HHS Band Weekly newsletter March 6-10 2023

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Schedule for the Week

Monday - Symphonic Band 4-5:30. 
Tuesday - Symphonic Band Performance at MPA.   Winter Guard 4-6.  No Wind Ensemble rehearsal.
Wednesday - Winter Guard Performance at HJHS - 8:00 am.  Meet at 7:30 am
Thursday -  Off (no Wind Ensemble rehearsal).  New York Meeting 6:00 pm.
Friday  -  Off.  E-learning day.  

MPA for Symphonic Band
Performance:
The performance is in the Hartselle High School Auditorium in Hartselle.  The address of the school is 1000 Bethel Road.  Hartselle, Al  35640  The performance on stage is open to the public and free of charge. 

Map:  A link to inside and outside of Hartselle High School can be found here.

Transportation:  2 school buses and our band truck 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.  
The performance is required and a large part of your 9 weeks grade.  Any student not going must have any absence approved by a director.

We have an opportunity for 3 volunteers to accompany us on this important trip.  Please sign up through CHARMS or contact Audrey Beumer [email protected]

Schedule:
Tuesday, March 7th (B day)
8:30  Come to school as normal - bring your tuxedo/dress, and all accessories in your red garment bag.  Hang in the band room.
2:10 pm -  After 3rd block, report directly to the band room.  You have been excused from 4th block today.  Eat Pizza (first!) then change into your Tuxdeo or Concert Dress.
3:15 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.  
4:15 pm - Arrive at Hartselle HS
4:45 pm - Warm up
5:15 pm - PERFORMANCE in the Hartselle Auditorium (open to the public!)
5:45 pm - Sight read (closed to public)
7:00 pm - Depart Hartselle HS
7:45 pm - Arrive back at HHS.  Get instrument off truck before leaving.  

BAND CONTRACTS!!!
Now is the time to make your commitment for band next year.  The contract is due by March 31 and the latest marching band numbers can be adjusted is audition week (first week of May).  You can fill out and email back or turn into the band box at school.   Remember, even if you plan to do concert only, if you are planning to march the parade in London, you need to attend week 1 of band camp!

Band Contracts can be accessed here.  We will also give hard copies out at school

Solo and Ensemble!!!
Solo and Ensemble is Saturday, April 1st at Liberty Middle School.  If you would like to participate, fill this form out by the end of the day on Friday, March 10th. 
The cost is $10 per solo or $5 per student per ensemble.
  
https://forms.gle/aSZzh6CZpb1eN1Ly7


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

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]

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

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 13-17  Senior New York Trip / Spring Break
March 23 - Chamber Ensembles performance in Montgomery at state capital.  
March 24 - Possible volunteer Pep band to Jones Valley Elem. at 1:30 pm
March 25 - Winter Guard Competition at Spain Park
March 27 - Winter Guard - "Goodies with the Guard" performance at Bob Jones
March 31st -  Volunteer Pep Band to Blossomwood in the afternooon.
April 1 - Winter Guard - SCGC FINALS at Western Kentucky University

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!