Welcome to the 2020-21 SHHS Band!
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For information on how to log into Charms, go here – Charms Info
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To join the Remind app to receive text updates:
For students with last names A-H:
- Text to: 81010
- Type: @k34k6h
For students with last names J-Z:
- Text to: 81010
- Type: @d37eehd
Latest Updates:
- We had 15 students make the ETSBOA All East band through an online submission platform – 3 of them qualified for All State: Christine Holley, 2nd chair flute; Jordan Cathelyn, 2nd chair Alto Sax; and Hayden Addington, 1st chair trumpet. All of the students that made the clinic will receive medals and have the opportunity to purchase T-Shirts and Plaques (more info to come).
- There will be no concerts before spring break. We are planning to make audio recordings after break and submit them to some type of adjudication festival either hosted by ETSBOA or a national event. We are going to use this time to learn how to make a recording and submit it to this type of platform. The percussion do this about every other year, this will be the first time for the winds.
- We hope to have some type of in person, live concert at the end of the year. We will have to use a larger venue than our auditorium like the cafeteria or the gym if we do it inside. There are some outside options available too that we will pursue. This concert or concerts will not be as long as in the past, because we have focused on less literature than normal. Will keep you posted as soon as we solidify a date and venue.
- We will plan some type of awards ceremony for the end of the year as well – more than likely will not include food and be either in the cafeteria, gym, stadium, or even the practice field like last year. Will keep you posted.
- After talking to our AD, Keith Turner, we will plan for a ‘normal’ fall where we will prepare a competition show and plan to compete at least locally. That will mean band camps during the summer, home and away football games, and our own band competition. Obviously, this could be changed by any local or state official (School Board, TSSAA, Gov. Lee) this spring or summer but we have to begin to make plans as if things will be a normal year.
- Band Camp dates – July 19-23, and 26-30
- Hilltopper Invitational – October 16
- Possible Marching Contest Dates: Sept. 25, Oct. 2, Oct. 9, Oct. 23 – we will more than likely just do 3 of these dates
- We have designed a new marching band jacket, shako (hat) and plume. The uniform that we had been using is over 15 years old – it’s time for an updated version. Along with the new pants that we used last season, we will look cool, contemporary, amazing, etc. (it’s not a dorky looking band uniform if you know what I mean…). I hope the kids will feel very proud to wear it. We look to have the sample delivered before break and be able to show the kids and the community.
- Uniform fittings for next fall will have to take place in April to have them here by August – more info to come.
- We are beginning the process of looking for a new guard instructor for our colorguard/winterguard program. We felt that the group was not living up to their potential in many ways and a change of leadership was needed. We hope to have someone on board by the end of school year at the latest so they can hold camps this summer. We will keep you posted.
- Chicago – Last year we postponed our Chicago trip to November 2021. At this time, still no decision has been made either way about the trip for the fall. There is a possibility that it will be moved to the spring and another event/destination be selected.
I plan on having more details by Spring Break and I will let you know when details become available (I’m sure you are all tired of hearing that phrase…me too!).
- Finally, we are currently working with the administrations at LB and IT about or feeder programs. If you did not know, IT did not offer band this school year. Therefore, we did not start any 5th graders and our current 6th graders have not played a note together since March 12, 2020 (the rehearsal of our system wide band concert in Freedom Hall). The A/B schedule has been tough on the band kids at LB – the younger you are, the less training you have and doing things on your own is more difficult (all of us that have kids in school on the A/B schedule can relate to this issue). They are doing the best they can, but it is not the same as band every day. So, a lot is going on this spring concerning our feeders – it’s like a tree; the leaves may look green and healthy, but if the roots are damaged, it may not survive. We are making this work at the HS and are getting better, but we are also concerned about the future of program and what it may look like in the next few years as this thing ripples through our program.
Upcoming Events: