Starting at 7PM, the agenda will include information for winter concerts and clinic auditions, turn in for our annual Fruit Fundraiser, Tryout Information for grades 8-12 bands, Schedules for the winter and spring, and more information about the 2007 New York Trip. These meetings are for every parent who has a child in the band. Come on!
As outlined in our signup package, we are (as of November 1st) at the next stage of financial commitment for the New York Trip. Alls account must be above $600.00 total amount in based upon fundraising and cash to remain on the trip. Since we will have sent off $600.00 total non-refundable to the tour companies November 1st, anyone who changes travel plans we can refund any of this amount. Your prompt attention is appreciated. Please contact Mr. Foster 232-2193.
Our annual fruit sale has been going in Johnson City for four decades. It is the primary fundraiser that is used to support our kids on their major trips every other year. This is how it works: Sell fruit using our sales sheets already distributed at our October 5th meeting. You can either collect at order or at delivery. Money collection is your decision. All orders (and any money already collected) are turned in at our meeting on November 2nd. The fruit arrives in JC on December 2nd. You come by the Epic plant (formerly Siemens), pickup, and deliver your own fruit. The average student sells over $600 in fruit with 1/3 of this money going into their individual account and with two years to save, the cost of our trip can be cut in half very easily
With a successful football season and the hard work of many parents, we have had a very successful season with concessions. This fundraiser cuts the cost of being in the SHHS marching band by 35% for every child. Many thanks to Frances Ponder, Karen Lowe, and all the other great parents who have kicked in to make this successful.
We have had a great marching season with fine performances that continue to improve each week. A Grand Championship trophy at Furman, a 2nd place finish in Chattanooga, and a 5th place finish in finals at Western Carolina University is a great season for our marching band. We want to thank the parents for their great fan support.
New Truck Ads
Thanks to our new sponsors for our truck who have their logos now on the side. Please take the opportunity to express your thanks to these people and support their businesses when you have the chance. The semi actually makes money for our band program. What a difference!!
The Johnson City Christmas Parade
...is on the traditional date of the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We will be meeting at 9AM on Saturday, November 18th. Reporting place will be the parking lot behind the Bojangles at ETSU. The parade continues straight down State of Franklin, makes a turn through downtown, and ends at the stadium. Attendance is required of all members.
Chair auditions
begin during school on November 6th for 8th graders during classes and during school for grades 10-12 on November 13th. This audition is very important since it is the major test grade for the term, sets the order in our concert ensembles for Carnegie Hall, and prepares the kids for clinic auditions. Clinic audition signups begin on November 6th. Each student who wishes to tryout in January must bring a check payable to SHHS Band in the amount of $6.00 for Junior or Senior Band Clinic.
Parents, Help!!!
We are finding a number of our students who are not fully equipped for class. Clarinet and Saxophone players should have several reeds available that will play. When they have only one reed, we struggle to teach a child when that reed breaks. If you buy reeds by the box, the stores usually give a discount, just ask!! Preferred reeds: Clarinet-Vandoren strength 3, Saxophone-Vandoren strength 3. For double reed players, we have found several sources for reliable quality reeds, ask Mr. Stites for suggestions. Our brass players are showing up with instruments that have not been oiled and some cases never cleaned. We teach them how to clean the instruments, but some of the students do not have the brushes necessary to get this done. In the interest of good health and to lengthen the life of the instrument, it should be cleaned every month. Mouthpieces should be cleaned with toothpaste and a mouthpiece brush (cost under $1.00) each week.
Private lessons are part of every successful band program. The more students who receive private instruction, the better the band program becomes. We are blessed in Johnson City to have a number of strong teachers who can help your child realize all the potential they have for their musical performance. Please let us know if we can help you in hooking up with the best possible teacher for your child. Our staff does a great job, but the shear number of students makes giving them individual attention an impossible task.
Playoffs: Congratulations to our football team on achieving the playoffs. We
realize that this set of games is beyond the original commitment that you and your child
made for marching band. If you have made plans-reservations for these weekends, we will be
making quality decisions about how we will represent our band program each week. As an example,
a playoff game in Chattanooga is a very different animal than a playoff game that is only
20 miles away. Please discuss this with your child each week as we move forward through the
playoffs.
Great job Football team against D-B!!!!
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