Band Program

The band program is open to all students in grades 5-8 who attend one of the Catholic Elementary Schools in Springfield. Participating schools include: Blessed Sacrament, Cathedral, Christ the King, Little Flower, St. Agnes, St. Aloysius, St. Joseph and St. Patrick.

Students will be introduced to the various band instruments during the school day the week before the parent/student information meeting. Band instruments include: flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet/cornet, French horn, trombone and snare drum/percussion. A parent/student information and sign up meeting will be held in September at St. Agnes School cafeteria, specific date and times will be sent home with the student.

Students will receive 30 minutes, private or semi-private instruction during the school day. The cost is $10 per lesson payable weekly or monthly a the beginning of the session. The schedule for lessons will be prepared with the band teachers and the individual schools. Students will miss 30 minutes of class for a lesson. They are responsible for making up what was missed.

Band Instructors include:

Mr. Mike Moore – brass and percussion
E-mail:
Phone: 217-416-3883 (cell)

Mr. Bob Best – woodwind instruments
E-mail:
Phone: 217-483-3584

Mrs. Suzanne Berry – group band instructor
E-mail:
Phone: 217-787-1595 (school)

Student responsibilities:

  • Make a commitment for the entire school year. Withdrawal from the program requires the approval of the principal.
  • Bring instruments to school on the day of the lesson.
  • Attend lessons unless ill or involved in an important school activity. If a student is absent because of illness or a family emergency there is no charge for that lesson. If a band teacher is absent, there is no charge. Lessons will not be rescheduled but will resume the following week. If there is no school on a lesson day, there is no charge. All other absences must be paid for.
  • Practice daily. Setting a specific schedule for practice time would be beneficial to students.
  • Participate in one of the two “Catholic Elementary Schools Band” Programs. Placement in either the beginning or experienced band is at the discretion of the instructors.

Band rehearsals:

All students are encouraged to participate in the group band rehearsals. Students who participate in a group band achieve more with their instrument. They learn from students in other schools and are challenged with music beyond the lesson book. Group band also teaches them to work as a group toward a positive goal. Band rehearsals are in the Sacred Heart-Griffin (SHG) band room.

SHG will be donating the time and talents of their band teacher for the group band practices as their way of supporting the Catholic Elementary Schools Band Program. Students will play in the SHG band concert at Christmas and in the spring. The total band may be asked to perform for other special events, like the St. Patrick’s Day parade, or play at the various schools to give the band more experience and more visibility.

Parent responsibilities:

  • Provide your student with a tunable, playable instrument. Local music stores have suitable instruments available for rent or purchase.
  • Arrange for repairs to instruments acquired from other sources (i.e. Ebay, family members, etc.)
  • Purchase books and supplies for your student’s instrument. Beginning instruction book “Accent on Achievement Book 1” for the specific instrument. Returning band students will receive special instructions. Clarinets and saxes should have five #2 reeds. Percussionists should have size 2B sticks (drum pads are optional, but recommended). Brass students need valve oil, Vaseline or slide grease and a cleaning brush (snake). All band students must have a wire music stand.
  • Transport students to and from the group band practice.

Three music stores are available in Springfield for instruments and supplies:

Daddyo's Music Shack - 1405 Adlai Stevenson Dr. Phon: 217-529-4840
House of Music – 222 North Grand Ave. Phone: 217-522-4488
Rolens Brothers Institute of Music – 1120 South Second St. Phone: 217-528-6494
Samuel Music – 3730 West Wabash Ave. Phone: 217-787-7788

Contest participation:

At the discretion of the instructor, students may be entered in solo, ensemble or band contests. Parents are responsible for transporting students to and from the contest sites, paying contest registration fees and a $10 per student accompanist fee. Students will not be scheduled for a contest if they have not mastered age appropriate skills on their instruments.