Rich Pancratz
Current Grade/Specialty Area: BandMusic Education, DePaul University
Email: rpancratz@olwschool.org School Phone: (847) 255-0050 Voice Mailbox: 330
It is my pleasure to help students gain the skills and sensitivities that enable them to have a life long love for music and the arts. Music helps us all discover were we’ve been, who we are and what the possibilities of the future offer us.
Concert Band
CONCERT BAND Registration Form 2023-2024
Students with at least one year of instrumental experience are eligible to participate in the Concert Band. The Concert Band meets on Thursday mornings at 7:15am in the school gym. Group lessons meet throughout the day on Thursdays. Students are required to practice at home.
String Players
Violin, Viola, Cell and Bass players are welcome to sign up for Band
(Let’s make it an orchestra!)
Wind Ensemble performances include:
Fall Concert
Christmas Concert
Spring Fine Arts Night
Memorial Day Parade
Beginning Band
Beginning Band Registration Form 2023-2024
Beginning Band is offered for any student in grades 3-8 that would like to learn a band instrument. The instruments offered in Beginning Band are flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and percussion (drums and bells). The Beginning Band meets on Friday mornings at 7:15am in the school gym. Group lessons meet throughout the day on Mondays. Students are required to practice at home.
Beginning Band performances include:
Fall Concert
Christmas Concert
Spring Fine Arts Night
Memorial Day Parade
Liturgical Ensemble and Jazz Band
This liturgical ensemble supports worship at a number of school liturgies throughout the year.
Jazz Band is a performance group that meets once a week.
3rd grade music
3rd grade students learn to play the recorder. The recorder offers students the opportunity to learn the basics of music notation, rhythm, dynamics and note reading. The skills obtained on the recorder are invaluable to students who want to go on to learn a Band instrument or any other instrument like the guitar or piano.
Team work is an essential skill that is developed when playing in any musical ensemble. Students are encouraged to participate fully and develop the essential skills utilized when working in a group setting.
3rd grade students prepare for performances in our Fall Instrumental Concert and our Spring Concert.
2nd grade music
2nd grade students are ready to explore music at a deeper level. Rhythm instruments and other instruments (xylophones) are utilized.
2nd grade students prepare music for a performance in our school Christmas Concert.
Cross curriculum subjects and our Catholic faith are explored in song in a fun and inviting environment.
1st grade music class
1st graders build upon the content and songs they experienced in Kindergarten. More complex music games involving musical and non- musical concepts like form, dynamics, partners, and team work are covered. Simple repetition of Rhythmic patterns and singing songs that build pitch awareness are stressed.
Cross curriculum subjects and our Catholic faith are explored in song in a fun and inviting environment.
Kindergarten music class
The kindergarten music class is a vibrant environment where students learn to experience music.
Moving to the beat, singing, playing rhythm instruments, composer stories and playing music games help students to build a firm foundation of relating to music.
Music offers a fun and inviting way for young students to experience the world. Songs about our faith, the seasons, the planets, weather and so many other areas are touched upon to give students a broad cross curriculum experience.