Mr. Greg Helton

Greg Helton has been involved in music education in the Chicago area for the past 30+ years, and has been the director of bands for Franklin Park School District 84 since 1990. 

Band is an elective class, and students may participate in grades 5-8.  There are a number of performing and learning opportunities in the program: 

5th grade (Beginning) band is open to all 5th grade band students as well as Hester students that were not in band in 5th grade.  They will perform twice during the year, at the Debut and Awards concerts

6th Grade band is the second year band for 6th grade students and performs at the Fall and Awards concerts; Band Enrichment is for 5th grade band students that show tremendous growth in the first 3 months of band, and they rehearse once a week with the 6th Grade Band.

Concert Band is our advanced performing ensemble for 8th, 7th and high achieving 6th grade band members.  Concert Band performs at the Fall and Awards concerts, the Fall Fest Parade, Leyden Band Night, Leyden 8th Grade All Stars (8th graders only), and the Northshore Band Festival at Northwestern University,

Jazz Lab is open to all 6th grade band members as well as 6th grade choir members that are proficient on piano, guitar or bass.  This ensemble teaches jazz basics, and the group will perform at the Variety concert.

Jazz Band is an audition based group.  Students are selected based on their tryouts on jazz excerpts and style.  This group continues reinforcing jazz basics, moving toward mastery of a number of styles.  Jazz band performs at the Fall and Variety Concerts, and the Naperville Big Band Jazz Festival.