Good morning from the band room!
We hope that your summer is now in full swing and wanted to go ahead and give you all the information you may need for summer rehearsals and band camp coming up in July! It’s downright disrespectfully hot outside. However, now is the time to start exposing yourself to some sunshine. Try to spend at least 1 hour outside every day and drink lots of water. Every little bit of conditioning, outdoor walks, practicing your instrument outside, etc., can help prepare you for band camp!
*If you are coming from the middle school, you may need to subscribe to the MSHS part of the band website. Reminder about signing up for the Band App as well:
Please join the Hawaii Class on the Band App if you are your child will be travelling to Hawaii: https://band.us/n/aba403PdpcR7I
Please join the MSHS Band Class on the band app if you will be in the MSHS band next year: https://band.us/n/a2ac0eP0p6qfV
All percussion parents and students should join the Percussion class in addition to the MSHS Band Class on the Band App: https://band.us/n/a8ad07t54fJ1T
Have you started practicing the show music? https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18eboyDW381l6BiINArF40i55mL3RlP70?usp=sharing
We will begin fitting for marching uniforms on July 8th for returning members. Seniors should drop by between 1-1:30 on 7/8. Juniors should drop by between 1:30-2:30 on 7/8. Sophomores and any other returning member that wasn’t able to make it the day before should drop by between 1-2 on 7/9. All new members will be fitted during the first few days of band camp. Students should wear athletic gear under their uniforms, shorts and tank tops/t-shirts. There is still no AC at MSHS, so it will be hot inside during the fittings.
Summer Rehearsal (July 9)- this rehearsal should be attended by all marching band members who are in town. Rehearsal is from 5:00-8PM. It is ok to miss this for previously schedule vacations, as long as you fill out the absence form, which can be found by clicking here. We will not have this rehearsal if the AC is still out.
Band Basics BBQ (July 12, 6PM, Grace Life Church) – we strongly encourage all new members of the MSHS marching band and their families to attend this event. It is free. We will be serving delicious food and will be able to answer any questions you may have about the upcoming season. Additionally, this gives us the chance to serve you and make sure you feel a part of the MSHS band faMily. Please RSVP by clicking here.
Leadership Camp (July 13) – this camp is for all leadership team members. We will have a full day of learning leadership and teaching techniques. Camp will be held at MSHS from 9-12 and 5-8:30 (field painting/cleaning).
Band Camp (July 15-18 & July 22-25) – All days of band camp are MANDATORY for those participating in the MSHS marching band this fall. Any exceptions will be decided on a case-by-case basis. It is crucial that all members are there for every day. We learn more in those two weeks than we do in two months during the regular school year. Please note that if the AC is still not fixed, we will have to alter the schedule to morning and evening blocks each day to avoid the heat. It is possible for us to run the AC out schedule one week and the AC fixed schedule the next. Additionally, if the AC is still out, then we will be utilizing various MSCS campuses and the band practice field behind MSHS. Please remain flexible as we plan what is safest and most productive for the students.
Schedule if AC is still out:
Monday-Thursday:
7:30-12:30
12:30-5:30 – Break (Students must leave campus)
5:30-8:30
Schedule if AC is fixed:
Mondays and Tuesdays:
8-12 1st Block
12-1 Lunch provided
1-4 2nd Block
4-6 Dinner break (Students must leave campus)
6-8 3rd Block
Wednesdays:
8-12 1st Block
12-1 Lunch provided
1-4 2nd Block
Thursdays:
8-1 1st Block
Parents, if you are available to volunteer to help serve lunches please fill out the volunteer form by clicking here. Note: we will not serve lunches if the AC is still out.
Students will be required to bring 1 case of water and 1 pack of snacks for band camp. Snacks should be individually wrapped snack packs. Freshmen (salty snack and 1 case of water) and Sophomores (sweet snack and 1 case of water) drop off on July 15th, and Juniors (salty snack and 1 case of water) and Seniors (sweet snack and 1 case of water) drop off on July 22nd.
Band Camp Pictures have been rescheduled to July 18th at 4:30 PM
Band Camp Supplies
In order to have a successful band camp, there are required materials that each student must bring. Alabama summers can be brutal, but we make sure that student health is our top priority. Students will need:
- 1 Gallon Water Jug, can be ordered off Amazon or found at Walmart, Target, etc.
- Sunscreen!!
- Hat and/or sunglasses
- Lacing Athletic Tennis Shoes (no converse or high top sneakers)
- Backpack
- Appropriate athletic attire. (no jeans, turtle necks)
- Breakfast – even for our students who don’t normally eat breakfast, we will be doing a physical activity in the heat, making it important for something to be on their stomachs. Please bring granola bars if you skip breakfast. Eggs with bacon and toast is a great meal to start the day!
- Optional: towel/yoga mat, snacks, Gatorade, sandals for meals, extra shoes/socks if they get wet, jacket for inside practices, gold bond, fan, frog tog, etc.
Student medical conditions: If your student has any medical concerns that the directors are unaware of, that needs to be taken care of promptly Monday morning or sooner. Please do not send students without letting us know these conditions.
Additional info:
- Students will not be allowed to leave campus during band camp except during the dinner break
- All students need to leave campus during dinner break as they will be unattended.
- The staff will keep close tabs on weather, including heat indices and stronger storms.
- Students may not miss band camp rehearsals.
- Students are responsible for cleaning up areas we use on campus.
- Winds and percussion will need to have black socks with their uniforms.
- Shoes will be ordered immediately after the last freshman is measured.
- The band will receive a show shirt and dry wicking shirt to wear under uniforms.
- Marching Band Fees (excluding auxiliaries) are $375 per student. This does not include marching band shoes. This fee is due September 1st. This should be paid on MySchoolBucks!
All dates for the fall should be in the band app calendar, but you can also reference the calendar below!
