Things We Like Section Spotlight: Great to see a few of our HHS saxes representing at Rocket City Reed Day! Follow them on Instagram @hhs.saxes. Schedule of the WeekMonday: Symphonic Band 4-5:30 pm, Winter Guard callbacks 4-6pm, Winter Guard parent meeting 6pm Tuesday: Veterans Day Parade (marching band). No School Wednesday: Off Thursday: Leadership performance at Courtyard by Marriott (University drive) after school. Friday: Off Veterans Day Parade - Tuesday Schedule: Monday - load instruments and guard equipment during class (taking trailer only) Tuesday (no school) 10:00 am - Meet in our location in Parking Lot across from Clinton Ave. Post office ("Lot K"). We are located in the front of the "red line" on the left (west) side of the parking lot. Warm up, set parade block, rehearse. 11:11 am - Parade steps off. We are number R75 this year (towards the FRONT of the parade!!) ~12:30 pm - Approximate time we will be finished. We will be dismissed from the parking lot. Parking Parking can be difficult, so plan ahead and consider carpooling. Only parade vehicles will be able to enter the parking lot across from the post office ("Lot K"). City parking garages will be open. You can often find spots around downtown or jump the curb and park along Heart of Huntsville Dr depending on how early you arrive. VBC parking may be an option for a cost. Transportation Provide your own transportation to downtown / carpool! Extra things, water, restrooms Do not bring anything you don't need to march to the parking lot - keep it in your car. Feel free to bring a water bottle that you can store in the trailer. We also plan to have some plastic water bottles. The only restroom access are portable restrooms in the parking lot. Uniform We will be in full uniform (Guard in school uniform - same as the last game). The parade route can be found here. After School practice schedule Symphonic Band will start after school rehearsals on Monday, November 10th. (Every Monday until 5:30 pm). They will rehearse after school Monday November 10, November 17, November 24, and December 1st before taking a break until January. Wind Ensemble will start after school rehearsals on Tuesday, November 18th (Every Tuesday/Thursday until 5:30). They will rehearse after school Nov 18, No 20, Dec 2, and Dec 4 before taking a break until January. Winter Guard This season, we will have a JV and Varsity team competing. A parent meeting will be held Monday, November 10th, in the band room at 6:00pm. Please join us as we discuss the details about the winter guard season and answer questions. After School Practice this week: Monday, November 10th from 4:00pm - 6:00pm: Callbacks for Varsity and Rifle Auditions Students will be notified by noon on Sunday if they are going to callbacks. If your student would like to audition for rifle line for either JV or Varsity, they will need to come to this practice as well. Our practice and competition schedule has changed because we have been taken off the waitlist for competitions! 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 Courtyard by Marriott Performance - November 13th Courtyard by Marriott on University Dr is doing a grand re-opening on Thursday, November 13th after school from 4-6. Our leadership team will be performing. Any other marching band students that want to join us are welcome! Courtyard by Marriott is giving us a donation and allowing us some free hotel rooms for our clinicians. We will meet there immediately after school (it probably will not last until 6 pm). Wear your band polo and jeans. Guard wears your pep rally uniform with color guard jacket. 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).
Upcoming Dates November 21 - Winter Guard Camp 4-9 pm December 8 - Winter Concert 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 - [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.
Thank You To Our 2025 Sponsors!  
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
CONTRIBUTE!Submit content to: [email protected] Archives
February 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed
Proudly powered by Weebly