This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

It's concert week!  We are looking forward to sharing some great music with you at our Spring Concert this Tuesday night! 

Urgent Items for This Week:

• Spring Concert is this Tuesday, May 13!  See Below for additional details!

• We still have about $2000 in band Fair Share/rental payments/dues that are still unpaid.  Please help us close our books as quickly as possible. We rely on these payments to cover our costs for all items we provide for students in our program.  

• TODAY (Sunday) is the deadline to sign up for the HCMS Band Banquet (Friday, May 16).  We really hope as many 7th/8th graders will participate as possible!  There will be a buffet dinner from Taco Mama, Awards Presentation/Recognition and a DJ Dance Party.  Come celebrate a wonderful year with our talented students! You can sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-HjgQNuNhA42JwcmeMY8jpXVX1UhWQZJ9fUIoLfYHJY/preview

WEEK AT A GLANCE: 

• Sunday, May 11 - Deadline to Sign Up for Band Banquet

• Monday, May 12 

  • Send in any remaining band payments as well as banquet payments

  • Jazz Band (3:00-4:00)

• Tuesday, May 13

  • Spring Concert (6:00 p.m.)

• Wednesday, May 14

  • No Instruments Needed - Unless Returning Rental Instruments!

  • 7th/8th Grade Return Concert Uniform in Red Bag

• Thursday, May 15

  • No Instruments Needed - Unless Returning Rental Instruments!

• Friday, May 16

  • No Instruments Needed - Unless Returning Rental Instruments!

  • Deadline for all Uniform Returns - Cost of Replacement Items will be issued after this date

  • Band Banquet - HCMS Cafeteria (6:00 p.m.)

Spring Concert - Tuesday, May 13 

WHO: ALL HCMS Band Students (Required Event - Graded)

WHERE: Huntsville High School Auditorium

WHEN: 6:00 p.m. (Call Time 5:30)

WHAT TO WEAR: 

• Beginning Band - Black Band Tshirt OR Black Band Hoodie OR Solid Black Tshirt (no other writing); Khaki PANTS (not shorts!), Tennis Shoes

  • • Contact Ms. Parker ASAP if you need help with khaki pants - as she has some available for loan in the band room.  

• Symphonic Band - Concert Uniform 

  • Black Dress with Black Hose and Black Dress Shoes, Pearl Necklace

  • Black Tux Shirt, Black Tux Pants, Red Vest and Tie, Black Socks, Black Dress Shoes

    • When the concert is over - hand up your uniform in the red uniform bag and bring it back to HCMS on Wednesday for check-in.  No need to clean/launder anything as we are checking things in and sending them straight to the cleaners.  We must have all items received no later than Friday, May 16 or we will be issuing costs for replacement items. 

WHAT TO BRING: Instrument, Band Binder

• Tubas/Euphoniums will use their HOME tuba/euphonium for this concert

REMINDERS:

• All students are expected to remain for the entirety of the concert. (Beginning, Jazz and Symphonic Bands).  We will be combining all together at the very end for a special finale. We will keep things moving quickly and the full program should last from about 6:00-7:30. 

• Following the concert, we will need help loading up the trailer.  Many hands make light work! Please help however you can!

• After the concert concludes, we will have a cake celebration in the Freshman Cafeteria.  Please come grab a slice of cake and celebrate our terrific students!

• The Secret Word/Phrase this week is "Ms Parker - Our Concert is Tuesday!" :) 

Beginning Band Updates

• BEGINNING BAND FIELD TRIP Our Beginners did a wonderful job on their trip to GSES!  They performed for 5th grade as well as some Kindergarten and 1st Grade Classes.  Special thanks to our chaperones for helping!

• SUMMER INSTRUMENT RENTALS If you are renting an instrument through HCMS and your student is planning to continue band next year, you will need to rent an instrument for the summer.  We ask $40 for summer rental, which works out to our usual $20/month.  Please email Ms. Parker for details.  It is crucial students have access to an instrument over the summer so they do not completely fall behind when they return in August.  

• FOURTH NINE WEEKS GRADES For the fourth nine weeks, all band students will continue to receive a weekly class participation grade as well as a weekly instrument take-home grade.  We have reminded the students of this daily in full group and individually.  It is crucial that students continue to practice good habits and fulfill band class expectations so we are prepared for our Spring Concert!  

• BAND PAYMENTS DUE - We still have several outstanding fair share and rental payments that we need to collect.  Emails and invoices have been sent out and we will begin phone calls this week.  Please help us collect these payments quickly! We depend on these payments to provide opportunities for our students.  

Symphonic Band Updates

• BAND BANQUET!  We will be having our first-ever HCMS Band Banquet this year on Friday, May 16 in the HCMS Cafeteria from 6:00-8:30.  This event is for our 7th and 8th grade band students.  Taco Mama will be catering.  Cost is $15/person.  Payment can be made via cash/check (HCMS Band Parents).  Please sign up to attend on this form by May 11: HCMS Band Banquet Sign-Up

• PHOTO REQUEST - BAND BANQUET We are trying to collect photos for our upcoming Band Banquet.  Please see the QR code below and send us any/all photos you have from band this year!

• SUMMER INSTRUMENT RENTALS If you are renting an instrument through HCMS and your student is planning to continue band next year, you will need to rent an instrument for the summer.  We ask $40 for summer rental, which works out to our usual $20/month.  Please email Ms. Parker for details.  It is crucial students have access to an instrument over the summer so they do not completely fall behind when they return in August. 

• FOURTH NINE WEEKS GRADES For the fourth nine weeks, all band students will continue to receive a weekly class participation grade as well as a weekly instrument take-home grade.  We have reminded the students of this daily in full group and individually.  It is crucial that students continue to practice good habits and fulfill band class expectations so we are prepared for our Spring Concert!  

• UNIFORM COLLECTION (7th/8th Grade) We will start collecting concert band uniforms on Wednesday, May 14.  Students will need to return all pieces of their uniform in the assigned uniform bag on that date. No need to clean anything after the concert - we will be sending them straight to the cleaners! We would greatly appreciate some volunteer help to check off all pieces and will email you for the cost of any missing items.  Please contact hcovemsband@gmail.com if you could help with this collection process. 

• SUPPLIES Please be sure your student has all necessary items for band class, especially as we prepare for our big holiday concert.  Clarinet and Saxophone players must have at least 3 good reeds at all times.  Percussion (7th/8th Grade) must have a stick bag, yarn mallets, bell mallets, rubber mallets and drumsticks.  Items may be purchased through the band program if it helps you.  Please email Ms. Parker or Mr. Moran with questions. 

Rising 9th Grade Information - Huntsville High School Band

Important Dates for 8th graders interested in being the Huntsville High Band

**All events take place in the Huntsville High School Band Room unless otherwise indicated**

**All events are required as a member of the HHS Band.  Please email stuart.tankesley@hsv-k12.org for school related conflicts.  

ADDITIONAL DATES: 

I am a percussionist

Monday, May 12th Spring Training 4:15-6:45 pm.  Marching Fundamentals

Monday, May 19th Spring Training 4:15-6:45 pm.  Marching Fundamentals

Tuesday, May 20th Spring Training 4:15-6:45 pm.  Marching Fundamentals

Tuesday, May 20th 9th Grade parent meeting at 7:00 pm (students always welcome)

I am a Wind player - Brass or Woodwind instruments

Monday, May 12th Spring Training 4:15-6:45 pm. Marching Fundamentals

Monday, May 19th Spring Training 4:15-6:45 pm.  Marching Fundamentals

Tuesday, May 20th Spring Training 4:15-6:45 pm.  Marching Fundamentals

Tuesday, May 20th Upcoming 9th Grade parent meeting at 7:00 pm (students always welcome)

I am a potential color guard member

May 27-30 (Tues-Friday) Color Guard Camp 9 am - 4:00 pm

Tues, May 20th new member parent meeting at 7:00 pm (all new band members)

Summer Dates (required for all marching band members unless indicated otherwise)

July 9-11 Marching Percussion Camp (Marching Percussion Only)

July 14-18 Band Camp Week 1 - All Day

July 21-25 Band Camp Week 2 - All day

Friday, July 25th  Optional DCI Trip to MTSU (afternoon and evening)

Tuesday, July 29 Rehearsal  6-9 pm

Thursday, July 31 Rehearsal 6-9 pm 

Monday, August 4th First Day of School

Band Parent Meeting Slides