This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

As we have a lot coming up for our respective bands, please see the section below that pertains to your student's band. 

Beginning Band Updates

• BEGINNING BAND FIELD TRIP Our Beginning Band has been invited to come to Goldsmith-Schiffman Elementary on Thursday, May 8 for a special performance.  This field trip will occur during the afternoon and we will return by the end of the school day.  Per our band field trip guidelines, students who have received OSS or more than 3 days in ISS will not be permitted to attend this trip.  Permission slips were due Friday.  

  • • Remember to wear your black HCMS Band shirt!  (Any type of pant is ok for the Field Trip!)

    • Tentative Schedule: 

      • 11:30 - Meet in Band Room for lunch on Party Patio (Bring Lunch! Unless you notated on form you needed lunch from school)

      • 12:15 - Load Buses for GSES

      • 1:00 - Perform at GSES (We have opened the invitation for all grades!)

      • 1:45 - Load Buses for HCMS

      • 2:15 - Treat on Party Patio/Joint Rehearsal with 7/8 Grade Band

• SPRING CONCERT Our Spring Concert will be Tuesday, May 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Huntsville High School.  This will be a required event for all students and will also include a celebratory reception following the program.  Please remember all students are expected to remain for the entirety of the concert.  Our beginning and symphonic bands will be combining for a grand finale piece! 

• BAND UNIFORM Remember that our band uniform for the concert is: Black Band Tshirt/Band Hoodie/Solid Black shirt, Khaki Pants (NOT shorts!) and tennis shoes!  Please contact Ms. Parker ASAP if you need assistance with any of these items!  

• 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!

• HORNS & HOOVES JAZZ PERFORMANCES 

  • Thursday, May 8 - Becoming a Bull Night (4:30-6:00) - Details to Come!

• FUTURE HHS BAND MEMBERS (RISING 9TH GRADERS)  Our next Spring Training practice is this coming Tuesday, May 6th from 4:15 pm to 6:45 pm.  If you are able to arrive by 4, please do.  This event is for all new band students (including concert only).  This does not include color guard.  Plan to wear some athletic clothing, have a water bottle, and bring your instrument/folder we gave you last time!  We may go outside some.  

• HHS BAND PERCUSSION (RISING 9TH GRADERS)  If you are a percussionist, you will also need to come Monday, May 5th for marching band percussion placements from 4:15-6:45 pm (please arrive by 4 if possible).

• 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!  

• SAVE THE DATE - SPRING CONCERT Our Spring Concert will be Tuesday, May 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Huntsville High School.  This will be a required event for all students and will also include a celebratory reception following the program.  Please remember all students are expected to remain for the entirety of the concert.  Our beginning and symphonic bands will be combining for a grand finale piece!  Symphonic Band students will be wearing their concert uniforms (Red Vest/Black Dress Shirt/Black Pants/Black Dress Shoes OR Black Dress with Black Dress Shoes).  

• 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 5 Marching Percussion Placements 4:15-6:45 pm

Tuesday, May 6 Marching Percussion Placements 4:15-6:45 pm

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

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

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