This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

7th/8th Grade Testing will be this week.  Our 4th and 7th Period students will NOT need instruments on Monday (except Jazz Band members)  or Tuesday this week.  If your student is in Jazz Band, please be sure they bring their instrument Monday!   All other classes please bring instruments daily so we do not fall behind on our concert preparations!

Solo and Ensemble Festival is Saturday, April 11 at Liberty Middle School.  Audition times and judge's paperwork will be sent home this week with those students participating.  You can access the schedule HERE.  Just do a search for your student's name to find their performance time. 

Beginning Band

SOLO PROJECT Solo and Ensemble Festival is Saturday, April 11 at Liberty Middle School.  Audition times and judge's paperwork will be sent home this week with those students participating.  You can access the schedule HERE and the information sheet HERE. 

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!

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.  We will have rehearsals Monday April 6, 13, 20 and 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.  

SOLO & ENSEMBLE  Solo and Ensemble Festival is Saturday, April 11 at Liberty Middle School.  Audition times and judge's paperwork will be sent home this week with those students participating.  You can access the schedule HERE and the information sheet HERE. 

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  Please ensure you return all paperwork for the Spring Trip no later than Friday, April 10.  Hard copies of the information packet were sent home on Friday with all students whose families did not attend hte meeting.  Medication is due to Nurse Brown no later than April 15.  

SPRING TRIP PRACTICE  Please save the date (Tuesday, April 21) for a tentative Spring Trip practice from 3-4.  We will do our best to prepare our music in class, but we may need to have this one brief rehearsal to combine and run through our selections before our trip.  

SPRING TRIP T-SHIRTS  We will wear our black band T-shirts on Friday, April 24 for the Spring Trip.  If your student has lost/outgrown their black band shirt, you can purchase a new one for $16.  We will be getting a trip shirt to wear for our Saturday at Dollywood.  This helps us keep up with each other easier in the park and allows us to be in "uniform" for our performance.  The cost will be $10.  Payment can be made via cash/check or on MySchoolFees.  (No need to provide shirt size - it was included on your paperwork.) Chaperone shirts will be provided.  Please ensure that this payment is made no later than Friday, April 10!

RISING 9TH GRADERS All information for joining the Huntsville High School Band is available HERE.  The next event coming up will be band  auditions April 7-9 in the Huntsville High Band Room.  All future band students must complete the audition.  Audition music will be sent out on Tuesday, March 10. 

Tuesday, April 7 - Saxophones 4:00 pm, Flute – 4:30 pm, Clarinet, Bassoon, Oboe – 5:00 pm

Wednesday, April 8th - Trombone – 4:00 pm; Trumpet – 4:30 pm; Euphonium, Tuba, French Horn – 5:00 pm

Thursday, April 9th Percussion Auditions

Please review the following from Mr. Tankesley at Huntsville High:

1.  The Huntsville High School Band is performing in Rome, Italy 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.

2.  8th Grade students planning to be in the HHS Band next year.  You should have registered for your classes at this point.  The next step is your audition on April 7-9 at HHS.  The music was distributed before Spring Break to your middle schools, but can also be located here.  All students must do an audition to be placed in a group next year.  Do the best you can!

Tuesday, April 7.  4 pm - Clarinets, 4:45 pm - Saxophones.  5:30 - Flute, oboe, bassoon

Wednesday, April 8  4:00 pm  Tuba/Euphonium/String Bass, 4:30 pm - Trombone, 5:15 Trumpet and French Horn

Thursday, April 9  4:00 pm All percussion

**If you cannot attend your assigned time, email me at stuart.tankesley@hsv-k12.org and we will find a time during this week that would work for you**

3.  Prior to your audition, we will need all 8th graders planning to be in the HHS Band to fill out this google form for us. It is possible to adjust your marching band commitment after filling out this form as long as it's before the last day of school.  

Reminders for Daily Band Class Success:

• All Band Members: 

  • Ensure your name is on all band instruments, books and supplies. With so many coming in and out of the room each day, it really helps to be sure everyone keeps up with their things!

  • Add Flair to your instrument case to make it easier to find!

  • Don't forget your pencil and band folder.

  • Beginning Band: Be sure you have lined up an instrument AND the red Tradition of Excellence Book 1 for your instrument (Available at local Music Stores and on Amazon)

  • Symphonic Band (7th/8th Grade): bring your Blue Tradition of Excellence Book 2 daily (Available at local music stores and on Amazon)

• Clarinet / Sax Players: Have at least 3 good reeds (strength 2.5) with you

• Percussionists: Bring your drumsticks, yarn mallets, rubber mallets, bell (hard) mallets and stick bag

Contact Ms. Parker with questions!