for a district loaner instrument.

• Parents are responsible for purchasing books, supplies, reeds for clarinets, oil for trumpets and trombones.  The band director does not provide books and supplies.

Band Uniform

• The Band uniform for concerts consists of our D41 Band T-shirt that all students are required to purchase at the time of registration.