Music

About

Northbrook School District 28's nationally-recognized music programs engage children of all backgrounds and abilities in performing, creating, and responding through music. It inclusively fosters the joy of collaborative music-making and inspires individual growth in each learner. Appreciation and involvement in music is a lifelong experience open to all. In 2026 District 28 received the Best Communities for Music Education award by the National Association of Music Merchant for the 11th time.

Livestream Music Concerts

Students will understand that music:

Is a universal language that connects lives, as it is an integral part of the human experience across all cultures.

Empowers us to explore, innovate, and connect with others through personal expression and growth.

Encourages personal responsibility to develop essential skills for lifelong learning and success.

Elementary Band & Orchestra

Band

Band is offered to elementary students in grades 4-5. Students have a range of choices in the brass, woodwind and percussion families of instruments.

The core, or heart, of our program is the individualized instruction the students receive in private and semi-private lessons. These lessons coordinate and support the group experience of the co-curricular concert ensembles.

D28 Band Website

Orchestra

Orchestra is offered to students in grades 3-5. At the elementary buildings, we have three levels of orchestra designed to nurture musicians at every stage of their journey:

Beginning Orchestra (primarily 3rd grade students)
Cadet Orchestra (primarily 4th grade students)
String Orchestra (primarily 5th grade students)

D28 Orchestra Website

Elementary General & Choral Music

In general music classes, students will explore and experience music through singing, playing instruments, and creative movement. Each year students will study composers past and present, learn to read and write music notation, and learn how to play various instruments. Instruments can include both pitched and unhitched classroom instruments, the ukulele, and the recorder. Student work is showcased during the year with one event per grade level. Through active participation and student-led activities, students learn to enjoy a life-long appreciation of all types of music.

Students in grades 1-4 participate in and experience choral music and performing during a winter seasonal performance. Each elementary school produces a 5th-grade musical during the spring. Kindergarten students perform in the spring at the classroom level.

D28 Children's Choir

The D28 Children's Choir is held at Greenbriar School and offered to students in grades 1-5 from Greenbriar, Meadowbrook and Westmoor. Click here to learn more!

NBJH Band & Orchestra

Band

The core, or heart, of our program is the individualized instruction the students receive in private and semi-private lessons. These lessons coordinate and support the group experience of the co-curricular concert ensembles.

To supplement instruction and create expanded musical opportunities, the band department also offers extra-curricular groups. These are the jazz bands, woodwind choir and percussion ensemble.

Band students receive one required private or semi-private lesson per week. This lesson is in addition to required full ensemble rehearsals, which are held 2-3 times per week (depending upon the ensemble) before school.

D28 Band Website

Orchestra

We offer two levels of orchestra at NBJH designed to nurture musicians at every stage of their journey. For more details, please explore the links below to discover more about each orchestra ensemble.

Philharmonic Orchestra (primarily 6th grade and 7th grade students)
Chamber Orchestra (primarily 7th and 8th grade students)

D28 Orchestra Website

NBJH Choral Music

Choral

Students have the opportunity to join the 6th Grade Chorus, which meets twice a week during lunch and performs in three school concerts each year. The chorus is open to all 6th-grade students and builds a foundation of singing and performance skills. Students in 7th and 8th grade have the opportunity to audition for the Northbrook Junior High Concert Choir. Students in the choir explore a variety of different musical styles and learn advanced multi-part harmonies. Click here to learn more!