Mr. Barnard Elementary Bands

Welcome to Mr. Barnard's webpage! I am so excited to work with all of our Beginning and Intermediate Band students at Hatch & Whittier Elementary Schools in Oak Park District 97. Families and students should refer to this website for information regarding the elementary band program as well as using the excellent resources to help our students become successful music students.

Band Events

D97 Elementary Instrumental Music Open House Nights

For Beginning Band/Orchestra Families Only:

We will host two IN-PERSON open house nights on Tuesday, Sep. 2nd & Thursday, Sep. 4th at Percy Julian Middle School from 5 - 8 p.m. Families can talk to music staff about beginning band & orchestra as well as instrument selection. Our music vendors will also be on hand to help families set up their instrument rental agreements.

Go to www.op97.org/instrumental-music/registration for more information. Below is the process each student and family will need to make to complete the registration process.

Step 1: Choose an Instrument

Step 2: Rent an Instrument

Step 3: Register for Beginning Band/Orchestra class.

IF students have already selected an instrument and families have made arrangements for acquiring an instrument, please CLICK HERE to register (open Aug. 26th - Sep. 7th). Registration closes Friday evening, Sep. 7th!

Lessons will begin the week of Sep. 15th. Lesson schedules will be sent out to families and teachers the week before lessons start!

Winter Band Concert/Beginner Showcase

December 4th @ Percy Julian Middle School. Students from our Beginning and Intermediate Bands will perform at their school's home auditorium in our first performance of the school year! For our beginners, this will be our first ever concert and will be a demonstration concert to show families what students have learned so far in the first several weeks on learning.

For our Intermediate Band, we will be performing a combination of small ensemble and full band pieces, including some popular holiday/winter themed music!

D97 Elementary Festival (Band/Orch)

May 7th, 2026., Oak Park River Forest High School Auditorium. In addition to our evening performance, students will also have an in school rehearsal at OPRFHS, which will require busing to and from OPRF from your child's home school on May 5th or 7th. (Permission Slip Required)

This performance will include all of our beginning and intermediate band and orchestra students from all of our elementary schools! Students will be combined with other students from Brooks feeder schools to form their specific music ensemble. This event will be HUGE!

More information about this event will be available in March.

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