Instrumental Music

The elementary instrumental music program consists of two main parts:

1. Weekly group lessons at the elementary school.
2. Weekly after school rehearsals (mid October-March) on Tuesdays (5th grade) or Thursdays (6th grade). Students attend after school groups at the junior high they will eventually attend. Parents provide transportation to and from these rehearsals.

Instrument choices at the elementary level are violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, trumpet, and trombone. In the spring of 5th grade, band students are given an opportunity to audition for percussion.

Students who have participated in the elementary program (or a comparable program in another district) have the opportunity to continue instrumental music in junior high. In junior high, instrumental music students rehearse daily as part of a large ensemble during the school day, and a weekly rotating lesson schedule is created for each student.

Students in junior high can try several instruments not available at the elementary level (including: string bass, saxophone, tuba, and others).  Specific procedures for switching to these instruments are determined by each junior high instrumental music teacher, and decisions are made in collaboration with the parent/guardian and student.

When choosing an instrument, keep in mind:

• ALL songs can be played on ALL instruments.
• The sound of the instrument should be pleasing to the student – play something that you will enjoy hearing yourself practice!
• Play what you want, not necessarily what your friends will play.

Instrument Choices – click on the links for video demonstrations

• 5th grade Band instruments are flute, clarinet, trumpet, and trombone.
• 5th grade Orchestra instruments are violin, viola, and cello.

Families of current 4th grade students can sign up for band or orchestra for the 2026-27 school year using the Online Enrollment Form (available spring 2026).  Instrument selections will be confirmed with families and students before the end of the current school year.

Students in the Instrumental Music program are expected to commit to a full year of participation, and attend all rehearsals, lessons, concerts and other scheduled events. Any conflicts should be brought to the director’s attention in advance.

The biggest predictor of success on an instrument is daily at-home practice. Consistent encouragement from parents also helps students overcome challenges along the way. Parents are welcome to contact the instructor for assistance and suggestions at any point.

A progress report for 5th and 6th grade band and orchestra students is included on their trimester report card. In 7th and 8th grade, band and orchestra are academic classes in which students earn a grade on the report card.

We recommend renting from one of the music stores listed below.  These stores supply rental instruments with D54 recommended supplies/books, offer full-service repairs, supply loaner instruments during repair, and offer insurance on rented instruments.  All students will need:

• a suitable instrument
• Essential Elements book 1
• a folding music stand
• additional accessories specific to each instrument.

Orchestra Instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass)

• Cassandra Strings – www.cassandrastrings.com
  • 215 S. Main St., Algonquin, IL  60102 – (847) 458-7386
• Music and Arts Center, Inc. – www.musicarts.com
  • 907 W. Irving Park Road, Itasca, IL  60143 – (630) 285-1485
  • 1476 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL  60173 – (847) 517-1143

• Quinlan and Fabish – www.qandf.com
  • 59 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, IL  60005 – (847) 253-5592
• The String Project – www.thestringproject.com
  • 510 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL  60074 – (847) 934-7500

Band Instruments

• Music and Arts Center, Inc. – www.musicarts.com
  • 907 W. Irving Park Road, Itasca, IL  60143 – (630) 285-1485
  • 1476 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL  60173 – (847) 517-1143

• Quinlan and Fabish – www.qandf.com
  • 59 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 – (847) 253-5592
• Sweetwater (online only) – www.sweetwater.com – (888) 890-3365

Addams Junior High

• Band – Eric Caliendo
• Orchestra – Koryana Boyle

Aldrin Elementary

• Band – Kelly Stanich
• Orchestra – Chrissy Ross, Mark Hamada

Armstrong Elementary

• Band – Sean Sroka
• Orchestra – Luke Maslanka

Blackwell Elementary

• Band – Christina Ceballos
• Orchestra – Katy Kosiek

Campanelli Elementary

• Band – Christina Ceballos
• Orchestra – Katy Kosiek, Koryana Boyle

Churchill Elementary

• Band – Sean Sroka
• Orchestra – Abby Fledderman, Amanda Martin

Collins Elementary

• Band – Kelly Stanich
• Orchestra – Chrissy Ross

Dirksen Elementary

• Band – Kelly Stanich
• Orchestra – Chrissy Ross

Dooley Elementary

• Band – Christina Ceballos
• Orchestra – Katy Kosiek
• Early Instrumental Music – Matthew Rutherford

Einstein Elementary

• Band – Christina Ceballos
• Orchestra – Katy Kosiek

Eisenhower Junior High

• Band – Jeff DeLaRosa
• Orchestra – Amanda Martin

Enders Salk Elementary

• Band – Sean Sroka
• Orchestra – Kathy Gomberg

Fairview Elementary

• Band – Sean Sroka
• Orchestra – Annie Cho

Fox Elementary

• Band and Orchestra – Katy Kosiek

Frost Junior High

• Band – Mike Lawton
• Orchestra – Mark Hamada

Hale Elementary

• Band – Stephanie Melinyshyn
• Orchestra – Luke Maslanka

Hanover Highlands Elementary

• Band – Kelly Stanich, Mike Lawton
• Orchestra – Chrissy Ross

Hoover Math and Science Academy

• Band and Orchestra – Dana Antosz

Keller Junior High

• Band – Dave Gear
• Orchestra – Kathy Gomberg

Lakeview Elementary

• Band – Sean Sroka, Dave Gear
• Orchestra – Annie Cho

Lincoln Prairie

• Band and Orchestra – Sydnie Hamada

Link Elementary

• Band – Stephanie Melinyshyn
• Orchestra – Annie Cho, Holly Kostopulos

MacArthur International Spanish Academy

• Band – Jeff DeLaRosa
• Orchestra – Luke Maslanka

Mead Junior High

• Band – Jennifer Green
• Orchestra – Holly Kostopulos

Muir Elementary

• Band and Orchestra – Luke Maslanka

Nerge Elementary

• Band – Stephanie Melinyshyn
• Orchestra – Annie Cho

Stevenson Elementary

• Band – Stephanie Melinyshyn, Jennifer Green
• Orchestra – Annie Cho, Holly Kostopulos

• Dana Antosz – (847) 357-2009
• Koryana Boyle – (847) 357-5910
• Eric Caliendo – (847) 357-5861
• Christina Ceballos – (847) 357-2120
• Annie Cho – (847) 357-2177
• Jeff DeLaRosa – (847) 357-5478
• Abby Fledderman – (847) 357-2135
• Dave Gear – (847) 357-6531
• Kathy Gomberg – (847) 357-6532
• Jennifer Green – (847) 357-6027
• Mark Hamada – (847) 357-6778
• Sydnie Hamada – (847) 357-5982
• Katy Kosiek – (847) 357-3515
• Holly Kostopulos – (847) 357-6036
• Mike Lawton – (847) 357-6777 – Field Leader for Instrumental Music
• Amanda Martin – (847) 357-2186
• Luke Maslanka – (847) 357-2196
• Stephanie Melinyshyn – (847) 357-2192
• Chrissy Ross – (847) 357-2183
• Matthew Rutherford – (847) 357-6244
• Sean Sroka – (847) 357-2193
• Kelly Stanich – (847) 357-2108

The District 54 Jazz Band is a select group of 8th grade students chosen by audition from throughout the district. Students must be currently enrolled in the District 54 instrumental music program to be eligible to audition. Auditions take place in the spring of the 7th grade year. Students selected for the Jazz Band begin rehearsals during the summer school program and continue with rehearsals on Thursday nights during the school year (5-6:30 pm). Students perform at several venues throughout the district and the wider Chicago area.

The Early Instrumental Music (EIM) program gives Kindergarten and 1st grade students the opportunity to begin violin lessons. Violin instruction continues through 6th grade at Dooley elementary school. Weekly violin lessons are held at Dooley during the school day. Parent attendance at these lessons is required through at least 3rd grade. Additionally, children receive a group violin class once a week after school. The students perform in two large concerts per year, as well as a solo recital and at a variety of special school and community events. To participate in the Early Instrumental Music program, students must be enrolled full-time at Dooley. Children enrolled in EIM take all academic classes at Dooley.

District 54 students who have completed sixth grade and have participated in at least two years of instrumental music are encouraged to enroll in the optional summer music program, held for three weeks in June (Monday-Thursday mornings). Registration information is distributed in the spring.