Home school band gears up for winter concert

Karen Borow's years in marching band gave her some of the best memories of her youth, and she wanted her kids to have the same opportunity. But her kids aren't in quite the same kind of school their mom was, and that presented a challenge.

Borow is a home school mom of seven. If she wanted a band, she was going to have to organize it herself.

Encouraged by other like-minded home educators to "start something," the Winfield resident struck up the West Suburban Home School Band in September 2001. Meeting for the first time just two days after 9/11, the fledgling group nicknamed themselves the Patriots.

Less than 50 students signed on that first year, but this year band membership is up to 176. That number includes 24 parents and other adults who play alongside the kids -- some as mentors, some as rookies. There are four bands now, in fact, each operating at a different level of expertise.

The three upper bands will perform their annual Winter Concert at 7 p.m. Friday. The public is invited to attend the free event at Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles.

Borow, who has degrees in engineering and business administration, never dreamed her band project would strike a chord with so many home-schoolers.

"I assumed I'd have a little band in the basement," Borow said. "I never thought it would grow this large."

Lisa Holmberg, a 10-year-old from Elgin, plays first chair trumpet in the Concert Junior Band and clarinet in the beginners' band, known as the Cadets. Many kids play more than one instrument for the Patriots, at different levels. The next step up for Holmberg is the Concert Senior Band, then Symphonic Band.

Lisa's mom, Sarah Holmberg, played clarinet from junior high school through college, marching with a state champion band in Iowa one year and an Illinois honors band another year. And yet, she said, "(The WSHSB) symphonic band is really high level music. In my opinion, they play stuff that's harder than I ever played."

Beverly Hosticka said she was skeptical when she first heard about the band and learned that outside music lessons were not required. With two children enrolled, the West Chicago home-schooler was warned that "it was going to sound like a train wreck for a few weeks," she said, "but I'm telling you, they really sound good. It's really impressive."

Some students do take private lessons, but many Cadets rely on a learn-as-you-go method, combining a home study curriculum with tutoring they get at band practice on Thursdays. Older kids help the younger ones, sometimes playing in lower level bands just to lend encouragement and experience.

Knowledgeable parents help, too, including Borow.

"Even though she's so busy with four bands, when she sees a young kid who's maybe got their fingering wrong," said Sarah Holmberg, "she'll come and help them out."

As students master the basics, instructional books bow out and the bands' song lists become the focus of daily practice at home. "I believe they learn more using the band songs," Borow said.

A flutist herself, she knows kids aren't always sure which instruments they want to play, so she and her husband, Tom, scout eBay for bargain French horns, saxophones, trombones and the rest. Over the summer, kids come to their home to sample different instruments.

Widely proficient, the Borows' own kids demonstrate fingering and sound. Besides introducing new musicians to the possibilities at hand, they also encourage members to add less popular instruments to their repertoire to balance the sections of the band.

"Kids always think of the flute, trumpet or clarinet," Karen Borow said. "I knew that for the band to grow, they'd have to go into these other instruments."

Tuba players were especially scarce, so the band offers free tuition and fees for anyone willing to hoist the heavy brass and learn to play.

Other instruments weigh even more, of course; Tom bought a trailer to pull the big bass drum, three tympanies and a full set of orchestral chimes each week to rehearsal at Resurrection Church in Wayne.

For one week each June, band members gather every morning at DuPage County Fairgrounds to focus on marching. "By the end of the week we're ready for the Swedish Days Parade in Geneva," said Karen Borow.

The Patriots march in four to six parades each summer in their black, white and red uniforms. Besides winter and spring concerts, they also perform annually at Yorktown Mall and other venues.

Peter Rak, a 12-year-old clarinetist in the Concert Senior Band, can hardly wait for Friday's concert. "I like to perform and not just sit at home and practice," the Geneva student said, "because then it feels like all the practice doesn't go to waste."

The program will open with the national anthem and close with "God Bless America." In between, each band plays four numbers, including "Victory Overture," the theme from "Batman" and Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus.

Lisa Holmberg said she likes music that's "fast, yet still classical." The Junior Concert Band will perform a song that fits that category, she said. "It's called 'Russian Sailor Dance,' and it's very fun. When I was over in Russia, I heard it played in a restaurant, and I liked it."

If you go

What: West Suburban Home School Band Winter Concert

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Norris Cultural Arts Center, on the St. Charles East High School campus at 1020 Dunham Road, St. Charles

Admission: Free

Info: (630) 231-6155 or e-mail director@wshsb.com