Important info about upcoming events from Mr. B!

Dear RHHS Band Families,

I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving and that you are enjoying the short break. I have some important reminders and updates for you - thank you for reading. I’ll try to be as concise as possible….

*Solo/Ensemble Festival forms are due tomorrow. Thank you for being prompt and for allowing me the time I need to register everyone who wishes to participate.

*Tuning Chart #1 (ALL students) is due on Friday. Remember to adjust your instrument for your best tuning notes before filling out the chart, and be sure that you have a partner recording tendencies so that you are NOT looking at the tuner.

*The United States Navy Band performs in our auditorium next Saturday! All RHHS Band Students are required to attend. Attendance will be taken in the theatre lobby between 6:30 and 6:45. I can not check you in late as I will be assisting with the start of the performance. Please bring as many guests as you can - family, friends, ANYBODY! If we do not fill the auditorium, we may not get the Band back next year. PLEASE spread the word about this performance. A concert announcement is attached.

*Our Winter Concert dress rehearsal is on December 13th. Wind Ensemble rehearses from 3:00-4:30, and Symphonic/Concert Bands rehearse from 4:00-5:30. Future Hawks and RHHS Band alumni are invited to perform on the concert with us. They all have the information they need, and now they just need some encouragement from YOU! I am asking each of you to invite at least two future or former students to join us. Thank you!

*Our Winter Concert is on December 17th. Students are needed in the Band Room between 6:00 and 6:10 so that we can begin tuning at 6:15. The performance begins at 7:00 and admission is FREE. We will need 5 French horns, 6 euphoniums, and 7 tubas in school for the rehearsal and for the performance, so students in those sections are asked to plan ahead.

*It looks like Jazz Combo is going to rehearse on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2:15 until 3:00. I hope to have commitment forms out very soon and we will probably start rehearsing after Winter Break.

*Mr. Adam’s last day with us is December 17th, and we would like to send him off with our best wishes and some gifts (to be presented at our concert). I will circulate an envelope during rehearsals this week and, if you would like to contribute a dollar or two, please inconspicuously drop it in when it comes to you. The envelope will begin in the front row each day, and should end up in the percussion section at the end of the rehearsal.

*It is time to sign-up to volunteer at the second Farm Festival! We were very successful the first time around, and I would bet that we can do even better this time. More info will arrive in a separate email, but the dates are December 13th (9:30-4:15), 14th (9:30-4:15), and 15th (9:30-5:00). The 13th is going to be tricky, as it is a school day and then we are in rehearsal that afternoon. I am hoping that we can get some of our amazing Band Parents to help out on that day, and then we can do it with mostly students on Saturday and Sunday. Again, more info to come….

*With our Spring Trip finally approved by the county, we need to get moving. We’ll deal with bus and room lists soon, but let’s start with an updated payment schedule:

2nd Payment ($200 check payable to River Hill High School) due by Friday, 12/6

3rd Payment ($200 check payable to River Hill High School) due by Wednesday, 1/8

4th Payment ($100-$200 check payable to River Hill High School) due by Wednesday, 2/26

Remember that I absolutely can add students to the travel list, so please let me know if you are interested.

I look forward to seeing all of my students tomorrow!

Musically, Mr. B.