Mr. Smith's Groups
The Beginning Band is for students who have no experience playing a band instrument. Students may play flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, French horn, trumpet, euphonium (baritone), trombone, tuba or percussion. The Beginning Band meets daily during school hours for a full group rehearsal. In addition, each member receives a small group lesson (sectional) once a week. Students miss an Encore class or study hall in order to attend their sectional once a week. The Beginning Band participates in 4 evening concerts. They take place in October, December, March and May. The Beginning Band members also play an important role in the 8th grade graduation in May by providing music throughout the ceremony. Beginning Band is a graded class.
The Concert Band is for students who have one or two years of experience playing their band instruments. In the Concert Band, students may play flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, French horn, trumpet, euphonium (baritone), trombone, tuba or percussion. The Concert Band meets daily during school hours for a full group rehearsal. In addition, each member receives a small group lesson (sectional) once a week. Students miss an Encore class in order to attend their sectional once a week. The Concert Band participates in 4 evening concerts. They take place in October, December, March and May. Along with these four concerts, the Concert Band also participates in the Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival which takes place at John Hersey High School in April. The 7th grade band members also play an important role in the 8th grade graduation in May by providing music, along with the 6th grade band members, throughout the ceremony. The Concert Band is a graded class.
The Jazz Ensemble is a music activity which rehearses every Friday from 3:15PM to 5:15PM (starting in mid-September). In order to be eligible for the RTMS Jazz Ensemble, students must have a minimum of one year of experience on their instrument. The musicians who are encouraged to participate in the Jazz Ensemble play alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone, trumpet, guitar, bass, piano and drum set. Acceptance into the Jazz Ensemble is done by audition. The Jazz Ensemble performs at 3 school concerts (December, March and May). In addition, this ensemble participates in two Jazz Festivals (January and February). Occasionally, the Jazz Ensemble is asked to perform at events outside of our school.
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The RTMS Pep Band consists of 7th and 8th Grade Band members who are not on the basketball team or in poms/cheerleading. The Pep Band sets up in the bleachers at basketball games and provides fun music in an attempt to boost school spirit. The Pep Band participates in six (6) games (three boys and three girls). Each game has a theme to help us have FUN!
Todd Smith
Director of Bands
Email: tsmith@rtsd26.org
Todd Smith has been Director of Bands at River Trails Middle School in Mount Prospect, IL since 1999. He was previously Director of Bands at River Grove School in River Grove, IL. A native of Dayton, OH, Mr. Smith received his B.S. in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1994, and received his Masters in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music in 2001.
Ensembles under Mr. Smith’s direction have been awarded high honors at numerous concert and jazz festivals, including IGSMA, Plainfield Invitational Concert Band Festival, Lake County Live, Music in the Parks (in Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati), Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival, Northshore Jazz Festival and Jazz in the Meadows. In addition, Mr. Smith has taken bands to perform at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL on several occasions. In 2005, the River Trails Middle School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Smith, received the Mount Prospect Toast of the Town Award at the Annual Shining Star Awards Ceremony. This award was given to the ensemble for the numerous ways that the group has given back to the community. In 2011, the River Trails Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Band was selected to perform at the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival at the University of Illinois.
Mr. Smith is an active member of the National Association of Music Education (NAfME), Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) and the Northern Illinois Music Conference (NIMCon). He was an Illinois District VII Junior Jazz Representative for ILMEA from 2009 to 2012. Students in the River Trails Middle School Band program are currently very active in IMEA (concert and jazz) and the IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest. In 2021, Mr. Smith was invited to be a member of the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA).
Mr. Smith performed as a member of the trombone section in the Northshore Concert Band (NCB) from 2007-2015 under the direction of Dr. Mallory Thompson. This adult community wind ensemble, based in Evanston, IL, has over 100 members and a rich history of spreading a “Lifetime of Music” to young area musicians. In 2011, the NCB was invited to perform at the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention which was held at McCormick Place, West in Chicago, IL. During the summer of 2012, the NCB toured the Black Forest region of Germany.
Mr. Smith resides in Des Plaines, IL with his wife and two daughters.