HHS Band Weekly newsletter October 11-16, 2021

Schedule for the Week - Monday-Saturday 

Weekly Schedule
B day marching classes should be prepared to go outside during class.
Monday -  Marching Percussion Sectional 4-5:30.  
Tuesday - Competition Band Rehearsal 4:00-5:45.  Color Guard Sectional 6-7
Wednesday:  Off
Thursday:  Testing for 10th and 11th graders (probably inside today during classes).  Competition Band Rehearsal 4:00-5:45.  Football Band Rehearsal 4-4:45.
Friday:  Game vs. Florence - Senior Night!!
Saturday:  Competition at Muscle Shoals HS

Friday and Saturday Specifics! 

Friday Game Day Schedule

5:30 pm - Meet at Milton Frank Stadium
5:45 pm - Sections
6:10 pm - Full Band Warm up
6:30 - Line up for pregame 
7:00 pm  Game Starts
Halftime performance (we perform 2nd) to the home press box.  We will be done a small snippet                 of our show followed by Senior Recognitions
~9:30 pm - Game ends

Pack and load truck for competition after game.

Location:  Milton Frank Stadium

Uniform
FULL MARCHING UNIFORM!  Make sure you have your shako (hat), longer black socks, marching shoes, and gloves.  Front ensemble is wearing your halftime uniform.  

Dinner Information
On your own prior to the game.  No food in the stands
 
Transportation
On your own - meeting at Milton Frank.

Other information
Bring your full water jug to the game.


Competition Information -Saturday, October 16th
Schedule (schedule is tentative because the final schedule has not been sent from the host - no major changes expected, but there may be small tweaks)


12:00 pm Band Room Opens
12:30 - 1:30 pm  Rehearsal 
2:30 pm Depart via 2 charter buses (color guard should have hair and makeup done by the time they get off the bus in Muscle Shoals)
4:15 pm  Arrive at Muscle Shoals Stadium and unload.  Once we unload students will be able to eat dinner at the concessions and watch other bands - Bring $$$.
5:00 pm - Dress in uniform for performance (including color guard - hair and makeup should already be done!!) - there will be dressing rooms available.  Equipment ready to go by 6:20 pm
6:30 pm - Move to warm up
6:40 pm - Warm up block
7:40 pm - Performance
AWARDS - 10:00 pm  (all students are expected to stay for awards and sit with the band)
Approximate arrival at HHS - 12:30 am

After we perform we will change back into regular (HHS Band apparel encouraged) clothes and watch other bands before the awards ceremony.  Those participating in the awards ceremony will need to be in uniform and in the stadium by 9:30 pm.  Immediately after the awards ceremony we will return to HHS.  

Location:  Muscle Shoals High School.  1900 Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Spectator information
Competitions are open to the public and we always love to have a huge fan group in the stands!  

This serves as a major fundraiser for the Muscle Shoals High School Band:
General admission tickets for family and friends are $10 and can be purchased at the gate.  Children 6 and under are free.
Chaperones who travel with the band or trucks get in free.  We have limited spots available.

Concessions are available throughout the day.


 Although this is a competition, we are always super supportive of the other bands there.  We ask that anyone that attends to be a great audience for our band, but also the other students performing.  There are quite a few bands coming! 

If you plan to check out your students after awards, please do so at the charter buses.  It can be pretty chaotic after awards in the stadium.  This is to ensure we have accountability for all students.  

Uniform
FULL MARCHING UNIFORM!  Make sure you have your shako (hat), longer black socks, marching shoes, and gloves.  Front ensemble is wearing their halftime show uniform.    Wear your dry fit shirt underneath your uniform.

Food Information
Eat lunch before you arrive.

Bring Money for dinner at concessions.  Students will have over an hour when we arrive and possibly time after we perform to get food.    Students are also welcome to bring snacks and drinks with a screw top on the bus as long as they pick up after themselves.  

Transportation

2 Charter Buses.  We only have room for competition band, pit crew, and chaperones.

Other information

https://msband.org/tvi/  - Competition website

Bring your water jug to stay hydrated!

Bring proper clothes (weather) to change into for the awards ceremony.  HHS Band gear is always encouraged!!

Bands will be assigned a specific seating area and will sit together when we are not performing.

Although this is a competition, we are always super supportive of the other bands there.  We ask that anyone that attends to be a great audience for our band, but also the other students performing.  Lots of positivity from everyone involved.

Senior Night

Marching Band seniors will be recognized at halftime.  A huge thank you for Mrs. Thomas for organizing this year's senior night for band.  If you are standing with your senior at halftime, please make sure you follow the instructions sent out by Mrs. Thomas this week.  We want to make sure everyone is recognized correctly.  

We will perform a brief portion of our halftime show then have the seniors come forward and meet their families on the field for the recognition.   Our portion of the halftime show will be following Florence High School Band's performance.

From [email protected] & [email protected]

Sad News

Over Fall Break, Jose Arriaga, the father of John Arriaga (9th grade, Alto Saxophone) passed away. John has 3 other siblings including Lucero, who was also in band (percussion).  Please send your prayers and thoughts to their family.  

A GoFundMe to help his family can be found here:  https://gofund.me/550ef90a

His arrangements and obituary can be found here:  https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/huntsville-al/jose-arriaga-10389487

Upcoming Schedule

After this week, we will remove all sectionals (no Monday percussion sectional or Tuesday guard sectional).  We will also cut back our weekly schedule.  

We will practice Thursday, October 21st from 4-5 to prepare for our Friday, October 22nd game.  We will rehearse TUESDAY, October 26th for our Thursday, October 28th game.  

We also are still planning to participate in the Veteran's Day Parade on November 11th.

Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band after school rehearsals begin after the last game (November).  Symphonic Band typically rehearses Mondays from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.  Wind Ensemble rehearsals are generally Tuesday and Thursday 4:00-5:30 pm.  More detailed information is forthcoming.  

NEW MARCHING UNIFORMS for 2022-23!!!!
We are excited to have new marching uniforms for the 2022-23 school year!  This process has been ongoing. Our uniform committee has been established with the goal of making recommendations to the directors and decision committee in both implementation and preference of design..

Uniform Committee Members:
Erin Boles (chair) - Former uniform coordinator
Bonnie Eversole - current uniform coordinator, experience selecting the current uniform 10 years ago.
Mark Connell - Band advisor and 35+ years of experience with marching band uniforms
Amy Jackson - current uniform coordinator
Noah Little - Woodwind and 11th grade male student representative
Gabby Smith - Percussion and 10th grade female student representative
Victoria Newell - Brass and 9th grade female student representative

Decision Committee:  Mr. Tankesley, Mrs. Connell, Mr. King

Our timeline is to have the uniforms ordered by the end of January for a summer delivery

Things We Like!

Hey it was the Pep Band - and it was Fall Break!  Here's to Holly and Mark Connell posing as students making music with the finest Pep Band in the Land!