HHS Band weekly newsletter april 11-15, 2022

Weekly Schedule 
Monday - Percussion Performance at Blossomwood 4th block***.  Symphonic Band 4 - 5:30 pm
Tuesday -  Wind Ensemble 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Wednesday - Orlando Parade Rehearsal 4-5
Thursday - Off
Friday - Off

***Percussionists going to Blossomwood need to meet at school at 8:00 AM to load equipment into cars, so we can leave immediately at the beginning of Panther Hour.  You can pull your cars over by the trucks.  Come to the bandroom immediately after 3rd block.  We have a tight time window, so everything needs to be loaded early.  Symphonic Band students are expected to be at after school rehearsal (we should be back to school in plenty of time).

Orlando Information - Updated 4/10/22

Communication:  All travelers needs to be on our Orlando Remind.  Text the phone number 81010 with the message @hhsbandorl

Medication Update:  Medication information was sent out in an email in March.  You can turn in medication to the school nurse during regular school hours or make special arrangements.  Please contact her directly. If a parent of a student is going, you do not need to turn in any medication as they can give meds to their own child.  

Itinerary (from meeting on 4/4) 

Packing list hand out (from meeting on 4/4):

For more specific questions about Disney or Universal, visit their websites:  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/help/ or https://www.universalorlando.com/

Weather in Orlando:  Current 10 day forecast for Orlando

Apps:

There was some confusion about the My Disney Experience app and Genie + at the meeting.  I have clarified information with our travel company and found out a few things have changed with Disney in the past few weeks.  Here is the latest -

1.  The My Disney Experience App and the Universal App are both very useful tools and highly encouraged, but are not required.   You will be able to function and have a great park experience even without the app, but the app is a great help.  It allows you to use it as your ticket (in case you lose your paper ticket!), see wait times, maps of the parks, order food through your phone, enter virtual queues for rides, and more.   When I went to Disney in October, I was confused about it as I was planning as well.  When you are onsite, it makes sense.  There are other things adults can use it for such as reservations at restaurants and connecting it to their photo service.    You can read about the Disney app here:   https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/#drawer-card-myDisneyExperienceApp

1. The Genie + portion of the Disney app is purely optional and is not something that I would expect many people to do because of the money involved with doing it. It has replaced the free "fast pass" at Disney and is now something they charge money for.  From talking to some other people and bands who have used the Genie+ since it debuted in October, it has some challenges and is still being tweaked by Disney.  We discussed Genie + because it would ultimately be a question that would come up from students on the trip or from people that know Disney well or have been to Disney recently.     Students without Genie plus will have a terrific experience and it is not needed to have a great time at Disney World - it's just the new "Fast pass" that Disney is choosing to charge for.

Seniors

Fine Arts Signing Day

Seniors - If you are continuing on with band in college or the military in some form (college marching band, concert bands, jazz, etc), we want to recognize you at Senior Fine Arts Signing Day on Friday, April 29 during 4th block (approximately 2:30 pm).    Please fill out this form if you would like to participate.  Participating students must have at least 1 parent present for this event.  We are grateful to Mrs. Phelps for organizing this event!    https://forms.gle/2EtRHQxMhpmCr4Rb6

Senior Showcase
Every year the senior showcase is put on by the fine arts department.  If you would like to perform at the May 10th Senior Showcase, please fill out this form.  This is more of a casual event.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D4BA4A72AABF94-fine

If have have questions about these events, ask a director or Mrs. Phelps, our theater teacher.

Band Banquet Information
The 2021-22 Band Banquet will take place Friday, May 13 at Stovehouse.  The banquet is for ALL Band students and their families.
The cost is $30 a person except for senior students, which come for free.  The dress for the banquet is business casual.  

Register here and pay to the band box by May 7th.   Questions? Email Kim Ejide at [email protected]

London New Year's Day Parade 2023-24

We announced last Monday that the Huntsville High School Band has been through the selection process and has been invited to the 2023-24 New Year's Day Parade in London at the end of 2023.  I encourage you to visit their website at https://lnydp.com/ and think about this opportunity - it would be open to any 23-24 HHS Band student and their family to go.  This would involve all current 7th - 10th graders.   We plan to make a decision about this invitation in the early Fall of next year with payments for the trip starting later in the Fall.   Our participation depends on the number of people that want to go.

To give you an idea of what this trip would look like - we would potentially depart a couple days after Christmas and return around January 4 (about a week in London).  The cost is anticipated around $3700 per traveler and is pretty inclusive - notably includes comprehensive travel insurance, 2 people per hotel room in or close to the city center of London, bus transportation in London, select events and tours that we participate in, and breakfast/dinner every day.  It would not include lunches and the cost for bus transportation to/from the airport in the US (probably Atlanta, Memphis, or Nashville). 

The booster board will take a look at our current offer in full as well as Mr. King and the superintendent before we officially sign a contract with the London Parade.  

UAH Wind Ensemble - Special Concert

The UAH Wind Ensemble is coming to do a special concert for all band students on Monday, April 18th during Panther Hour.  All band students will be excused to come to this short performance.  The UAH Wind Ensemble will also be using our auditorium for a concert that evening that anyone is welcome to attend.

Percussion Ensemble and Chamber Music Concert
To sign up to perform as a solo or small group, use this link:  https://forms.gle/FPZmRNR11Hq9P8r7A.  The deadline to sign up is right before the Orlando trip on April 19th.  

Percussion Students Only
Our concert is approaching on Thursday, May 5th.  Make sure you have black pants and a black shirt to perform in.  It should be formal - Guys are welcome to use their tuxedo pants.   No other colors should be allowed in your attire except black (including shoes).  04034255_zi_black.jpg (1760×2040) (dillards.com)

Audition Music

Concert Ensemble Auditions for Fall 2022 will take place the week of May 2nd during class.  Upcoming 9th graders will be after school (Monday - Woodwinds, Tuesday - Brass, Thursday - Percussion)

The music can be accessed here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nH0VcLiY6zHPC0IiN9R1tGQehIeq7vDP?usp=sharing

Upcoming Wind Ensemble rehearsalsTuesday, April 26th

Upcoming Schedule
April 18 - Special UAH Concert
April 20-25 - Orlando Trip!!
Thursday, April 28 - Spring Concert - 7:00 pm Auditorium
April 29th - Fine Arts Senior Signing Day

Week of May 2 - Color Guard and Concert Band Auditions
Thursday, May 5 - Percussion Ensemble / Chamber Concert - 7:00 pm Auditorium
Week of May 9 - Leadership tryouts including Drum Major Auditions on Thursday, May 12th
Friday, May 13th - Band Banquet 
Friday, May 27th - Graduation (all nongraduating students perform) 5:30 pm.  VBC arena

SUMMER 2022 SCHEDULE 

Guard and Percussion may practice after school during Finals week!
Tuesday, May 31st - Friday, June 3rd - 8:00 am -12:00 pm Rookie Camp for new marchers and leadership. 

Percussion and Guard Camp #1 - Tuesday, May 31st - Friday, June 3.  Times TBA.

Thursday, July 7 - Saturday, July 9th - Leadership training seminar with Mr. Lambert, Mr. Denton, and Mr. Horten for leadership team.

Thursday, July 13 - Friday, July 15th - Make up Rookie Camp for new marchers and limited leadership team.

Percussion and Guard Camp #2 - Thursday, July 13 - Friday, July 15th  Times TBA.  

Band Camp starts July 18th and runs to the first day of school (Tuesday, August 2nd).  Do not plan any vacations or major conflicts starting July 18th if you plan to participate in marching band.  The football band option will no longer be offered starting this coming school year - students must choose between marching band and concert only.