HHS Band weekly newsletter April 10-14, 2023

Things We Like

Schedule for the week  

Monday - Symphonic Band 4-5:30
Tuesday - Off (ACT Day for 11th grade. e-learning day for everyone else)
Wednesday - Off.  
Thursday - Percussion Day at Austin HS (Percussion 4B class).  Wind Ensemble 4:00-5:30 pm. 
Friday - Off  

REMINDER- Marching uniforms were due to be turned in March 31. If you have not turned yours in, please do so immediately. Washing instructions can be found in the newsletter from March 27-31, 2023. Please do not return bibbers, shoe, gloves, or socks. 

Percussion Day - Austin High School - Thursday, April 13th (4B Percussion Ensemble Class)
Schedule
7:30 am - Band Room Open
7:45 am - All percussion in 4B class in Band Room.
8:00 am - Depart Huntsville High School to Austin High
      Performances and clinics all day.
Lunch - Pizza (provided)
3:00 pm - Depart Austin HS 
4:00 pm - Back at Huntsville High (Wind Ensemble has rehearsal)

You are excused from class all day. 
What to wear? Wear your band polo and nice jeans (no holes).
Austin HS is providing most of the equipment, but we may take some small things on the bus.  

FUNDRAISING NEWS
The bricks fundraiser is now live!  To order yours go to www.thatsmybrick.com/Huntsvillehs. These bricks will be professionally engraved and installed in the main courtyard at HHS. These tributes to your student will leave their mark on the grounds of HHS and is a great way to honor their years of hard work!

2022-2023 HHS BAND COMPOSITE PICTURE
Our Spring Concert is Tuesday April 25.  We will be taking individual pictures for the composite before the concert.  Details to come, but be ready 2 hours before the concert for this great opportunity!  Much more information will be coming in next week's newsletter.  We will be wearing concert uniforms for the composite picture.  

2022-2023 Band Banquet
The HHS Band salutes the 2022-2023 School Year with our "Night On the Red Carpet" Band Banquet.  You won't want to miss this great event!  Re-live great moments from the year and take a look back at how far we have come!  We'll dig into the archive for some great highlights from the previous four years, and we will honor our seniors!  This is a wonderful event, tickets go on sale next week!  

Seniors!!!
We would like to feature ALL seniors on social media over the next month.  If you would like to be featured, please fill this form out:  https://forms.gle/15ji7wvq5h5FADR39

Make sure you are on top of returning all uniforms and equipment to the band room over the next month.  Make sure all band dues are paid.  

Fine Arts Signing Day is scheduled for Friday, May 5th around 2:30 pm in the Auditorium.  This is for any senior who has a post-high school plan to participate in the arts (College Marching Band, College Color Guard, Independent or college Indoor percussion/winter guard, college Concert band, college Jazz band, military bands).  Parents should plan to attend.  There will be a ceremony in the auditorium followed by a reception with cake/snacks.  You will be excused from 4th block this day.   We will have an official sign up for this event soon.  

End of Year Items - Instruments
All students using a school-owned marching or concert instrument (except percussion) are required to take your instrument to Southeastern Musical Services (3308 9th Ave SW / 256-539-5906 - about 7 minutes from HHS) to have it looked at and basic repairs done to make sure it is in working order.  You are welcome to use Gadsden Music as well, but they are less familiar with our process.   The cost of any repairs should be paid for by your family.    Marching band instruments are encouraged to be taken now (during the month of April).  Concert instruments should be taken after your audition are complete in May or after the spring concert (if you are a senior).  Seniors must have this done prior to walking at Graduation.   The earlier you take it, the faster you get it back.  The closer you get to summer, the more they get backed up with repairs!

Once completed, bring your instrument back to school and give the receipt to a director.

London Connection! (updated 3/26)
Remember, even if you plan to do concert band only, if you are planning to march the parade in London, you need to attend week 1 of band camp!

Click here to see an updated list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

All information on the trip can be found in our google drive:  Click here to access google drive - 

Parent Coordinator
Our parent trip coordinator for London is Karen Hansberger.  If you have specific questions about the trip as we get closer, she will be a great resource.  She will also be helping collect rooming lists, passport copies, bus lists, shipping documents, and more.   Her email is [email protected]

Next Payment
To be included in our travel count with the travel company, each traveler must have paid $1000 at this point.
The next payment of $800 is due September 1, 2023.

What do I need to do right now?
 1.  Get your passport now!  It should be valid 6 months past our return date! The news just reported that the average wait time to get a new passport is 16 weeks and this will get worse over the next few weeks.
 2.  Investigate your best option for overseas phone possibilities.  Each phone company has different options.  You will need to have access to phone communication while you are in London!
  3.  Research and investigate your credit card and financial options.  Each bank and card is different.  Make sure your card won't lock you out when you get to London 

Wind Ensemble after school rehearsals
We are going to transition to 1 after school rehearsal per week for Wind Ensemble.

We will rehearse the following dates:
Thursday, April 13th
Thursday, April 20th.

Upcoming Events
Week of April 24-28 - Color Guard Auditions 4-6
Tuesday, April 25th - Spring Concert. 7:00 pm Auditorium
Thursday, April 27-Saturday, April 29th - All State Band (for those involved)
Week of May 1-5 Concert Auditions in Class (after school for 9th graders)
Thursday, May 4th - Percussion / Chamber Music Concert
Friday, May 5th - Senior Fine Arts Signing Day (4th block).
Monday, May 8 - Thursday, May 12 - leadership training for those interested in leadership team.  4-5 pm after school.
Tuesday, May 9 - HJHS Band Concert (Auditorium)
Thursday, May 11 - HCMS Band Concert (Auditorium)
Wednesday, May 10 - Drum Major Auditions
Friday, May 12 - Band Banquet at Stovehouse banquet hall (all band students and families invited)
Thursday, May 25th - Graduation 5:30 pm VBC arena.  All non-graduating Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble members are required to perform. Dress is business casual (no jeans, no t-shirts, no tennis/athletic shoes).


Band Camp / Summer Schedule 2023
April 24 - 28 Color Guard Auditions 4-6 Freshman Academy.
Tuesday, May 30 - Friday, June 2 Rookie Camp (new members only), Marching Percussion Placement Camp from 1-4, and Guard Camp (percussion times edited 2/24)
July 6-8 - Leadership Camp (leadership team only)
July 12-14 Make up rookie camp (new members only) and Marching Percussion Camp (8-12).  (percussion times edited 2/24)
July 17 - 21 Band Camp Week 1 - All Marching Band Students + any concert only students going to London that want to march in the parade.
July 24-28 Band Camp Week 2 - All Marching Band Students
July 31 and August 1 - Rehearsals before school starts.
August 2 - 1st day of school

Student involved with marching band are required to attend these dates in full!  Students who miss because of summer activities may be removed from the halftime show.  We have worked hard over the past few years to improve our summer schedule to give a full break and options for camps and vacations.  Our dead time this coming summer is June 3 - July 5 although some students have much longer than this!