Recent Emails & Information

HHS 2010 Marching Band Camp

Emailed July 27, 2010

Highland Marching Band Parents, Students, & Staff:

It is almost time for band camp and the upcoming school year. Hopefully you all had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. This letter includes reminders for the marching veterans and information for the new students. Please find the Band Camp 2010 Schedule attached to this email. It gives a breakdown of what we are going to be doing in band camp and when the lunch & dinner breaks are.
Please take time to read through this information. It will help alleviate some common problems and questions in band camp.

What is Band Camp?

Band camp consists of extended rehearsals to allow us to prepare you for the marching season. We

Teach you proper rehearsal etiquette and what is expected of you.
Teach all of the basic marching moves as well as a lot of the more advanced moves.
Learn and memorize the marching band show.
Learn and memorize the Star Spangled Banner, the Highland Alma Mater, and the Highland Fight Song.
Rehearse the pep band songs we play during football games.
Learn and memorize our playing warm-ups and our physical warm-ups and stretching.

Many of our playing warm-ups we learn and rehearse in the concert band. Our physical warm-ups and stretching consists of basic stretching technique to prepare us for marching, running/cardio work to build up our endurance to improve our playing while marching technique, and we work on core strengthening exercises to help with posture and strengthen the body to be able to execute with a high success level all of the marching techniques.

With all of that, it is important to remember that band camp also serves to help the staff and students get to know each other better, for the students to get to know each other, and to bring together a bunch of people with one activity we all love to do and want to be good at. We are all in it for one goal: to be the best marching band we can be. It is good to have fun, but it is fun to be great. The process in getting to great does involve hard work, but it is very much worth the effort.

Preparing for camp:

It is a good idea to start thinking about getting items ready and yourself ready for band camp. It is going to be hot. I have no magic powers to make the sun go away. You will need to prepare yourself so that you will be ready the first day. Start hydrating yourself with water TODAY. It is best to cut back on sodas, juices, energy drinks, caffeinated drinks, etc. and start increasing the amount of water in your body. Those other items will dehydrate you and give you problems. It takes your body a couple of days to bring it to the correct hydration level.

Make sure you have a large water cooler or camel pack. You will need to hydrate yourself often in band camp. The hotter it is the more water you will need. If you run out, we will have extra water for you. Do not bring a couple of water bottles with you; that will not be nearly enough. Students can go through two gallons of water just in the morning block. A camel pack works great as your student can stay hydrated all through rehearsal.

Make sure to bring hydrating and energy rejuvenating snacks. I have included a list below. These items will help hydrate you as well as replenish energy lost during rehearsal. You may not be a breakfast eater, but you will want to eat something and hydrate yourself before you come that morning. You will get sick if you do not hydrate or eat breakfast that morning. A 24 oz. energy drink is not breakfast.

You will need to wear school appropriate loose fitting clothing. You will want to wear shorts and a light colored t-shirt. You will want to wear a hat and sunglasses. You will need socks and shoes that lace-up. Proper marching technique cannot be learned with sandals or flip-flops. You will be sent home if you do not have the proper clothing or foot attire. Water wicking clothing, like Underarmor, is great to keep you cool and is highly encouraged. Please do not wear pants, shorts that fall off easily, clothing that exposes the mid-section, bathing suits, athletic bras with no shirt, or spaghetti strapped tops.

What do I bring to band camp?

Yourself
Your Marching Band Instrument

Extra Reeds
Mouthpiece
Valve Oil
Tuning Slide Grease

Your Twelve Seconds to the Moon Music. Other music will be passed out.
WATER - At least a gallon jug w/ice. Extra water will be available. Camel Packs are a great idea as the students can hydrate themselves throughout the rehearsal.
SNACKS

Apples, Grapes, Oranges, Strawberries, Peaches, Pears or other hydrating fruit.
Granola Bars, Energy Bars, Trail Mix, Fig Newtons, Peanut Butter Crackers, Dried Fruit, or other energy food.

SUN BLOCK - Not just sunscreen, but sun block. We will be in the sun a great deal and you will need to apply it throughout the day. SPF 30 is highly recommended.

Rehearsal Etiquette

Be on Time! Make sure you plan ahead and be ready for rehearsal at 7:30 AM. That does not mean arrive at 7:30. That means you are out on the field, breakfast eaten, hydrated, with the proper clothing, and sun block applied at 7:30.

Pay attention and follow instructions. The more attentive you are and efficient you can be, the more we can learn in band camp and the better the band will be over the season.

Leave distracting items in back packs or at home. You will not be allowed to use music players, video players, portable game systems, or cell phones during rehearsals. This includes water and snack breaks. You can use those items when you go home or during lunch and dinner breaks.

Be respectful to the staff and your peers. We are all there to make the band the best it can be. If someone offers you a suggestion, see what you can do to fix it. No one is perfect at it the first day, month, year, etc...

If you feel ill, light-headed, dizzy, seeing stars, blacking out, or something is just not right; find a staff member immediately. If you cannot move, get the closest person's attention for help. Despite the best preparation, some instances will occur and will be dealt with appropriately. Do not wait until it is too late!

More Band Events!

Bring the family out to the Band Camp Dinner Tuesday, August 3. The Band Boosters will be providing the food for the dinner this year. Information and the order form can be found on the band website as well. I look forward to meeting all of you and showing off what your children accomplished during band camp. (Pre-Order Forms are due by July 31st.)

I am looking forward to working with the vets again and meeting the new students. It is going to be a great season and I am looking forward to you all performing Twelve Seconds to the Moon on the marching field. If you or your parents have any questions, please let me know.

Marching Band Reminders - Parent Meeting Tuesday July 27th 6:00pm

Emailed July 23, 2010

Dear Marching Band Parents,

Just a reminder, there will be a parent meeting on Tuesday July 27th at 6:00pm in the auditorium. This is the same time as the music rehearsal for the kids. We will have sign up sheets for volunteers to help throughout the season and will cover information about band camp, the schedule, fee due dates, fundraising, etc...

You might want to visit the sun safety page on the band website.
http://www.highlandhighband.org/Heatandsunsafety.html

During the meeting we will talk about what you kids need for band camp. But just so you don't have to make a rush shopping trip Wednesday, remember to check that you have sunglasses, sunscreen, chapstick with SPF protection and a gallon or larger water container. In addition, you might want your child to have bug spray, a hat, and refreshing snacks.

Thank You,
Susan Riley
Highland Band Booster President

Highland Marching Band

Emailed July 19, 2010

Marching Band Parents & Students,

It is getting to be that time again. Colorguard and Percussion camps start this week as well as music rehearsals for the winds. I have updated the website with the most current information. Please check the website today as there are a number of items you will need to know.

www.highlandhighband.org (The Homepage, Marching Band page, & the Important Announcements Link)

Items you will need to look at:

A number of competitions have changed their dates so there are significant changes to the fall schedule. Please make the appropriate changes on your family's calendar.
Camps, rehearsals, & competitions have been updated on the website and the band calendar.
Uniform fittings start this week.
Participation Forms and Attendance Contracts are past due - get them in. The first payment, video form, and non-athletic clearance packets are due the last day of band camp.
$160 class fee - what is that? Information will be available at the parent meeting on July 27th at 6PM.
The district has a new email system - if you have been trying to contact us through our old district email - we are not getting them. Please use our current contact information.

I will be sending out a detailed marching band camp schedule soon. It will follow a similar format as last year. Percussion and guard students should know their camp schedule, if not, please make sure to contact your instructor.

If you have not downloaded your music yet, please do so at the following address. http://www.highlandhighband.org/download.html

After you check out the website, if you have any additional questions, please let me know.

Uniform Fitting Schedule

Emailed July 17, 2010

Hello parents and participants of the 2010 HHS Marching Band!

Attached is a schedule for our uniform fittings for this season. Please take a look at it and respond to the email as soon as possible with a date/time that your student would be available for fittings. You will then receive a confirmation of their appointment by email.

Four separate dates are available; three students can be accommodated at each time slot.

All students need to be fitted…even those who were fitted last year. Sizes change…if possible, students will be assigned their same uniform. Fittings will take place upstairs in the band room at HHS. Please have student wear lightweight clothing that will not cause bulking under their uniforms. Students do not need to bring their parent (unless the parents want to come).

Shoes: If your student needs shoes, they will be sized at the time of fittings, but they will NOT receive their shoes until a later date (to be announced) before the first uniformed marching show. New shoes are $35. Please indicate and pay for shoes with your initial band deposit (see deposit slip in band packet).

Gloves and Uniforms: These are paid for with your initial band deposit as well. Each student will receive one pair of gloves and can purchase additional pairs for $3 throughout the season from the uniform ladies.

We are still in need of some parent volunteers for fittings (thanks to all those who have already volunteered!!). If you are willing and able to help us out, please contact Robyn Flynn, robyn_flynn@yahoo.com.

Also, photographs of your student in uniform with their instruments will be available at the time of fittings. Attached is an order form. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please indicate that when you return his/her date & time for fittings. Please have them bring the order form, payment and their instruments when they come for their fitting. Please direct any photo questions to April Fitzsimmons - april@aprilsphotos.com

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please contact me by email or by phone. Thank you.

Robyn Flynn
Uniform Co-ordinator