This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

We have another VERY busy week in the HCMS Band Room!  Please take a minute to review everything for this week! 

• MELLOW MUSHROOM SPIRIT NIGHT 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!  

• BUTTER BRAID FUNDRAISER Our Butter Braid fundraiser ends on Wednesday, 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.  Students will need to turn in all paper (in-person) orders and money into the Band Box by Wednesday, October 29 at 3:00 for orders to be submitted.  There is no need to turn in any paperwork for online orders - it's all handled in the online store. Orders will come in on Monday, November 10.  

• 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. 

• 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)

• 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 sign them up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19y7xFBYAqjp-JrdUxOOBAGoC7TD1Z_c5ACryxcA2l4g/preview

• NO INSTRUMENTS FRIDAY - HALLOWEEN HALF-DAY Due to our shortened schedule and iReady Celebration on Friday, October 31, students will not need to bring instruments to school on Friday. 

• 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)

• CITY CHAMPIONSHIP HCMS is playing for the City Championship on Tuesday, October 28 at 6:30 at Milton Frank Stadium.  This is our last required football game for 7th/8th grade.  The weather is cooling down - so students may bring jackets and/or wear long sleeves under their band shirts if necessary.  Khaki shorts/pants OR blue jeans will be acceptable since the temperature is cooling off. 

• 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.  We could also use some volunteers to help briefly after the concert as we welcome our 5th grade guests.  To volunteer, sign up here: 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 sign them up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19y7xFBYAqjp-JrdUxOOBAGoC7TD1Z_c5ACryxcA2l4g/preview

• SPRING TRIP Registration and information for the Spring Trip is available HERE.   Please contact Ms. Parker with any questions or concerns.  We are trying to find another date for an informational meeting as soon as possible. 

• JAZZ BAND Jazz Band will meet Monday, October 27 from 3-4.  Thank you for your flexibility with our schedule last week! 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. 

• NO INSTRUMENTS FRIDAY - HALLOWEEN HALF-DAY Due to our shortened schedule and iReady Celebration on Friday, October 31, students will not need to bring instruments to school on Friday. 

• VETERAN'S DAY ASSEMBLY Our Veteran's Day Assembly will be Friday, November 7 at 5:00 in the HCMS Gym.  This is a required performance for our 7th and 8th grade students.  We will be wearing our concert uniforms for this performance.  Please ensure your student has tried on their uniform and you have added any temporary hems before that day.  If you need assistance swapping out uniform pieces, contact Ms. Parker.  

• 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