HHS Band Weekly Newsletter Feb 27-Mar 3 2023

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Schedule for the week

Monday - Symphonic Band 4-5:30.  
Tuesday - Wind Ensemble Rehearsal 4-5:30.   Winter Guard 4-6 
Wednesday - Winter Guard Performance at HCMS - 8:00 am.  MPA - Wind Ensemble at James Clemens - 6:00 pm.  See schedule.
Thursday -  Off (no Wind Ensemble rehearsal)
Friday  -  Off.  

MPA for Wind Ensemble

Performance:
The performance is in the James Clemens High School Auditorium in Madison.  The performance on stage is open to the public and free of charge. 

Map:  A map of the outside of the school is here.

Transportation:  2 school buses and our band trailer for large/medium instruments and some percussion.

What to wear:  We will change before we leave into our formal concert uniform (tuxedos/ dress and black shoes).  Guys don't forget cummerbund, bow ties, and black socks.

Food:  We will have pizza in the band room prior to changing.

Other things:  
Make sure you bring music, mutes, and other music accessories.  

Wind Ensemble will not meet after school the week of March 6-10th!

Schedule:
Wednesday, March 1st (B day)
8:30  Come to school as normal - bring your tuxedo/dress, and all accessories in your red garment bag.
3:15 pm -  Dismiss from 4th block and come to band room.  Eat Pizza (first!) then change into your Tuxdeo or Concert Dress.

4:30 pm - Depart HHS on 2 school buses.  Medium and large instruments will be able to go on the trailer.  Do not take backpacks/extra items that you don't need.  

5:00 pm - Arrive at James Clemens
5:30 pm - Warm up
6:00 pm - PERFORMANCE in the Auditorium (open to the public!)
6:30 pm - Sight read
7:30 pm - Depart James Clemens 
8:00 pm - Arrive back at HHS

NEW YORK!!!
There is a mandatory New York meeting for senior participants and their parents on Thursday, March 9th at 6:00 pm in the band room.  We will cover final itinerary and information!

2023-24 Course Registration and Band Contract
Band Contracts will be distributed after MPA will be due by the last day of March.   It will include the same options as before (no changes).  Marching Band option or Concert only option.   

Course registration numbers
Just a friendly reminder to ignore the class titles.  Student who want to be in marching band except for color guard) should register both Marching Band and the numbers under your class (Seniors, juniors, sophomores, freshmen).  Each number represents 1 semester, but you must sign up for both numbers for each  - the system will override it otherwise. 

Color Guard class (Marching/winter guard):

Instrumental Chamber Ensemble 1 05106G10   .  It should be a full year 1.0 credit class.  Only 1 number needed.

12th Grade in 2023-24 
Marching Band V - 05103G0505
Concert Band V - 05102G0505

11th Grade in 2023-24
Marching Band IV - 05103G0504
Concert Band IV -  05102G0504

10th Grade in 2023-24
Marching Band III - 05103G503
Concert Band III - 05102G0503

9th Grade in 2023-24:
Marching Band II - 05103G0502
Concert Band II - 05102G0502

Marching Band (Brass, Woodwinds, and Percussion only.  Guard see other number):
Marching Band I - 05103G0501
Concert Band I - 05102G0501

Marching Percussion Camp Times
The times for marching percussion camp times have been added to our summer schedule. They are 1-4 pm Tuesday, May 30 - June 2 and 8-12 on July 12-14.  We will be doing marching percussion placements during the first camp.  Attendance is essential for those doing marching band percussion.  

Winter Guard Information

Recruiting performances 
The Winter Guard will be performing at Hampton Cove during Toro Time on Wednesday, March 1st and during HJHS Advisory time on Wednesday, March 8th.  This is our chance to be in front of the 8th grade students and recruit students to color guard next year!

We will need to meet at 7:30 am at each school with our equipment and floor to set up.  We will have our performance of the winter guard show and information session between 8:00 - 8:30 am at each school. You will be a little late to 1st block both of these days.  We plan to carpool back to school.

Color Guard Auditions for 23-24 
 April 24-28 in the Freshman Academy from 4-6 each day.  We encourage every member to find one current HHS student that you know to come audition.  

Course Registration
Anyone interested in guard for 23-24 (including current members) should register for the following class at course registration (this is a different course than last year).  It is encouraged to go ahead and register for the class even though you may not have auditioned yet.
  
Instrumental Chamber Ensemble 1 05106G10   .  It should be a full year 1.0 credit class.  

Competition and Rehearsal Schedule 
*Every Tuesday from 4-6 pm Winter Guard has rehearsal 
March 25 - Spain Park HS (Hoover)
Marching 27th - Goodies with the Guard at Bob Jones HS (Madison)
April 1 - Championships at Western Kentucky University. (Bowling Green)

Please contact Mrs. Jeffress if you have any questions regarding the schedule or transportation.  [email protected]

 MPA - Symphonic Band
Symphonic Band will be performing Tuesday, March 7th at 5:15 pm at Hartselle High School.  Here is the tentative schedule.  
3:15 Depart HHS
4:15  Arrive
4:45  Warm up
5:15  PERFORM
5:45 Sight Read
6:30 Depart Hartselle
7:15 Arrive back at Huntsville High

London Connection!

Next Payment
Friday, March 31st is the next Payment- $400 per traveler. 

What do I need to do right now?
 1.  Get your passport now!  It should be valid 6 months past our return date!
 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  

FAQ: 
 Can I still sign up?  
Yes - but you must pay for all missed deposits on your first payment or else you can't be locked into the trip.  At some point, there will be price increases, room assignments done, airline flights arranged, and other logistical things related to the trip completed.  After we do those things, anyone added will just be accommodated the best we can.  Our contract is for 150 people so we must be atleast at this number of travelers.  If you have not signed up, the sooner you can do this the better for us because numbers dictate many things!

When do you have to declare if you are doing land only or full trip?  
I don't have an exact date, but my best estimate is early Fall 2023.

London information can be found in our google drive. Click here to access google drive

Upcoming Events
March 7 - Symphonic Band MPA at Hartselle
March 13-17  Senior New York Trip / Spring Break
March 23 - Chamber Ensembles performance in Montgomery at state capital.  

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!