Muscle Shoals High School Band
Week of December 15 - December 19, 2025

From the Podium
Good morning, from the band room!
Christmas Break is finally in sight! If you are done for the semester, congratulations! If you still have to come this week, you've got this. Keep going, and finish strong!
Bravo to the students on a great Christmas concert and parade performance. I'm always impressed by the resiliency that the students show this time of year. They go with the flow, help out where is needed, and always help to build me up.
Thank you to the students who helped to gift me a new baton. That truly means so much to me, and I will cherish it for many years to come. Felt so much better to conduct with than the really long one I was able to find in the band room!
Looking forward to finishing this week with you and spending time with family during the break.
*Please note that if this is a student's first year in the marching band, they will need to complete the physical fitness testing in order for the class to count at their physical education credit for marching band. We will complete the testing on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
This Week At A Glance
Monday, December 15th - 4th block Fitness testing, WG Rehearsal 3:30-6
Tuesday, December 16th - 4th block Fitness Testing
Wednesday, December 17th - Review Day
Thursday, December 18th - Exams
Friday, December 19th - Exams
Upcoming Events of Note
12/15-16 - Physical Fitness Testing for 1st year marching band members
12/22-1/5 - Christmas Break
Volunteer: WE NEED YOUR HELP
Every family is responsible for volunteering 3 times in the year, with at least one being in the concession stand. We need to get our concessions spots filled. No experience needed to sling some nachos. WE NEED YOU. Click the buttons below to sign up and view relevant details.
Concert Attire
Concert Band students are required to purchase concert attire.
Boys: tuxedos with black pants, black jacket, black shoes, black socks, black cummerbund or vest, black bow tie, white shirt.
Girls: All black floor length dress/pant suit/pants and blouse, and black shoes
If you have any questions, please let me know! Student will dress nicely for the Veteran's Concert, but should plan to wear concert attire to the Christmas Concert. (exception: if a student is not in 2nd semester concert band, they should wear all black formal attire to the Christmas concert, but a tuxedo will not be required for those students).
Band Apparel Shop
Our Band Apparel Shop is live. Gear up, and support the band! https://theprintingcoshoals.com/collections/mshsband
Band Fees
Band Fees are PAST DUE (auxiliaries have a payment plan schedule)! If you need longer, please let me know. It is important that we get these fees in at the beginning of the school year, as we are already paying our drill writers, music arrangers, designers, band shoes, etc.
Marching Band Fees: $375
Concert Band Fees: $175 (second semester-due in January)
Band Shoes: $60
School-Owned Instrument Rental Fee: $50
*Auxiliary fees differ from person-to-person depending on apparel items ordered.
Our bookkeeping software is CutTime. You will receive a message on the 1st of every month with your account balance. NO PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE ON CUTTIME. All payments must be made on MySchoolBucks (links below).
Band Fees will not show up in your MySchoolBucks, like the rest of your school fees. The only place you can view your balance is on CutTime. If another parent needs to be added to a student's CutTime account please let me know.
I can't stress how important it is that we go ahead and get our fees in. We do not get any financial assistance and our budget is based around our fees and fundraisers only. Please help us by getting your fees paid as soon as possible.
MySchoolBucks Links:
Band Fees Paid in Full (itemized)
Joining the MSHS Band on the Band App is the best way to communicate and get info about everything happening in the MSHS Band. All students are required to be a member of the band app. Additionally, please turn on the notifications for the Band App. Click the green band logo to join!
Absences
If any rehearsal will be missed during the school year, including during the school day. You should always fill out the absence form. Click the icon to complete an absence form.
Rehearsal Etiquette
The Muscle Shoals Band lives by the phrase, "If you're on time, you're late. If you're early, you're on time." Because the nature of what we do involves moving locations and getting equipment ready, it is necessary for all students to arrive or be dropped by no later than 10-15 minutes before rehearsal is set to begin. That means if rehearsal begins at 5, students will have to go to the band room, get out their instruments, dot books, music, music stands, etc. and move to wherever we are rehearsing before we begin. If they arrive at 4:58, they will not be prepared to begin on time. Parents, please keep this in mind when thinking about drop off times.