THE Houston Band

Hello, Houston Band family,

Our Wind Symphony students did such a great job Thursday. With that performance, I have finished leading concert bands for this school year. Mr. Sims will take over to conduct the symphonic band, while I will be focusing on our Symphony Orchestra collaboration and the planning for next year's marching season. I can't wait to hear what these fantastic young musicians accomplish with Mr. Sims and our student teacher Mr. Riggins over the next couple of months, and I can't wait to work with our top wind and percussion students on orchestral repertoire.

Parents, you should hear students practicing their symphonic band parts over the next couple of weeks. Mr. Sims has planned a tough cycle, and Q4 can be pretty overwhelming! Getting a head start is always a good idea.

With excitement and gratitude,

Mr. C

Students will audition for Q4 cycle chair placements when we return from Spring Break. These auditions will take place from Monday through Wednesday for our wind students. Percussion students will be placed by instructional staff based on their percussion ensemble progress. If you have any questions about chair placements, reach out to me!

Memphis Jazz Workshop classes start up at Houston High School Wednesday after break! Sign up ASAP to secure your spot. This is an INCREDIBLE opportunity to grow as a musician and develop an understanding of America's genre. Sign up here!

Classes will be Wednesday at 4pm to 7pm.

There will be no Symphonic Band practices in March. We will begin our rehearsals April 1st. Find a full list of practices below.

Rehearsals: April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Dress rehearsal: May 5th (2:55-3:30)

Rehearsals: April 22, 24, 29, May 1

Dress rehearsal: May 5th (3:30-5:00)

A fun week is right around the corner! On the week of 4/21, we will begin our Symphony Orchestra rehearsals, we will host Jazz & Percussion night @ HHS (info soon), and we will have our annual banquet @ The Great Hall (info soon). Leave your calendar open those evenings for a great time with friends, food, and band recognitions!

Hello senior parents! We are thinking it would be nice to show a baby picture of your senior in the slide show at the end of the year banquet on April 23rd. Please email me a baby picture at sheilajeevan@yahoo.com by April 1st. If you have any questions please email me.

- Sheila Jeevan

Mr. Sims has set up a group chat for students participating in the Dallas trip for quick communications in places that students will be spread out (hotel, adventure park, etc.) If you don't want your student in that group chat, please reach out to me.

https://www.givebacks.com/onboarding/causes/houstonhighchoir/campaigns/f0a84b258095

We love Mr. Timmerman (HMS Choir Director). He and his wife recently suffered the unimaginable loss of their newborn son Arthur. This heartbreaking tragedy has left a deep impact on the Timmerman family and many in our community are looking for a way to show their support during this incredibly difficult time.

In honor of their son Arthur, we are launching a fundraiser to commission a special choral piece that will not only pay tribute to Arthur's short but precious life, but also offer the Timmerman family a lasting and meaningful connection to their beloved son.

Our phenomenal booster organization takes care of unexpected costs, pays for some of our adjunct staff, organizes events, and enables us to create long-term savings and spending plans. In lieu of required booster dues or increased school-based dues, our boosters ask that each family donate $225 (or whatever they can) to the booster organization. That can be done via check (made out to "HHS Band Boosters") in Woody or at this link:

https://houstonhighband.givebacks.com/store/items/1050541

2025-2026 Season Sponsorships

If you or someone you know would like to sponsor our band next year, we have a few different tiers of booster sponsorships we're excited to introduce! Please reach out to me for more info if you're interested. Anonymous sponsorships are also available if desired!

$25,000 - Platinum - Season Sponsor (1 spot) - As a token of appreciation: Name or company name on all concert programs, read as the primary sponsor at all football games while introducing the band, posted on website, and given a certificate of appreciation at our Band Banquet.

$10,000 - Gold - Season Sponsor (3 spots) - As a token of appreciation: Name or company name on all concert programs, read at all football games while introducing the band, posted on website, and given a certificate of appreciation at our Band Banquet.

$5,000 - Silver - Cycle Sponsor (3 spots) - By supporting the costs roughly associated with one of our three cycles of concert band, you can be a Cycle Sponsor. As a token of appreciation: At the culminating concert of that cycle, name or company on concert programs and verbally announced as that concert's sponsor. Included on website.

$1,000 - Bronze - Friend of the Band (unlimited spots) - As a token of appreciation: Name or company name printed in all concert programs on a list of "friends of the band."

- All State is changing from being a Wed-Sat event to a Thurs-Sun event. This is beyond our control.

- HHS Symphony Orchestra rehearses on Tuesdays AND Thursdays as we approach the end of the school year. Please check our calendar for details.

If you have a friend, neighbor, family member, or ANYONE else in your life in 4th or 5th grade within GMSD, let them know about the transformative experience band has been in your students' lives. If you know an 8th grader that wants to be in a great band but doesn't live in Germantown, let them know about our academies. We are so excited to continue building our program's numbers back to sustainable levels, but that takes work from everyone. Thank you for helping with that work!

If you are interested in private lessons, please reach out! We are happy to recommend teachers for students of all levels at any budget.

Mr. Sims has created a list of some practice resources for students. If you have any additional resources that have been helpful for you, please feel free to share them!

• MusicRacer.com
• The Woodwind Fingering Guide
• "Fingering Chart by Tremolo" on iOS
• PlayScore 2
• Sight Reading Factory (see Mr. C for activation instructions)

We will be hosting open practice time after school Monday-Thursday AND every day before school starts. The road to All West participation starts now, with a little bit of growth every day! We hope to see as many students as possible fill the band room each morning and evening to improve their craft.

Please encourage your young musicians to pick a day each week to come practice with myself, Mr. Sims, and others on our incredibly talented band staff. Thank you!

Students can request lesson time with Mr. Sims or Mr. Carpenter after school! We are here to help you get better at your instrument!

We have a new way of tracking band conflicts internally. Please note, students that miss rehearsals and performances without prior approval will be penalized with grade deductions.

All you have to do is give us as MUCH heads up as possible, emailing me the reason for missing and (when relevant) a doctor's note. Please note that the closer we get to a date, the less likely exemption will be granted. Give us time to plan for other students' success when sending us your reasonable conflicts due to health, religion, family emergencies, etc.

Thank you for your understanding and commitment to our band's success!

Find upcoming dates for performances, events, and one-off rehearsals below. Note that regular rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays, with sectionals on Mondays.

You can always find our full calendar (including Google and iCal integration links) here: https://www.thehoustonband.com/calendar

• 4/1/25 - Symphonic Band rehearsals begin (Tuesdays)
• 4/2-5/25 - Dallas Trip
• 4/10/25 - TN All State Conference Begins
• 4/13/25 - TN All State Concert Concludes
• 4/22/25 - HHS Symphony Orchestra rehearsals begin (Tuesdays/Thursdays)
• 5/6/25 - HHS Instrumental Concert
• 5/7/25 - Graduation Orchestra Rehearsal
• 5/8/25 - Graduation Orchestra Rehearsal
  
• 5/9/25 - Graduation! CONGRATS, seniors.
• 5/12-13/25 - 25-26 Leadership Camp (after school)
• 6/2-6/11 - June Guard Camp
• 6/12/25 - BAND STAFF SUMMER (limited email correspondence and facility access due to annual cleanings)
• 7/10/25 - BAND STAFF SUMMER ENDS
• 7/14/25-7/19/25 - Percussion and Guard Camps
  
• 7/21/25-7/26/25 - Full Band Camp
• 7/29/25 - SUMMER REHEARSAL (3-6pm)
• 7/31/25 - SUMMER REHEARSAL (3-6pm)
• 9/13/25 - Marching Band Mini Camp (all day)
• 9/27/25 - Contest #1 (TBD)
• 10/4/25 - Contest #2 (Collierville or Booneville)
• 10/25/25 - Contest #3 or Recording Session (TBD)
• 11/1/25 - Contest #3 or Recording Session (TBD)
• 11/8/25 - POSSIBLE Contest #4 if Bandmasters is later than typical (Depends on UofM football schedule)
• 12/4/25 - Holiday Concert

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