This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

Please take a moment to review all of the important information for the HCMS Band!  

Beginning Band

SPIRIT NIGHT Our next Spirit Night opportunity will be Thursday, February 26 at Taziki's (Hampton Cove) from 4-9! 

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 Thank you to all who have sent in rental payments.  My apologies - I've fallen behind on sending out reminders but will do my best to get them to you this week.  I appreciate your help and your patience!  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

UNIFORMS Our Band Contest at Hartselle High School is coming up quickly on March 3!  Please take a moment this week to ensure your student has all parts of their band uniform (black tux shirt/black tux pants/red vest/red tie/BLACK SOCKS AND BLACK DRESS SHOES or black concert dress/pearl necklace/black tights/black dress shoes) so they will be ready for contest next week!  If your student needs to swap out any of their uniform pieces, please send them in with them this week so we have plenty of time to get them settled before next week!   Please contact Ms. Parker if you need any assistance lining up any parts of the uniform.  We will be scored based on our appearance in uniform so we want to be sure everyone is ready to go! 

JAZZ BAND Our Horns & Hooves Jazz Band will meet on Monday (February 23) from 3-4.  Thank you again for your patience as we deal with several Monday holidays/weather issues.   Our 8th Grade Jazz Band will meet this Wednesday, February 25 from 3-3:45.  I apologize for an additional rehearsal during the week - but we want to be sure we have all of our music prepared for our performance in Montgomery in March.  Please do your best to attend.  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!

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 before spring break.

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

Per Mr. Tankesley - Mr. Whitener, our 9th grade counselor, spoke at the meeting and gave some contrary information about band.  We spoke Friday morning and cleared everything up.  The confusion is related to the new block scheduling.  Everything that I presented at the meeting on February 17 is still accurate.  I also want to clarify that the Fall band classes will NOT be marching band classes even though that's how they are labeled.   Marching band is primarily after school.  We will be doing concert band year round in class, so all students will be involved.  I am sorry for the confusion.  Email me if you have additional questions.  stuart.tankesley@hsv-k12.org

SPIRIT NIGHT Our next Spirit Night opportunity will be Thursday, February 26 at Taziki's (Hampton Cove) from 4-9! 

MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT Our 7th and 8th Grade Bands will be competing at Music Performance Assessment on Tuesday, March 3 at Hartselle High School.  Field Trip forms have been sent home and can also be found HERE.  Please return your field trip form by Wednesday, February 25.   Any and all chaperones are welcome to join us--Please tell Ms. Parker if you can assist!  

CALENDAR CHANGES THANK YOU ALL for your assistance with our afternoon sectional rehearsals for 4th and 7th period bands.  They really helped us make a lot of focused progress.  We have two make-up sessions this week for any students who were unable to make their assigned rehearsal.  Please ensure your student attends if they did not already come to an afterschool session. 

February 24 - Make-Up Session - 4th Period Band (If you did not attend your assigned session day)

February 26 - Make-Up Session - 7th Period Band (If you did not attend your assigned session day)

REMINDER Thank you to all who have sent in rental payments.  My apologies - I've fallen behind on sending out reminders but will do my best to get them to you this week.  I appreciate your help and your patience!  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!