This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

It's been a quick but productive week in the HCMS Band Room!  We are all working on music to share with you at the holiday concert!  

Great News!  Mr. Clay Sloan (retired band director from Austin High School) will be joining us in the HCMS Band Room three days a week!  Mr. Sloan will be assisting me with leading section rehearsals, belt testing and assisting students and small groups throughout the week.  We are very lucky to get the opportunity to work with Mr. Sloan and I'm grateful to HCS for making it possible! 

ButterBraid orders will be delivered on Monday, November 16 and will be available for pick-up between 3 and 5 p.m. in the HCMS Cafeteria.  Coffee orders have been sent and will be packaged and distributed as soon as possible. 

Thank you to all who sent in candy donations!  If you happen to end up with any extra Halloween candy, please consider sending it to the band room for us to share with our deserving students! 

GRADES DUE THIS WEEK

    Beginning Band - NIngenius Yellow Belt Test (Due Sunday 11/8)

    Symphonic (7/8 Grade) Band - Eb Concert Scale and Arpeggio (Due Sunday 11/8)

Please update your calendar - 

• Our Veteran's Day Concert has been rescheduled to Tuesday, November 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the HCMS Gym.  This performance will only involve our 2nd Period Symphonic Band Class.  

• Our combined 6th grade practice was scheduled on November 17.  We will be postpoining that until after the Thanksgiving holiday so we can have a bit more time with our music preparation.  I'll post the details and corrected date in next week's newsletter.  

• Our Spring Concert will be on May 13 at 6:00 at the Huntsville HIgh School Auditorium.  There was an error in our original calendar that has been updated in the digital copy below! 

• Our Band Banquet (7th and 8th Grade) will be on Friday, May 7 in the HCMS Cafeteria.  Additional Details to Come! 

• Our Spring Trip (7th/8th Grade) will be to Universal in Orlando May 14-17.  Registration is now open - just find the link to the trip website below.   Students can register and begin payments via that site -- All payments are handled with our travel company, American Travel Consulting.   We will reschedule our Band Banquet.

• I've posted the updated HCMS Band Calendar with all of these changes below.  

SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:   1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Please look for this HCMS Band Newsletter every Sunday.  It will review all upcoming information for the week.  You can also find the newsletter and all other band information on our website:  wwwhcovemsband.org. Please contact Ms. Parker if you have any issues receiving the weekly newsletter (emily.parker@hsv-k12.org or hcovemsband@gmail.com).

Beginning Band (6th Grade) 

• COMBINED REHEARSAL We had previously scheduled a combined rehearsal on Tuesday, November 17.  This will be postponed until after Thanksgiving Break to allow us more time to prepare our music before we combine.  I'll include the details and date in next week's newsletter.  Thank you for your flexibility! 

• CANDY DONATIONS Please consider donating any extra Halloween candy you cannot use to the HCMS Band!  We greatly appreciate it! 

• BUTTERBRAID/COFFEE ORDERS ButterBraid orders will be delivered on Monday, November 16 and will be available for pick-up between 3 and 5 p.m. in the HCMS Cafeteria.  Coffee orders have been sent and will be packaged and distributed as soon as possible. 

• FACEBOOK GROUP Feel free to join the "HCMS Band Parents" Facebook Group if you are on social media.  As this is a private group, you will be asked to answer two questions to be admitted.  

Symphonic Band (7th/8th Grade)

• VETERAN'S DAY CEREMONY Our Veteran's Day Ceremony has been rescheduled to Tuesday, November 10 at 5:30 p.m.  This performance will only involve our 2nd Period Symphonic Band Class.  We will be wearing our concert uniforms for this performance.  Call Time will be 5:00 p.m.  This event is free to attend and open to the public.  Please invite any and all veterans to be recognized! 

  • WHO - 2nd Period Band Students (Please consult PowerSchool/Your student's schedule to ensure which class they are in)

  • WHEN - Tuesday, November 10 at 5:30 p.m. (Call Time 5:00 p.m.) 

  • WHERE - HCMS Gym

  • WHAT TO WEAR - HCMS Concert Uniform (Black Tux shirt, Red Vest, Black Tux Pants, BLACK DRESS SHOES AND BLACK SOCKS or Black Dress, Pearl Necklace, Black Hose/Tights and Black Dress Shoes)

  • If there is absolutely no way for your student to get home and return by 5:00 call time, they may stay in the HCMS Band Room until call time.  Please ensure they bring a snack and their concert uniform so they are prepared for the performance.  Thank you for only accepting this option if absolutely necessary, as it is challenging for me to monitor several students while setting up for the concert on my own. 

• CONCERT UNIFORMS  Uniforms have been distributed to all who have submitted payment/forms.  If you have not received your uniform, please reach out and we can get it to you as soon as possible.  Please have your student try on their uniform for you to check as soon as possible!  If any of the pieces do not fit, you can send them back in a plastic grocery bag and we will swap them out that day.   The dresses (and possibly the pants) will most likely be too long -- please include a temporary hem for them and do NOT cut or remove the fabric.  You can access details in our uniform paperwork HERE.  

• HORNS & HOOVES JAZZ BAND  Our 8th Grade Jazz Band will meet Monday, November 9 from 3:00-3:45 (Please note the change in ending time.).  Due to the Veteran's Day holiday, our 7th grade Jazz Band will not meet this week.  

• ALL CITY BAND The All City Band will be at Huntsville High School on Thursday and Friday, November 12-13.  Please see the email from Ms. Parker for additional details and contact her with any questions.   This event is for selected students.  

• BUTTERBRAID/COFFEE ORDERS ButterBraid orders will be delivered on Monday, November 16 and will be available for pick-up between 3 and 5 p.m. in the HCMS Cafeteria.  Coffee orders have been sent and will be packaged and distributed as soon as possible. 

• CANDY DONATIONS Please consider donating any extra Halloween candy you cannot use to the HCMS Band!  We greatly appreciate it! 

• SPRING TRIP - UNIVERSAL (ORLANDO) Registration for our Spring Trip to Orlando is now open.

  • To register, visit the HCMS Band Trip Website HERE.  This should take you directly to our trip page.

  • Payment Schedule:  Deposit - $100 (October 1, 2026), Payment - $185 (November 1, 2026/December 1, 2026/January 1, 2027/February 1, 2027/March 1, 2027), Final Balance - April 1, 2027

  • Students must meet the disciplinary requirements to attend this trip. Any students with OSS or 3 or more days of ISS will not be permitted to attend.  This requirement has been mentioned in class since the first day of school and has been included in our Band Handbook. 

  • Travel Insurance is HIGHLY encouraged.   

  • All paperwork may be viewed in our Spring Trip Google Drive HERE.  

• BAND HOODIES   Parents may purchase them at any time through cash/check ($40) or Square.  Contact Ms. Parker if you would like to order a hoodie at any point during the year.    

• FROM HUNTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BAND 

  • Information on the 2027-28 Huntsville High Trip to Rome for current 8th grade families can be found here including payment schedule and other information from the middle school meetings last week.  If you plan to start making payments for the trip, fundraise, or would like direct communication from us on this trip, please fill out this form.

• VOLUNTEER SURVEY We are looking for volunteers to assist with various projects throughout the year.  This survey is NOT a commitment - just a way to let us know if you would be interested/available to help from time to time.  We will reach out with options as they arise to see if they work for you.  Please complete and return the paper survey or complete the GOOGLE FORM. 

• FACEBOOK GROUP Feel free to join the "HCMS Band Parents" Facebook Group if you are on social media.  As this is a private group, you will be asked to answer two questions to be admitted.  

Thank you! 

Emily Parker, Director of Bands