This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

It's hard to believe we are getting close to finishing up another year!  Please take a moment to review the important information below!  

Beginning Band

SOLO PROJECT We have almost finished up our Solo Project for this year.  Students who have not yet performed for the class will perform in class on Monday and Tuesday.  

SAVE THE DATE Remember our Spring Concert will be Thursday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. at Huntsville High School.  This will be a required performance for all HCMS students.  We also just received permission to take our Beginning Band students to Main Event on May 8 and to perform for HCES on May 11.  More details to come!

MATERIALS Please ensure that your student has their black band binder, red Tradition of Excellence Book and at least 3 good reeds (clarinet/saxophone players only).  

MAKE MUSIC Thanks to a generous grant from the HCMS PTA and our Fair Share donations, we have access to a new software called Make Music!  This software includes our Tradition of Excellence book, several of our songs we are currently preparing as well as HUNDREDS of other fun songs to explore.  Students can listen to and play along with their individual part or the band recording as they practice.  We will be ensuring everyone is signed up this week - please encourage your student to utilize this excellent practice tool at home!  

Symphonic Band

JAZZ BAND Our full Jazz Band will practice on Monday from 3-3:45. Please note we will need to end a little early so I can coordinate pick-up and beginner instrument testing.   Students must be present at rehearsals to be able to perform with the Jazz Band.  I apologize for having to cancel on Monday, but we were missing over 20 students, many of whom I did not know would be out until that day.  We will have our final regular rehearsal on April 27. On Monday, May 4 we will be playing for Becoming a Bull from 4:30-6:00 instead of having rehearsal that day.  Please save the date! That will be our last Monday for Jazz Band for the school year.  

SPIRIT NIGHT Our next Spirit Night will be Monday, April 13 at Mellow Mushroom in Jones Valley.  Purchase anything that day (lunch or dinner, dine-in or to-go) and tell them you are with the HCMS Band to credit our band program!  Thank you for supporting these events!

SPRING TRIP  We leave Friday for our Spring Trip!  You should have the packing list and final itinerary from your trip packets.  Please watch your email for final reminders this week.  Students/chaperones may bring one small piece of luggage and one bag for the bus.  Please make sure you have your name on all of your bags and instrument.  

ADDITIONAL NEED FOR SPRING TRIP I was just told about a waiver for Wonderworks to use the Rock Wall and Ropes Course.  Please complete this waiver in case your student would like to participate in either of these activities. I'll attach it to the email with the newsletter this week.  

SPRING TRIP PRACTICE  We will NOT have an after school practice on Tuesday.  Students have done well pulling their music together in class so I do not think it will be necessary.  

SPRING TRIP T-SHIRTS  Thank you for paying for Spring Trip shirts.  If your student needs the black band shirt (which we will wear Friday, April 24), they are available for $16.  Please contact Ms. Parker ASAP if your student needs the black band shirt.  

FUTURE HHS BAND MEMBERS The Huntsville High School Band is GOING TO ROME December 27, 2027 - January 3, 2028!  Current 7th and 8th grade band students will be a member of the Huntsville High School Band.  If you were not able to attend the meeting or would like additional information on the trip, take a look at our Rome google drive found here.

RISING 9TH GRADERS: Congratulations on a successful audition!  If you did not audition, but want to be in band, you need to contact us ASAP at stuart.tankesley@hsv-k12.org.  We will have the audition results posted in your middle school band room (and at the high school band room) as soon as they are ready in the next week or so.

If anyone has not completed their band booster registration which includes communication information, please do so ASAP here.

Next steps:   Spring Training!  The next time we will see you is on April 30th at our first official spring training.  Spring Training is for ALL new HHS members - even those NOT in marching band!    A flier was given to every student about the special Trash Panda night on April 30th.  Please review this information.

Other Spring Training dates (4-7 pm in the HHS Band Room):  Monday 5/11, Tuesday 5/12 (percussion ONLY), Wednesday 5/13, Monday 5/18 and Tuesday 5/19.