HHS BAND WEEKLY NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 1-7, 2025

Things We Like

​Schedule of the Week

Monday:  Symphonic Band 4-5:30 pm
Tuesday: Wind Ensemble 4-5:30 pm
Wednesday:  Off
Thursday: Wind Ensemble 4-5:30
Friday:  Off

Winter Concert 2025 - Monday, December 8th
Our Concert is MONDAY, December 8th!  
7:00 pm in the Auditorium.   The concert is free and open to the public.

Student Attire - Tuxedo/Concert Dresses.  Students may accessorize with Christmas decorations (santa hat, antlers, etc)

6:15 - Students should arrive 
6:30 pm - Warm up starts (stage/band room/choir room)
7:00 pm - Concert 

Summer Dates and Band Camp 2026
May 26-29 (Tues - Friday)  Color Guard Camp (Color Guard Only)
June 30 - July 2 Leadership Camp (leadership team only)
July 13-14 (Mon-Tues) 9th grade marching band students, leadership team, all percussion, all color guard.
Wednesday, July 15 - Monday, August 3 Band Camp - All Marching Band Students (excluding weekends)
**Friday, July 24th  Optional DCI Trip to Nashville (afternoon and evening)
Tuesday, August 4th - Parent Preview Performance (evening)

Wednesday, August 5th First Day of School (pending school board approval - this is not official yet).

Spring Training / Audition Dates for Spring 2026
Wednesday, January 28th - 8th grade band student day at Huntsville High (all 8th grade band students from HJHS and HCMS will come over during the morning.
Tuesday, February 17 6:00 pm - Parent and Student Informational Meeting for 8th grade students/parents
April 7-9 - Concert Band Auditions for 26-27 during class (8th grade after school).
Monday, April 20 - April 24 Color Guard Auditions
THURSDAY, April 30 Spring Training -  4:00- 6:00 pm. Music! (all winds and percussion)
Monday, May 11th Spring Training 4:00-7:00 pm. Marching Fundamentals (leadership and 8th graders) and Percussion Placements (all marching percussion)
Tuesday, May 12th Percussion Placements 4-7 (all marching percussion)
Wednesday, May 13 Spring Training 4:00-7:00 pm Marching Fundamental (leadership and 8th graders)
Monday, May 18th Spring Training 4:00-7:00 pm.  Marching Fundamentals (leadership and 8th graders

Homecoming Parade - Marching Band
The homecoming parade is now scheduled for Thursday, December 11th at 6:00 pm.   We will meet at 5:15 pm Full Uniform (color guard parade/school uniform).  Students can decorate your instrument with lights or decorations and wear santa hats/reindeer antlers.

All State and District Honor Band Auditions
District and All State honor band auditions are January 30 and January 31st at Huntsville High School.  Most high school students will audition Friday.  High School Bb Clarinets (excluding bass clarinets), Flutes, and TRUMPETS (change from last year) will audition Saturday.  This is an optional, but encouraged event.  

The cost to audition is $30 per student.   You can pay on Venmo or pay through the band box at school.  When you pay make sure it is clear that it's for Honor Band auditions and the name of the student is included.  If you would like to use a credit, please contact Mrs. Tapia directly at [email protected].   The deadline is Wednesday, December 10th to pay.  Your payment is our indication you will audition and Mr. Tankesley will put your name on the school registration.

Students who audition must be able to play a minimum of 7 scales perfectly (as written out on your all state scale sheet) and spend time preparing the 2 etudes that have been given to you in class.  In addition, there is a sight reading part to the audition.  Percussion auditions vary slightly.  All students who audition must own the method book where your audition comes from.  That information was handed out in class with your etudes, but please let us know if we can help with this.

District Honor Band is February 20-21 at Lee High School. All State Band is April 16-18 in downtown Mobile.
*At the audition, you will have the choice to audition for District Honor Band, All State Band, or both.  While most students choose to audition for both, please check your calendar to make sure you can honor your commitment if selected.  If selected to go to Mobile, you will be responsible for making transportation and hotel arrangements.**

Winter Guard 
This season, we will have a JV and Varsity team competing.  

Our practice and competition schedule has changed because we have been taken off the waitlist for competitions!  JV has updated their practice and competition schedule to include championships (11/14).   Yay! Please look at the new schedule here.

Holiday Gifts
Do you ask your student what they want for Christmas and they tell you "I don't know."   Do you need a stocking stuffer?  We have solutions!  Instrument accessories and even upgraded instruments make great holiday gifts!    Most of the items below can be found locally at Gadsden Music or Hallman's Music or also on Amazon or you can order from the links provided.    

For Clarinets and Saxophones - a box of new reeds is always needed and can fit inside a stocking.  Students are supposed to be rotating between about 4-5 reeds at a time.  We recommend Van Doren 3 or 3.5 strength reeds.  The v21 model of reeds is even better!  You may need to ask your student what reed they like to play on as it varies and if they plan on getting a harder strength reed next time.  I was told by Vandoren that the cost of reeds may be going up significantly after Christmas due to tariffs.

Neck Strap (saxophones only).  You may have lost yours or want a more comfortable/upgraded one.  

For Trumpets, Trombones, and French Horns:  Mutes make great gifts.  All students should have a straight mute and all straight mutes are not equal.  Straight Humes and Berg stoneline mutes (the white and red ones) are cheapest but don't play in tune very well.  We recommend a metal mute.  Good brands include Tom Brown, Dennis Wick, and Jo-Ral.

If you are in wind ensemble and already have a good straight mute, a cup mute (any brand - even the red and white stoneliner) is a good optional purchase.  

Practice mutes are also valuable if your student plays at home and it's too loud!

Percussion:  Sticks, Mallets, practice pads, a new/upgraded stick bag, 

All Brass:   Tuning Slide grease, valve oil, trombone slide grease, and polishing clothes (there is a different cloth for SILVER instruments) make great stocking stuffers! 

Woodwinds - new Cleaning rod/cloth/swab, cork grease.

Color Guard- new gloves! black electrical tape for taping flags, cheer/jazz shoes (if yours are wearing out), your own rifle or equipment to practice at home, Novelty items like these

All Instruments:   Does your student own a metronome/tuner?  Many students like to use apps on their phone, but with our school policy of no cell phones and if your student gets their phone taken away from them, then having a metronome/tuner comes in very useful.  This is on the cheaper end of tuner/metronomes but would do great Tuners & Metronomes | Music & Arts.  There are more fancier ones if you want.  

Do you have a folding stand at home for practicing?  Not using a stand can create bad habits.   You can also invest in a real stand but they are more pricey ($50). folding stand results | Music & Arts

Instrument Upgrades  If you are playing on a beginning instrument that you played on in 6th grade, it's time for a new instrument.  If you plan to play on your instrument through college and beyond, it may also be time to invest in a professional level instrument that will remain with you as long as you want to play.  We can help!  If you plan on purchasing a new instrument whether at Christmas time or during the year, please consult with band directors and private teachers!  We will help find the right one for you - including buying a used one for a better price.  

While specialty/toy instruments are fun to own, upgrading your current instrument is always better.  There is often little use for a pocket trumpet, soprano trombone, etc in band other than playing it at your home.  

Novelty items (all instruments):  Lifestyle | Music & Arts

Spring Trip - Important Update 10/26
We have officially been approved for the Orlando trip departing Wednesday evening March 11th and returning Monday morning, March 16th.  Full information on this trip is found in Cut Time in an announcement/email message from August 19th.
This week we have enough travelers to add a third bus.  Thank you for those who have agreed to add to our trip!!!  If you are on the wait list, you should have received an invitation and should make a payment.
There are some families who are behind in payments.  Make sure you are making your scheduled payment directly to the travel company using the link below.  If you miss 2 payments in a row, it is the policy of the travel company to remove your name from the trip.   If you are waiting to pay due to fundraising credits, please make sure you let us know [email protected]

HUNTSVILLE HS BAND in Orlando, FL, USA
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College Corner
Universities often offer marching band days, instrument days, and honor bands as a way to give high school students additional opportunities and recruit for their university.  If you are interested in doing one of these events, they are generally marked as an administrative absence or field trip (excused by the school).  I would be happy to do a form or recommendation to get anyone involved if you are interested.  I will attempt to post SOME of the events offered in our state and area, but there are many so not everything will get posted on here!  It's a great chance to meet new people, experience college music, and see a university you may be interested in attending in the future.  The vast majority of events are open to all high school students (grades 9-12).  
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UAH Honor Band: January 22-24  https://www.uah.edu/ahs/departments/music/ensembles/honor-band 
UAB Honor Band December 11-13th  UAB High School Honor Band Festival - UAB Bands
University of Alabama Honor Band Feb 5-7   High School Honor Band – The University of Alabama Bands (application coming soon)
Auburn University Honor Band Feb 27-March 1 Auburn University High School Symphonic Honor Band
Tri-State Honor Band (University of Tennessee Chattanooga) - UTC Tri-States Honor Band | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
UNA Honor Band:  April 24-26.... UNA Invitational Honor Band
Mississippi State Honor Band 2026 MSU Honor Band Clinic Audition Information | The Famous Maroon Band

Upcoming Dates
December 8 - Winter Concert
December 11 - Homecoming Parade

The 25-26 Band Schedule can be found here and on the Cut Time calendar.

Questions/Concerns?  Please contact the following:
Grades, missing rehearsals/absences, conflicts, instruments, general band questions - stuart[email protected] or [email protected]
For color guard, contact Annabelle Rizzardi at [email protected]
If you have any of the following issues, please direct your questions to [email protected]. They’ll be able to guide you to the appropriate point of contact.

• Band Student Account Balances, band fees
• Business or Individual Sponsorships
• Fundraising Questions 
• Volunteering/Chaperones 
• Cut Time, Band App, or Social Media Questions 
• Senior Night 
• Uniforms (except color guard uniforms)  
• Percussion 
• General Band Boosters Questions