Parent Instrumental Music Association (PIMA)

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PIMA1

Brief History

The instrumental music program in School District 102 has existed for over 70 years. Through these years, thousands of children have received an education in instrumental music, performing in our bands and orchestras. Currently, around 350 students participate in our program which is one of the reasons why our instrumental music program has earned a reputation of excellence in this community.

District 102 supports music as an integral part of your child’s education. The Band or Orchestra fee that you pay to School District 102 covers District fees such as bus service back to your child’s school after morning rehearsals.

PIMA (Parents Instrumental Music Association) is a volunteer parent organization which supports the Band and Orchestra Programs in District 102. PIMA is comprised of an executive board as well as representatives from each school. We also have committee chairpersons for fundraising,  after-concert bake sales, and social events.

PIMA sponsors music field trips, such as the 6th grade outing to West Suburban Symphony and the 7th/8th grade trip, as well as Band/Orchestra tours and workshops.

PIMA helps pay for musical instruments, equipment, and uniforms for the band/orchestra program.

PIMA provides scholarship money for summer music camps (for students entering 8th grade), summer private lessons (for students entering 7th grade), and monthly instrument rental fees for students who demonstrate financial need.

PIMA sponsors social events such as a mid-year roller skating party and a year-end celebration at Enchanted Castle in May.

In order for PIMA to be able to provide the benefits and opportunities we do, we ask every band or orchestra student to participate in fundraising opportunities throughout the year and/or choose the “buyout” option. The “buyout” option simply means that you donate directly to PIMA and forgo fundraiser selling.

Please follow this link to CheddarUp/click the button below to participate in the buyout option at any time during the school year. 

Table of Contents

Instrumental Band

Orchestra Band

How the Program Works

Rehearsal Schedule

Rehearsal Transportation

Concert Uniforms

Scholarships

Music Teacher Contacts

Jason L

Jason Lyons

Email: lyonsja@dist102.k12.il.us
Phone: (708) 215-7137

Nancy f

Nancy Flanagan

Email:flanaganna@dist102.k12.il.u
Phone: (708)215-7135

Alexander F

Alexander Foote

Email: footeal@dist102.k12.il.us
Phone: (708) 215-6011

childs

Jacqulynn Rhea

Email: rheaja@dist102.k12.il.us
Phone: (708) 215-6416

Band

Instrumental Band

Band instruments include: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, cornet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion.

Orchestra

Orchestra instruments include: violin, viola, cello and string bass.

orchestra

How the Program Works

There are three basic parts to our program:

  1. Small Group Lessons

  2. Large Group Rehearsals

  3. At-Home Practice

When does Band/Orchestra start up in the fall? You will receive an email in late August with all the information about first rehearsal dates, lesson schedules, concert dates, etc. We’ll be looking forward to seeing you then.

Small-Group Lessons

At the elementary schools:

  • Each student receives one 30-minute lesson per week on their instrument, which is held during the school day at students’ respective schools. 

  • Lesson times  rotate each week so students do not miss the same academic class more than once in a 9-week period of time. 

  • Schedules are provided to each student.

At the Junior High School:

  • Each student receives one 50-minute lesson per week on their instrument, which is scheduled during their PE time during the school day at PJHS.

  • A schedule will be provided to each student

Large Group Rehearsals

Elementary Band/Orchestra Students

Students attend weekly large group rehearsals before school are held at Park Junior High from 7:30 to 8:07am. Students meet with other band or orchestra members of their age group for these large group rehearsals. See the “Rehearsal Schedule” section for transportation information.

Junior High Band/Orchestra students

Students will attend two weekly large group rehearsals before school rehearsals are held before school at Park Junior High from 7:30 to 8:25am. Students will meet with band or orchestra members in the Junior High ensemble for these rehearsals. See the “Rehearsal Schedule” section for transportation information.

At-Home Practice

Each Band and Orchestra member is expected to practice his instrument at least 100 minutes per week; 20 minutes, 5 days a week is recommended. We hope that you will support your child’s decision to study a musical instrument and encourage them to keep up with at-home practice and with their attendance at small group lessons and large group rehearsals.

Rehearsal Schedule

Band and Orchestra rehearsals are held at Park Jr High at 7:30a.m. (arrive by 7:20) on the following days:

  • Mondays: Concert Band (7th/8th grades) and Park Symphony Orchestra (PSO; 7th/8th grades).

  • Tuesdays: Intermediate Band (6th grade) and Beginning Orchestra (5th grade) Jazz Band (7th/8th grades)

  • Wednesdays: Beginning Band (5th grade) and Intermediate Orchestra (6th grade), String Fusion (select 7th/8th grade)

  • Thursdays: Concert Band (7th/8th grades) and PSO (7th/8th grades)

  • Fridays: Intermediate Band (6th grade) and Intermediate Orchestra (6th grade)

Prelude, Park Junior High’s Honors Chamber Orchestra, rehearses Monday after school until 4:15pm.

Rehearsal Transportation

There is district busing available to transport students from Forest Road, Cossitt and Congress Park to rehearsals at Park. Some parents elect to drive the students to the rehearsal instead. At the end of our rehearsals, there are buses that return students to Forest Road, Congress Park and Cossitt.  Ogden students are escorted by a teacher back to school. Other Important Information

Rehearsal Expectations

Band/Orchestra members are expected to take their instruments home at the end of every lesson/rehearsal day. It is greatly appreciated if you could remind them of this. Instruments left at school cannot be practiced!

Band/Orchestra members will attend a few field trips during the course of the school year. The dates of these can be found in your school calendar. In addition, you will receive an information sheet and email reminder about two weeks before each of these events.

We hope to have covered all the pertinent information regarding our program. If after reading through this, or at any time during the school year you have questions please feel free to contact one of the music directors.

Concert Uniforms

Beginning / Intermediate / Advanced Band Uniform

White shirt or blouse (no print), black dress pants or skirt, black socks, black shoes

Concert and Jazz Band Uniform

White shirt or blouse, black dress pants or skirt, black socks, black shoes, cummerbund (provided by school), bow tie (provided by school).

Beginning / Intermediate  Orchestra Uniform

White shirt or blouse,  black pants or ankle-length skirt with white or tan hose, black dress shoes.

Park String Orchestra (PSO) Uniform

White blouse, black pants or ankle-length skirt with white or tan hose, black dress shoes, red cummerbund (provided by school), red bow tie (provided by school).

Scholarships

Rising 8th Grade Summer Camp Scholarship

Every year our music parent's group, PIMA, provides scholarships for 7th grade band and orchestra students to attend a summer music camp of their choice.

Many students have benefited from these scholarships in the past. We usually help between 4-10 students attend the camp of their choice. The scholarships are intended to provide partial financial assistance for students who want to attend music camp, as the typical cost is between $500-$1000 per week. Scholarship amounts vary from year to year depending on how many students are selected to receive a scholarship.

Summer music camps are an excellent way to improve your music skills, meet new people who play your instrument, and play in some outstanding bands and orchestras. There are usually a lot of social events planned during the evenings. Most camps run 1 or 2 weeks, and give you a few different dates of attendance to choose from.

Some of the camps our students have attended in the past are:

Illinois Summer Youth Music at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, MI (lower peninsula)
The University of Wisconsin at Whitewater (between Milwaukee and Madison)  

The university camps provide dorm housing, and Blue Lake provides a more outdoor-type environment (the students sleep in cabins.)

As a 7th grader, you are eligible to apply for the scholarship by completing a form and explaining why you would like to attend a music camp this summer. Everyone can benefit from music camp, no matter what level of ability they have, as long as they enjoy playing their instrument. Everyone is encouraged to apply.

Rising 7th Grade Summer Lesson Scholarship

Every year our music parent's group, PIMA, provides scholarships for 6th grade band and orchestra students to participate in Private Lessons. 
Many students have benefited from these scholarships in the past. The scholarships are intended to provide partial financial assistance for students who want to take private lessons to improve their skills on their instruments.

We have been able to help between 20-24 students each year the scholarship has been available.

All of our 6th graders are encouraged to apply for this scholarship, which provides money for 4 lessons.  

If you have any questions (dates of camps, etc.), please ask your director.