The Practice Pad

08/25/2026

We are honored to invite High School band directors and 9th-12th grade students to our campus in Carbondale on 9/16/26 (percussion) and 10/1/26 (brass and woodwind).

To register, please visit https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/BrG4S0HJba or scan the QR code below.

All events will occur in Altgeld Hall, Old Baptist Foundation (OBF), and Shryock Auditorium. Check-in begins at 8:30am and sessions begin at 9:00am. The day concludes at 2:30pm.

Lunch will be on your own. The SIU student center offers a wide dining selection.

Information regarding parking and a detailed schedule will be sent a week before each event.

A limited number of high school seniors will be able to audition for the SIU School of Music in the afternoon of each event. If you have a student who is interested, please email us at [email protected] for brass/ww or [email protected] for percussion.

Be on the lookout for information about our Middle School Band Day, which will be held on campus in Spring 2027!

08/14/2026

Thank you for your services!

A huge thank you to Wise Cleaning Solutions for donating their services this morning to Carbondale Jr. Sports! They did an incredible job deep cleaning our concession area and storage room so that it's all ready for fall soccer season.

Business owner Peter Lindstrom and his daughter Lindsey (a CJS soccer player) are pictured here in front of the Wise Cleaning Solutions van.

Let's support our local businesses as they give back to the local community! Give Wise Cleaning Solutions a call for your next cleaning needs. They offer cleaning services for carpets, windows, upholstery, floor tile, and hard surfaces, in addition to commercial cleaning services.

Thank you again to Peter and Wise Cleaning Solutions!

08/13/2026

Wow! What an amazing story and career. A very generous gift of instruments to SIU! Watch the video!

07/27/2026

Along our Main Street Corridor… this Friday night, enjoy the next Block Party outside Brews Brothers Taproom with the Swamp Tigers!! 🍎🎶🍏

07/12/2026

Hello Carbondale and surrounding areas! The Practice Pad is excited to announce that we are adding another piano instructor to our team on August 1st! Stephanie Wicoff has moved back to this area and is ready to build her student base with us. Her name might sound familiar because she graduated with a Bachelor in Music from SIU, previously worked with TESSI, the Carbondale Middle School band, churches, and numerous local bands. She has 5+ years of teaching and is ready to start signing up piano students at The Practice Pad. Call 618-549-2437 to secure your spot before school starts.

03/26/2026

Starting tomorrow evening at 5pm in The Old Baptist Foundation (OBF)!