This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

It's been a great and busy week in the HCMS Band Room!  All of our classes are cruising through new music and doing a fantastic job!  Please take a moment to review the highlights and important information for your student below!

Beginning Band

SAVE THE DATE Please save the date Monday, February 9 (5:00-7:00) for our first-ever HCMS Fine Arts NIght!  All of our band/choir/art students will be involved in this special celebration of the arts!  Detailed schedule will be forthcoming!

FUNDRAISER OPPORTUNITY We have kicked off our final fundraiser for the year! We will be selling bedsheets through the Elson Company.  Students will be provided with an order form and small sample swatches.  They also offer an online option and will ship for those who may be interested but live out of town. You can access the online option here:  https://goalfundingdirect.com/hcmsband/. Sheets are for sale for $40 ($30 for twin).  Like our Butter Braid sale earlier this year, students will receive 80% profit in their My Music Office HCMS Band Account and 20% will go toward the HCMS General Band Fund (to help purchase new lockers).  Funds in your band account may be applied to any band payments and will roll over year to year if you would like to use them for Spring Trips in 7th/8th grade.  

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

PLAYING TEST Just a reminder - our Symphonic Band have their Eb Concert Scale and arpeggio due by Sunday night in Canvas!

JAZZ BAND Due to the holiday, there will NOT be Horns & Hooves practice this week.  We will resume on Monday, January 26. 

FUNDRAISER OPPORTUNITY We have kicked off our final fundraiser for the year! We will be selling bedsheets through the Elson Company.  Students will be provided with an order form and small sample swatches.  They also offer an online option and will ship for those who may be interested but live out of town. You can access the online option here:  https://goalfundingdirect.com/hcmsband/. Sheets are for sale for $40 ($30 for twin).  Like our Butter Braid sale earlier this year, students will receive 80% profit in their My Music Office HCMS Band Account and 20% will go toward the HCMS General Band Fund (to help purchase new lockers).  Funds in your band account may be applied to any band payments and will roll over year to year if you would like to use them for Spring Trips in 7th/8th grade.  

8TH GRADE TRIP TO HHS Our 8th Grade band students have been invited to go to HHS for a morning field trip on Wednesday, January 28.  We are asking that all of our 8th grade band students attend so they can learn about all of the fantastic options they have available!  Lunch will also be provided! Field Trip forms were emailed this morning and will be sent home with students today.  Please return field trip permission forms by Friday, 1/23. 

SPRING TRIP We still have some room on the Spring Trip if anyone else would like to join.  Please make your plans by February 1 so we can ensure our hotel rooming assignments are correct and we are not charged for any changes!  Looking forward to a great trip!

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!  

January 20 - 4th Period Alto Saxophone/Horn

January 27 - 7th Period Alto Saxophone/Horn

January 29 - 4th Period Trumpet

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

ALL-STATE HELP SESSIONS Due to an unavoidable conflict, I will not be able to stay for a help session this Wednesday afternoon.  I will be available in the band room Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for any students who would like extra help for All-State auditions.  Please ensure you are practicing your scales (Concert G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Chromatic) and reviewing your etudes so you are as prepared as possible for the audition! I will send out audition times as soon as I receive them. 

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!