River Forest MS/HS Bands

Hey band kids & parents -

I have some bittersweet news to share with you. I have accepted the director of bands position at South Central Jr/Sr High School.
This has been one of the most difficult decisions to make in my professional life.
I have had a wonderful time teaching and learning from all of you. I will miss you all and trust that you will continue in the pursuit of making good music and having fun together. You all are truly the very best of what it means to be an Ingot and it has been an absolute privilege to work with all of you.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da2RLmENsdt/?igsh=MWVnbGxxODV3cTJ1YQ==

MAKING MUSIC IS THE POINT!! This is the kind of thing that gets discuss on my weekly radio show on Patreon. Come join!! Link in bio 😘

Music helps your brain!! 🧠

Playing a musical instrument is more than learning notes and rhythm. It challenges your memory, attention, hearing, coordination, and movement at the same time. Every practice session asks different parts of your brain to communicate and adapt. You may think you're just learning music. Your brain may be learning how to work better together. #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #MusicPsychology #Neuroplasticity #MentalGrowth Playing a musical instrument is more than learning notes and rhythm. It challenges your memory, attention, hearing, coordination, and movement at the same time. Every practice session asks different parts of your brain to communicate and adapt. You may think you're just learning music. Your brain may be learning how to work better together. #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #MusicPsychology #Neuroplasticity #MentalGrowth Playing a musical instrument is more than learning notes and rhythm. It challenges your memory, attention, hearing, coordination, and movement at the same time. Every practice session asks different parts of your brain to communicate and adapt. You may think you're just learning music. Your brain may be learning how to work better together. #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #MusicPsychology #Neuroplasticity #MentalGrowth Playing a musical instrument is more than learning notes and rhythm. It challenges your memory, attention, hearing, coordination, and movement at the same time. Every practice session asks different parts of your brain to communicate and adapt. You may think you're just learning music. Your brain may be learning how to work better together. #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #MusicPsychology #Neuroplasticity #MentalGrowth Playing a musical instrument is more than learning notes and rhythm. It challenges your memory, attention, hearing, coordination, and movement at the same time. Every practice session asks different parts of your brain to communicate and adapt. You may think you're just learning music. Your brain may be learning how to work better together. #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #MusicPsychology #Neuroplasticity #MentalGrowth Playing a musical instrument is more than learning notes and rhythm.

Together!!

Together.

A special THANK YOU to all of the hard work that went on behind the scenes!!

First and foremost, thank you for the incredible music arranging by the one and only Julie Jachimczak!!! Thank you for knowing each student’s strengths and writing music just for our Ingot Band!! The patriotic tunes this year were really rockin’!!! 🇺🇸🎶😎

Thank you to all of my colleagues (present & former) who came to pitch in!! Between rehearsing at Meister and getting cold water & ice ready at the HS, we had a lot of work to do this year and you came in and helped without question!!! Maria Ramírez, Andrea Scheidt, Vicky F, Beth, Martin C, Jen, and Kevin Trezak - thank you for assuring the safety of our students through your hard work and support!!!

And to the RF Alums - you know what it takes to get through 2 parades in 2 days!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping encourage and support the younger generations!! You guys make this band director so proud to say you were my students 😭 Matthew F, Ruby, Ivan, Chris, Macario, Aaron, Andrew, Feo, Keion and David 🎶

And of course we couldn’t have done it without YOU - the parents!! Thank you for getting your kids to and from rehearsal every day, getting their uniforms ready, making sure they were ready to go each and every day in this brutal heat, walking with us to hydrate everyone, and for all of the donations of WATER!!! 🧊💧☀️

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July everyone!!! 🎆🎇

Excellent job today RFHS Marching Band!! Keep hydrating and get good rest for tomorrow!!
🎶

Let’s go Golden Ingot Band!!! 🎶 Today is the day!!!
Here’s a sneak peek at how we’ve been managing the heat 🥵🚶🏻‍♀️☀️