THE Houston Band

Hello, Houston Band family,

As we ride the bus back to Germantown this evening, I can't help but feel immense gratitude for this first semester as your Director of Bands. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble had efficient and productive dress rehearsals while guard got to work on their audition prep. On Thursday, band students put on a phenomenal concert, which included the premiere of our new "Silver Note Collective" under the direction of Mr. Sims as well as the southwestern US premiere of Heaven at Night by Katahj Copley. On Friday, drumline got to play at three pop-up pep rallies throughout the school day. Today--while we didn't get the on-field result we'd have liked--the band did a great job supporting our football team as we wrapped up a great season.

I've been reflecting on the community of volunteers, workers, and--most importantly--students that make these things possible. It's a privilege to be a part of such a supportive, caring, and passionate band community. THANK YOU to our hard-working boosters for all of your support this year.

We're not done yet this semester! Wind Ensemble has our holiday tour next week (info below), we audition for Q3 concert band cycle placements this coming week (info below), winter guard kicks off their season, and All West/All State auditions are immediately after the break. We've also been asking our students to be hyper-intentional about their grades as we wrap up this semester. If any students need any support from myself or Mr. Sims on any non-music schoolwork, we are happy to either help or point students towards the resources that are available for them. Let's finish this semester on a high note (pun intended)!

With excitement and gratitude,

Mr. C

Our HHS/GMSD holiday performance dates are as follows:

12/5/24 - HHS Band Winter Concert 6pm (great job!)

12/6/24 - Riverdale Band Concert (great job!)

12/7/24 - HMS Band Salvation Army Ringing (great job!)

12/9/24 - GMSD HHS Wind Ensemble Holiday Tour - Day 1 (during school day, info below)

12/10/24 - GMSD HHS Wind Ensemble Holiday Tour - Day 2 (during school day, info below)

12/11/24 - GMSD HHS Wind Ensemble Holiday Tour - Day 3 (during school da, info belowy)

12/10/24 - HMS Band Concert

12/14/24 - Germantown Holiday Parade

12/15/24 - Germantown Holiday Parade Rain Date (treat it like any other performance date! KEEP OPEN!)

It's time to spread holiday cheer to our K-8 students in GMSD! The Houston Wind Ensemble will be performing at Dogwood Elementary, Riverdale K-8 School, Forest Hill Elementary, and Houston Middle School Monday-Wednesday next week. Wind Ensemble students MUST bring their permission slips Monday morning to participate.

Complete the permission slip attached below. Students received a physical copy on Sunday. For "Location", write "Riverdale K-8 School, Forest Hill Elementary, Dogwood Elementary, and Houston Middle School". For dates, please write "12/9/24-12/11/24".

Students will reaudition for concert ensembles throughout the coming week during their band classes. This audition will include 3 scales, 2 sight readings, and their lyrical WTSBOA selection. If students have any questions, they can see Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Sims, or Mr. Todd (percussion).

The spring trip will be April 2-5. We are going to Dallas to listen to some phenomenal band and orchestra music, and we can't wait for as many students as possible to join us! Find attached the flier with details about this trip!

https://tourbot.etadventures.com/customerweb/signin

Trip Code: houstonband25

Password: dfwtrip25

NOTE: There is an option for a 1, 2, or 3 person room on the website. DO NOT select that option, as ALL students will be put into rooms of as many students as possible. Select the 4-person room.

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.

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.

As we wrap up our highly-involved competitive marching band season, 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, as well! We are here to help you get better at your instrument!

The end of our competitive marching season means it's time to begin preparations for concert band auditions. Our concert season will be divided into three distinct cycles this year, with a different makeup of students for each cycle.

• January 7-March 7: Concert Performance Assessment Cycle. Top "Wind Symphony" group with about three quarters of students and a "Developmental Ensemble" for others.
• March 10-May 6: Symphonic Cycle. Select students leave the "Wind Symphony" to prepare for a full orchestra collaboration with HHS Orchestras. All other students perform in the "Wind Symphony".

This is a lot of info, and things have changed since last season. Please make sure you carefully read this section.

We have begun collecting band dues. Dues are MANDATORY and will be collected via SchoolCashOnline OR check. Checks will ONLY be collected Friday mornings before school. You can pay through SchoolCashOnline at any time. No cash will be accepted by Mr. Sims or myself. Dues checks should be made out to "Houston High School" with the memo being "Band Dues - <student legal name>".

• The first payment is due on September 1st ($250), final check collection August 30th.
• The second payment is due on October 1st ($250), final check collection September 27th.
• Our boosters also highly encourage a $225 donation that enables them to pay our world-class adjunct staff and take care of equipment emergencies that naturally come up when we regularly bring a half million dollars of equipment into the elements. While it would be great to send that money ASAP, it would be helpful to make that $225 donation no later than November 1st. This can be sent via the linked website OR via check made out to "HHS Band Boosters" placed in the dropbox in Mr. C's office W-F.
• We encourage those who are able to just pay everything ASAP, as this is the most expensive portion of our year. If you need extensions, please reach out sooner rather than later.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to me ASAP. If you or a relative are in the privileged position of paying for another student's full or partial dues, please reach out to me about how to "Give the Gift of Band."

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!

There are several changes this year that I want to make you aware of right now, rather than surprising you once school gets rolling!

- Holiday parade is happening this year. The holiday parade rain date is on the calendar, so make plans to attend both possible dates (Dec 14 & Dec 15). If you have a conflict with the Sunday rain date, tell me ASAP (just like you would for any other conflict). Do not email me the moment there is a weather event and the rain date is activated; it will be unexempt just like any other missed performance.

- Festival Mini Camp on Feb 22 is a Saturday event for students in the top concert ensemble.

- All State is changing from being a Wed-Sat event to a Thurs-Sun event. This is beyond our control; please plan accordingly if you generally make All State or get close. This year's All State is April 10-13.

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

• 12/12/24 - Holiday Parade practice
• 12/13/24 - Holiday Parade practice
• 12/14/24 - Germantown Holiday Parade
• 12/15/24 - Germantown Holiday Parade Rain Date (treat it like any other performance date! KEEP OPEN!)
• 1/11/25 - All West Band Auditions (required for all students unless they've made an orchestra)
• 2/13/25 - All West TN Band and Orchestra Clinic Begins
• 2/15/25 - All West TN Band and Orchestra Clinic Concerts Conclude
• 2/22/25 - Festival Mini Camp - Required for all students in the top concert ensemble
• 3/5/25 - Wednesday after school rehearsal for Festival
• 3/6/25 & 3/7/25 - Possible Concert Festival dates (TBA)
• 4/2-5/25 - Dallas Trip
• 4/5/25 - Solo & Ensemble
• 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)
• 4/28/25 - Boston Brass Residency Begins
• 5/6/25 - HHS Instrumental Concert
• 5/7/25 - Graduation Orchestra Rehearsal
• 5/8/25 - Graduation Orchestra Rehearsal
  
• 5/9/25 - Graduation!
• 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 (TBD)
• 10/25/25 - Contest #3 or Recording Session (TBD)
• 11/1/25 - Contest #3 or Recording Session (TBD)
• 11/8/25 - POSSIBLE Contest #4
• 12/4/25 - Tentative Holiday Concert Date

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