This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

Thank you for your flexibility as we rescheduled our Veteran's Day program.  I am very proud of our students for preparing challenging music to lead the assembly.  

If your student is having uniform issues (sizing, etc.), please have them bring in the piece(s) they need to swap and we will arrange it for them.  Please ensure that your student has black dress shoes for our Holiday Concert on December 9.  Please email Ms. Parker if you need any assistance.  

Remember - Our Holiday Concert will be on Tuesday, December 9 at 6:00 p.m in the Huntsville High School Auditorium.  This is a required performance for all HCMS Band students.  Students are expected to be present for the full concert, which will last until about 7:00/7:15.  Thank you for helping us teach proper concert etiquette in addition to performance practice.  We will be wearing our concert uniforms for this performance. 

Beginning Band (6th Grade)

• COMBINED REHEARSAL Please remember that we have a Combined Rehearsal on Thursday, November 20 for all Beginning Band students.  This will last from 3-4 in the afternoon.  It will be a required grade for our Beginning Band students and our only opportunity to combine before our concert in December.  Please work out transportation for your student on this one afternoon.  We would appreciate having some parent help for this rehearsal if at all possible.  Please email Ms. Parker if you can help! 

• HOLIDAY CONCERT - UNIFORM  Beginning Band students will wear their black band T-shirt (or band hoodie), khaki pants and tennis shoes for the Holiday Concert on Tuesday, December 9.  Please take time now to find khaki pants for your student so they are prepared for the concert.  Contact Ms. Parker if you need any assistance lining up khaki pants or a Band T-shirt.  

• CLARINET/SAXOPHONE PLAYERS  Please help us make sure your students have 3 good reeds for their instrument at all times.  We will be rotating through to have three playable reeds all the time.  As they break/wear out over time, we need to be sure they are replaced so students always have a back-up option ready.  

• HALLOWEEN CANDY As we enter Halloween season, if you happen to end up with any extra candy you no longer want, please feel free to donate it to the HCMS Band!  We love to keep extra incentives and rewards on hand for our deserving students!  Thanks for considering!

Symphonic Band (7th/8th Grade)

• SPRING TRIP Registration and information for the Spring Trip is available HERE.   We have just opened up a 3rd charter bus so that we can take everyone on the waitlist.  It is not too late to sign up!  Notes from the Spring Trip meeting are included below. Please contact Ms. Parker with any questions or concerns. 

• JAZZ BAND Jazz Band will NOT meet this week.  Our next rehearsal will be Monday, November 24. 

• CONCERT UNIFORMS Please ensure your student returned home with all pieces of their concert uniform.  We had several students who did not wear their ties/pearl necklaces on Friday - please ensure that they have those pieces and return any that were loaned.  Once again, please ensure your student has black dress shoes (and black socks!) in time for the holiday concert on Friday, December 9.  

• HALLOWEEN CANDY As we enter Halloween season, if you happen to end up with any extra candy you no longer want, please feel free to donate it to the HCMS Band!  We love to keep extra incentives and rewards on hand for our deserving students!  Thanks for considering!

• TEXT ALERTS (7th/8th Grade Band) If you would like to sign up for text alerts through Remind, send a text to the number 81010 with the message @hcmsband25.  I'll keep you posted about our estimated time to finish the games.  

• BLUE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE BOOK- We will be using the Tradition of Excellence Book 2 (Blue) in class this year for warm-ups and playing tests.  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).  Please help us have these books in class after Labor Day.  

Thank you! 

Emily Parker, Director of Bands