This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

It's almost time for our first-ever HCMS Night of the Arts!  You may have seen it advertised on the billboards around Hampton Cove!  All three of our bands will be performing and it will be a performance grade for our students.  Please take a moment to review the schedule for the evening.  For more details, please check out the event information page: www.hcms-arts.com.

Monday, February 9 - Night of the Arts at Hampton Cove Middle School 

4:45 p.m. - Call Time for HCMS Beginning Band - Perform in the Gym at 5:15

5:25 p.m. - Call time for HCMS 7th Period (Red) Band - Perform in the Gym at 5:55

6:00 p.m. - Call time for HCMS 4th Period (Gold) Band - Perform in the Gym at 6:35

• Students may leave their instruments at school on this day if they wish.  They will report to the band room to get their instruments/music and then to the Gym to perform.  

• Each band will perform a short program sharing what we have been working on - new pieces for 6th grade, MPA Contest pieces for 7th and 8th Grade.  Once your student's portion of the program is done, you are welcome to enjoy the other parts of the Night of the Arts (Silent Auction, Choir Performances, Art Wall) or you may depart.  

• Students will wear their band uniform for this event:

  • 6th Grade - Black Band Shirt/Band Hoodie, Khaki Pants, Tennis Shoes

  • 7th/8th Grade - Concert Uniform (Black Tux Shirt/Red Vest/Red Tie/Black Dress Pants/Black Dress Shoes/Black Dress Socks OR Black Dress/Pearls/Black Tights/Black Dress Shoes) 

Beginning Band

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).  

REMINDER Our Spring Rental payments for those students renting school instruments are due February 1.  I'll be contacting you soon regarding your payment.  You can also check your My Music Office account.  (Email Ms. Parker if you need help accessing it!) We also ask that you please submit your Fair Share payment if you have not already done so.  Our students greatly benefit from these funds as we provide music, guest clinicians and all of our other purchases through these fair share payments. We will be sending out reminders through My Music Offices over the next few weeks.  Payments can be cash/money order, check (HCMS Band) or on My School Fees.  As always, if you have any financial concerns or questions, please contact Ms. Parker.

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 We will (FINALLY!) resume Jazz Band afterschool on Monday, February 2!  Thank you for your patience with our change of schedule due to holidays/weather issues.   Looking ahead, we will plan to have practice on Tuesday, February 10 (due to Night of the Arts next Monday).  8th Grade Jazz Band - Our performance at the Alabama State Capitol will be Thursday, March 26.  If any parents would like to chaperone, please contact Ms. Parker! We have plenty of room on the bus!

ALL-STATE Congratulations to all of our students who competed at All-State!  I am very proud of you for taking on such a demanding and challenging audition.  The state is finalizing all results and will post them on the alaband.org website as soon as possible.

SPRING TRIP  Remember the next payment is due to ATC today, February 1!  We need to finalize our student rooms this week so we can prepare for our Spring Trip to Pigeon Forge!  I'll be touching base with all students who have not yet given me their roommate preferences so we can work out a great plan!

CALENDAR CHANGES All Band Students will be performing on Monday, February 9 for our first-ever HCMS Band Fine Arts Night.   We will be cancelling our Lock-In on Thursday, February 5 to accommodate this change. In an effort to better prepare for our Music Performance Assessment contest in February, I would like to have small after school rehearsals from 3-4 with individual sections to help prepare music more quickly and efficiently.  Each student will only have one session to attend - based on their instrument and class period. We will start with Flute/Clarinet the week of January 12 and follow up with brass and percussion after that point.   Thank you for your flexibility on this - just want to be sure we are as prepared as possible!  

February 3 - 7th Period Trumpet

February 5 - 4th Period Trombone/Euphonium/Tuba/Tenor Sax/String Bass

February 12 - 7th Period Trombone/Euphonium/Tuba/Tenor Sax/Bass Clarinet

February 17 - 4th Period Percussion 

February 19 - 7th Period Percussion

February 24 - Make-Up Session - 4th Period Band

February 26 - Make-Up Session - 7th Period Band 

REMINDER Our Spring Rental payments for those students renting school instruments are due February 1.  I'll be contacting you soon regarding your payment.  You can also check your My Music Office account.  (Email Ms. Parker if you need help accessing it!) We also ask that you please submit your Fair Share payment if you have not already done so.  Our students greatly benefit from these funds as we provide music, guest clinicians and all of our other purchases through these fair share payments. We will be sending out reminders through My Music Offices over the next few weeks.  Payments can be cash/money order, check (HCMS Band) or on My School Fees.  As always, if you have any financial concerns or questions, please contact Ms. Parker.

BLUE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE BOOK Our 7th/8th grade band will be using the Tradition of Excellence Book 2 (Blue) in and playing tests when we return in January.  We still have several students who do not have a copy.  Please take care of securing one over the break! It is available at our local music stores and on Amazon.  We can also purchase these through the band ($13 for woodwinds/brass, $16/percussion) if you send in payment (cash/check to HCMS Band).  

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!