This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

I hope everyone has had a wonderful, relaxing Thanksgiving Holiday!  We are getting to the busy holiday season in the HCMS Band Room!  Please take a moment to review the important information below!

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. 

SAVE THE DATE (ALL BAND MEMBERS) This year HCMS will host their first ever Fine Arts Night on Monday, February 9!  This will feature our talented band, choir and art students.  More information to come but please save the date for this exciting new event! 

SAVE THE DATE (8TH GRADE JAZZ BAND) We have some exciting news from the HCMS Band Room!  Our 8th Grade Jazz Band members have been chosen to perform at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery on Thursday, March 26. Due to space and noise level restrictions, we can only take our 8th graders this time.  We are one of six ensembles to be chosen for this honor! 

Beginning Band (6th Grade)

• 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.  

Symphonic Band (7th/8th Grade)

• SPRING TRIP Our next Spring Trip payment is due on December 1.  I will be applying and forwarding fundraising balances to ATC (Travel Company) this week.  Fundraising balances should be updated in My Music Office if you would like to check.  Login information was emailed via MyMusicOffice as well as sent home with students several weeks ago. Please email Ms. Parker if you need your login information again.  

• JAZZ BAND Jazz Band will practice Monday, December 1 and Monday, December 8 from 3-4.  

• ALL-STATE/DISTRICT HONOR BAND 7th and 8th grade band students have the opportunity to audition for All-State and District Honor Band.  Auditions will be on Saturday, January 31 at a specific time (assigned by the District Band Association).  Ms. Parker has audition packets available for any students who would like them.  Our first help session will be Thursday, December 4 from 3-3:45.  Auditions are $25/student and can be paid by cash/check (HCMS Band) by Friday, December 12.  

• 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. 

• HUNTSVILLE HIGH INFO Mr. Tankesley and Mr. Kirk from HHS Band have shared their dates for upcoming 9th grade band members in an effort to help you coordinate your spring/summer plans! 

  • • Wednesday, January 28 - HCMS 8th Grade travel to HHS for a special morning and lunch with the HHS Band

    • Tuesday, February 17 - Parent/Student Interest Meeting about Joining HHS Band (6:00 - HHS Band Room)

    • April 20-24 - Color Guard Auditions

    • Monday, July 13 - Monday, August 3 Band Camp (excluding weekends). In order to participate in marching band at HHS, all students must be in town and attend every day of band camp, starting July 13th ( All trips, vacations, camps, etc must conclude before July 13!!). Students who cannot attend band camp in full are still able to do concert band.

• 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.  

• 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