This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

It has been a busy week in the HCMS Band Room!  

• BUTTER BRAID FUNDRAISER We have started our Butter Braid fundraiser this week and it will last until October 29.  Please see below for additional information.  Students can sell either in person (using the form handed out in class) or online (by setting up an online store - details in the packet sent home).  Student Band Accounts will be credited 80% of the profits made from this fundraiser and the general band fund will receive the other 20%.  Students may use their band accounts for any band costs during their time in the HCMS Band (fees, trip payments, etc.).  Their account will roll over with them as they continue in band.  If they are not enrolled in the HCMS Band, any remaining balance in their account reverts to the general band fund. 

• HALLOWEEN CONCERT Our Halloween Concert will be in the HCMS Gym on Thursday, October 30 at 6:00 p.m.  This is a required performance for our 7th and 8th graders.  Our 6th Graders are welcome to join for the fun!  See below for more information! 

• MY MUSIC OFFICE LOGIN Parents should have received an email from My Music Office with instructions on logging in and setting a password for your student's My Music Office band account.  Please take a moment to do so and double check that your fees have been paid and/or marked as paid.  Please remember: we rely on volunteer help (from parents with full-time jobs) to enter these payments.  Please allow time for payments to be processed and entered into My Music Office. If you ever have a concern, you are welcome to contact Ms. Parker or the Band Parents (hcovemsband@gmail.com) and we will be happy to double check for you. 

• SAVE THE DATE Our next Spirit Night will be at Mellow Mushroom on Monday, October 27!  They will donate a portion of all proceeds from lunch or dinner - dine in or carry out!  Please consider grabbing some delicious pizza and supporting the HCMS Band!  

• HALLOWEEN CANDY As we enter Halloween season, if you happen to end up with any extra candy you no longer want, please feel free to donate it to the HCMS Band!  We love to keep extra incentives and rewards on hand for our deserving students!  Thanks for considering!

Beginning Band (6th Grade)

• NO INSTRUMENTS MONDAY (BEGINNERS ONLY) Beginning Band students will not need to bring their instruments on Monday, October 20. 

• HALLOWEEN CONCERT Our 6th graders are more than welcome to attend our Halloween Concert on Thursday, October 30 at 6:00 p.m.  We will also need some volunteers to help judge the costume contest for 7th/8th grade and help our 5th grade guests "Trick or Treat" to learn about the instruments!  If your student is interested in volunteering to help with that, please email Ms. Parker!

• CLARINET/SAXOPHONE PLAYERS  Please help us make sure your students have 3 good reeds for their instrument at all times.  We will be rotating through to have three playable reeds all the time.  As they break/wear out over time, we need to be sure they are replaced so students always have a back-up option ready.  

• BAND T-SHIRT ORDER Band T-Shirts have been distributed.  If you did not receive a shirt or did not order one, we have plenty of extra.  Please contact Ms. Parker (emily.parker@hsv-k12.org) or send in $16 (checks to HCMS Band).    

Symphonic Band (7th/8th Grade)

• SPRING TRIP Due to the HHS Homecoming Parade, we will have to reschedule our Spring Trip meeting.  Our schedule is pretty full for the next few weeks, but I will let you know if/when/how we can work that out ASAP.  In the meantime, registration and information for the Spring Trip is available HERE.   Please contact Ms. Parker with any questions or concerns. 

• HALLOWEEN CONCERT Our Halloween Concert will be Thursday, October 30 at 6:00 p.m. in the HCMS Gym.  Our call time will be 5:30.  Students will wear either their Halloween costumes OR their pep band uniform.  This is a graded performance for our 7th/8th grade bands. 

• JAZZ BAND We will NOT have Jazz Band on Monday, October 20 - but will reschedule to Thursday, October 23.  We just need to do a quick run through from 3:00-3:35 on Thursday so we are ready for the Halloween Concert.  This should let everyone get to the Homecoming Parade. Due to our extremely limited rehearsal time, students missing two or more Jazz Band rehearsals may be asked to sit out at those particular concerts. 

• UPCOMING FOOTBALL GAME Semi-Finals are being played this week to determine who will go to the championship on Tuesday, October 28 to play for 1st-4th place.  If we are selected for the championship game, the band will be performing.  We should know our assigned time after Tuesday of this coming week, and I will send it out as soon as I am aware.  

• CONCERT UNIFORMS Most of our concert uniforms have been distributed this week.  Remaining uniforms will be sent home upon receipt of the signed rental uniform paperwork and/or payment of $25 rental fee (cash/check/MySchoolFees).  Please encourage your student to try on all parts of their uniform and double check that they fit correctly.  Contact Ms. Parker if you need an alternate size.  Please remember any alterations must be temporary - no cutting of fabric.  Guidelines are posted below. 

• TEXT ALERTS (7th/8th Grade Band) If you would like to sign up for text alerts through Remind, send a text to the number 81010 with the message @hcmsband25.  I'll keep you posted about our estimated time to finish the games.  

• BLUE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE BOOK- We will be using the Tradition of Excellence Book 2 (Blue) in class this year for warm-ups and playing tests.  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).  Please help us have these books in class after Labor Day.  

Thank you! 

Emily Parker, Director of Bands