Beginning Band
Pre-Band Information for all KSD 140 5th Grade Families
-
Click here to view the 2025 Pre-Band Information Letter.
-
Click here to enroll your 5th grader in the Pre-Band program.
Bannes - Due by Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
Fernway - Due by Thursday, August 21, 2025.
Keller - Due by Friday, August 22, 2025.
McAuliffe & Millennium - Due by Monday, August 25, 2025. -
New for 2025/2026 -- 5th Grade Band Registration (for all KSD 140 5th Graders) will take place on Wednesday, September 17 and Thursday, September 18 at Grissom Middle School. Information will be posted here and sent home during the Pre-Band program.
LESSON DAYS:
All school lessons begin the week of September 22 and will continue weekly through the entire year. Students will remember to bring their instrument, band book, and a pencil to school on their assigned lesson day. Your folding music stand stays at home for practice.
2025 - TBD

The Beginning Band is the organization which lays the foundation for the entire Instrumental Music Program and is open to any District 140 fifth grader who expresses interest in learning to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. Beginning Band members participate in two concerts during the school year.
Recruitment is held annually in September to enlist for membership. The dates for 2025 are Wednesday, September 17 and Thursday, September 18. Previous instrumental music experience is not required. General requirements include a desire to excel musically and a willingness to conform to the District 140 Band Guidelines. Mr. Szczasny, Mr. Hodges, and Mr. Forlenza team-teach the Beginning Band.
Each Beginning Band member receives a 30 minute lesson at his/her home elementary school per week. In addition to the weekly lesson, all Beginning Band members join together for an hour long "full band" rehearsal. Students can attend the Monday after school practice at Grissom (4:15 to 5:15 PM) or the Tuesday after school practice at Prairie View (4:15 to 5:15 PM).
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.