From the Director 2-6-2023

On Monday (tomorrow), we will NOT be having a parents meeting. Instead, please sign up to be a chaperone for event on Feb 11th, Pre-CPA, or CPA if you are available. Please keep in mind we are asking each PARENT to volunteer at 1 event EACH SEMESTER. See information below for volunteer signups.

We have lots to look forward to! This Tuesday and Wednesday, a few students will be representing the band / guard when the 8th graders come through our school in the morning!

On Feb 9th is a pep rally where some of our percussionists will be performing as students come into the gym for Black History Month.

This weekend, we will be having 11 members of the Parris Island Marine Band coming in to work with the students (all of which are Music Educators)! I am so excited about that! Everyone needs to be there! I know Winter Guard member who are also in Band have a Winter Guard practice and a competition, so they are the only exceptions. Winter Guard practices from 4:30 – 6:30 on Friday, so students who are in both need to plan on coming directly after that. For dinner, the plan is to pre-order food from Jimmy Johns (students will pay for their own meals) or to bring their own dinner from home. More details will be coming this week. It will also be posted in Google Classroom about the specifics. If Guard wants Jimmy Johns, they will also need to get that information to us before they go to their own rehearsal at 4:30. At 4 on Friday, the band will get a brief introduction of the Marine members (almost every different instrument will be represented!). Immediately following, we will play through each of the 3 pieces for CPA. Then the Marines will break into sectionals with the students (they are all sled checked through the school, etc) and work with them until dinner at 6. At 6:45 we will gather again for rehearsal with the Marine Band Officer until 8.

On Saturday, we won’t have any of the Winter Guard students, but the rest of us will meet again for sectional at 9AM until 10. A rehearsal from 10 – 11 and then the Marines will perform with us, as well as perform a small ensemble piece, and talk about the opportunities benefits of staying in a music program after High School. We are inviting the middle school students to join us for the concert, and pizza afterwards (again there will be a small fee for the pizza) and we will be hanging out with them until about 1:30 when everyone will be dismissed. This is an amazing opportunity for all of the students!

Volunteer opportunity: 11 Feb Symphonic Band:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084DAAA72CA2F94-symphonic

At the same time, on Saturday, the Winter Guard will be going up to Lexington for their first performance!!!! They will be meeting at MRHS at 7:30am, leaving for White Knoll High School in Lexington, SC at 7:45, Arriving at 10. From there, they will unload equipment, bring floor to staging and change into uniform (with jackets). At 11:20 is their warmup and perform at 12:14pm. Award Ceremony is at 1:10.

For Pre-CPA on Feb 28th, I need 3 parents, who should be in the band room by 8:45 AM, leave by 9 and we should be returning to the room by about 2. We will watch Whale Branch perform at 10:20, and Bluffton High at 11:10, and then we warm up at 11:35, perform at 12:05, and Sight read at 12:30.

Volunteer Opportunity: 28 Feb Pre-CPA:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084DAAA72CA2F94-precpa

Also, we will need 3 parents for CPA on March 14th on a charter bus to Lucy Beckham High School in Mt. Pleasant. We will leave around 9 and return by 6, stopping for a quick lunch and dinner. We warm up at 1:30, perform at 2, and sight read at 2:30. I would like to watch other bands perform this time as well, but I have not seen the schedule for when other bands are performing. That will be posted in Google Classroom as well.

Volunteer Opportunity: 14 Mar CPA:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084DAAA72CA2F94-cpa

Upcoming schedule:

Feb 9 – Band Rehearsal 4-6:30

Feb 10-11 - Symphonic Band Camp – 4 -8PM on Friday and 9 – 1:30 on Saturday. ALL are expected to attend. Performance in MRHS Auditorium at 11:30 with members of Marine Band.

Feb 16 - Band Rehearsal 4-6:30

Feb 17-18 - SCBDA Region Band Clinic at Summer’s Corners Performing Arts Center/Rollings Middle School of the Arts (Lydia, Devon, Karen, Phillip, Anthony only). Performance at 3:30 Saturday.

Feb 21 – Concert with LCCB and McCracken Middle School in MRHS Auditorium. 6:30pm

Feb 23 - Band Rehearsal 4-5 NOTICE THE EARLY RELEASE.

Feb 28 - Pre-CPA District at Beaufort HS (will need 3 chaperones)

Mar2 - Band Rehearsal 4-6:30

Mar 9 - Band Rehearsal 4-6:30

Mar 13 - Band Rehearsal 4-6:30 THIS IS AN ADDED REHEARSAL.

Mar 14 – CPA – Beckham High School – Mt. Pleasant – 3 chaperones are needed.

Mar 18 – Carowinds

Winter Guard schedule

Every Tuesday and Thursday in Feb and Mar from 6:30 – 8:30

Feb 10 – Practice 4:30 – 6:30

Feb 11 – Lexington Competition

Mar 3 - Practice 4:30 -6:30

Mar 4 – Competition at Mauldin

Mar 10 - Practice 4:30 -6:30

Mar 11 – Competition in Lexington

Mar 18 – Carowinds

Mar 25 – Competition in Rock Hill

Mar 31 - Practice 4:30 -6:30

Thank you and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Deborah Hamner Director of Bands May River High School 843-271-4686