Christmas Concert and Parade

The band will present their 2013 Christmas Concert on Tuesday, December 3 at 7:30p.m. in the auditorium.  Call time for the students will be 6:45p.m.  The concert will last approximately 30-45 minutes.  Bragg will begin their part of the program at 6:30p.m. if you would like to come early and listen to their groups.

The Gardendale Christmas Parade will be Thursday, December 5 at 6:00p.m.  Call time for the students will be 5:00p.m.  We will meet in the band room and walk to the beginning of the parade route.  We will finish the parade in approximately 45 minutes to one hour.  We will end at the band room.  If you plan to watch the entire parade, please plan a meeting spot to meet back with your child or let them know where to find you.

GHS Chair Auditions

Chair Auditions 2013-2014

Everyone will be expected to audition even if you're the only one in your section.  This will count as your pass-off grade for the 2nd nine weeks.

Tuesday, November 12- 1:30-3:00- Trombones
Tuesday, November 12- 1:30-3:00- Horns and Oboe
Wednesday, November 13- 1:30-3:00- Flutes
Monday, November 18- 3:05-4:00- Tubas and Baritones
Tuesday, November 19- 1:30-3:00- All Saxophones
Tuesday, November 19- 1:30-3:00- Trumpets
Wednesday, November 20- 1:30-3:00- All Clarinets
TBA Mon, Tues, or Wed, 18, 19, or 20- 1:30-3:00- Percussion

Everyone will audition on the first all-state exercise.  Copies of those exercises were made available to the students in September.  They have also been on this BlogSpot since August.  Recordings are available if you go to the blog titled Alabama All State Band Exercise Podcasts which was posted on October 16.

Percussion will audition on snare, mallets, or timpani.  They may choose to audition on one, two, or all three of these instruments.  Their all-state exercises will be used as well.

October 28, 2013

Our final football game for this year will be at Buckhorn High School this Friday.  We will leave Gardendale at 2:30 p.m.  We plan to stop at Parkway Place Mall in Huntsville for dinner around  4:00.  It is at the intersection of Memorial Parkway and Drake Ave.  Students will need to bring money for that.  They can eat in the food court there.  They have the typical food choices for mall food courts.  There is also a Piccadilly Cafeteria in the mall where they can eat if they prefer that.  We will leave the mall between 5:00 and 5:15 and arrive at Buckhorn H.S. around 5:45-6:00 p.m.
Relocated from Relocated to  Not true?

Show all edBuckhorn High & Middle School Campusmore infoAddress:‎
Relocated from Relocated to  Not true? Show all edits Not

Placement on map is approximate Parkway Place Mall

2801 Memorial Parkway Southwest
Huntsville, AL 35801

Relocated from Relocated to  Not true? Show all edits Not tru4123 Winchester RoadALHunthHun

Placement on map is approximate Buckhorn High School 4123 Winchester Road New Market, AL 35761

Driving Directions to Parkway Place Mall Huntsville from Gardendale
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B15UcZMGFUvaOS1BMjl1MzhMakk/edit?usp=sharing

Driving Directions to Buckhorn High School from Parkway Place Mall
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B15UcZMGFUvaMzEzRWt1UElsUkU/edit?usp=sharing

Driving Directions to Buckhorn High School from Gardendale
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B15UcZMGFUvaOEpMcDRtU0dTM00/edit?usp=sharing

*Students should wear their gray band t-shirt and basketball shorts.  They can wear thin layers     underneath these to stay warm.
*Bring or wear black socks
*Bring or wear band shoes
*Bring your black gloves
*The boosters will provide drinks and snacks after halftime

Gardendale High School Band 2013-2014

Honeybaked Ham Fundraiser

See the link below for the Honey Baked Ham Gift Card Form.

The form must be returned WITH money by 11/13/2013.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B15UcZMGFUvaVEF6N2E1WTdBQ00/edit?usp=sharing

October 22, 2013

Gardendale vs. Carver at Gardendale this Friday.  This is also senior night.  Call time for the band will be 5:30 p.m.  Parents of seniors should be at the stadium on the ramp going from the concession stand down to the field by 6:15 p.m.  We will line up alphabetically by last name of the student.  The band will march into the stadium early this week.  After we are in the stands, we will have seniors move over to meet the parents where they will be lined up.  The band is usually recognized first because they have to be back in the stands and ready to play the Star Spangled Banner.

This will also be the week that we invite our 8th grade band students to participate in the stands with us at the game.  This is a great opportunity for them to see our program and how much our students enjoy the atmosphere of the game.  It's a recruiting opportunity for us.  We want our band to grow each year and this is a chance to make the 8th graders feel welcome and want to be a part of our organization.

As the weather starts to get colder, students should plan ahead for the games.  We do not allow blankets or extra coats in the stands.  We want to maintain a uniform look in public settings.  Students are allowed to dress in layers underneath the uniform.  Of course, these need to be thin layers that will not impede movement.

*Students should wear their gray band t-shirt and basketball shorts.  They can wear thin layers     underneath these to stay warm.
*Bring or wear black socks
*Bring or wear band shoes
*Bring your black gloves
*The boosters will provide drinks and snacks after halftime so students do not need money

Congratulations to the students for receiving all superior ratings at their competition again this past Saturday.  The drum majors, dance team, guard, and band also received best in class awards.  The dance team, guard, and band had the highest scores of the day out of the 20 bands at the contest.  This is the first time in a long, long time or possibly ever that the band has won the best in class award at both of their competitions in the same year.  Congratulations!!!!!!!!  Thank you for working hard to make this happen!

We will begin concert band today.  I think we are all ready for a change.  I have enjoyed the show this year, but it will be nice to hear something besides Grease music.  We will begin to look at Christmas music and possible pieces for our concert competition which will be near the beginning of March. 

Our chair placement auditions will be coming up in November.  Students should be working on that music on their own.  The prepared exercise is the first All-State piece.  That can be found at the top of the page on this BlogSpot.  They can listen to a recording of it if they would like.  That link can be found in the post for All-State Podcasts on the BlogSpot as well.  If students have any questions or cannot find what they need, they should ask me.  In addition to the prepared exercise, they will also have a short sight reading exercise which will account for 10 percent of their score.  The other 90 percent will be the prepared exercise.  These auditions will count as their pass-off grade for the second nine weeks of the semester.  Everyone should play an audition unless they are willing to lose those points.

Next week we will be leaving school at 2:30 p.m. to travel to Buckhorn.  We plan to stop at Parkway Place Mall in Huntsville for dinner around 4:00.  It is at the intersection of Memorial Parkway and Drake Ave.  Students will need to bring money for that.  They can eat in the food court there.  They have the typical food choices for mall food courts.  There is also a Piccadilly Cafeteria in the mall where they can eat if they prefer that.

Parkway Place Mall
2801 Memorial Parkway Southwest
Huntsville, AL 35801

 

Relocated from Relocated to  Not true? Show all edBuckhorn High & Middle School Campusmore infoAddress:‎

Relocated from Relocated to  Not true? Show all edits Not true?

Placement on map is approximate Winchester Road AL 35761

Relocated from Relocated to  Not true? Show all edits Not tru

4123 Winchester Road

AL 35761

Placement on map is approximate Buckhorn High School 4123 Winchester Road New Market, AL 35761

BuBu4123

Placement on map is approximate

GHS Band at Hayden Contest 2013
 

Hewitt Trussville and Hayden

Call time for this evening is 4:30 p.m.

*Students should wear their gray band t-shirt and basketball shorts
*Bring or wear black socks
*Bring or wear band shoes
*Bring your black gloves
*The boosters will provide drinks and snacks after halftime so students do not need money

Follow the link below for directions to the stadium for tonight at Trussville.  The stadium is not at the new high school.

https://www.trussvillecityschools.com/schools/hths/Documents/Directions%20to%20Football%20Stadium.pdf

Call time for Saturday is 3:45 p.m.

*Students should wear their gray band t-shirt and basketball shorts
*Bring or wear black socks
*Bring or wear band shoes
*Bring your black gloves

We play at 7:40 p.m.  We will spend approximately one hour on the football field reviewing and practicing.  We will eat at 5:00 and then load equipment, put on uniforms and load the buses.  We plan to leave around 5:45.  Our warm-up time is 6:55. 

Our boosters will provide each student with a chick-fil-a sandwich, chips, and a drink at 5:00 p.m.  This meal is provided at no charge to the students. 

The stadium at Hayden is not at the high school.  It is behind the elementary/primary schools on Hwy. 160.  Directions to Hayden Primary School.  Click the link below. 

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?name=Hayden%20Primary%20School&city=Hayden&state=AL&zipcode=35079-6575

Senior Night 2013

This marching season is going by so fast. I am proud of all of the hard work that the students have done, especially the Seniors. Many have been involved in the program all four years of High School and put many hours of preparation in for a great field show.

 

To honor the Seniors, Gardendale High School will have SENIOR NIGHT on Friday October 25, 2013 at the football field, our last regular season home game. All senior Band Members including Colorguard and Rockettes, along with football players and cheerleaders will be recognized.

 VERY IMPORTANT – The Seniors will be recognized BEFORE the football game starts. The Senior Parents will escort your student across the football field. I need for the parents to meet me on the ramp near the field house NO LATER THAN 6:15PM on Friday October 25, 2013. The students will march in to the stands, and then Mr Starnes will dismiss them to come over and meet you at the ramp.

 PLEASE make every effort to be on time. The senior Band Members including Colorguard and Rockettes are usually called out first.

This is a chance for you to honor your Senior. There is not a formal dress code, but most parents usually wear a Sunday casual type attire.

 I look forward to seeing you there as we honor these Seniors.

 

Go Rockets !!

Jimmy Brown

GHS Band Booster President

Alabama All-State Band Exercise Podcasts

Follow the link below to find podcasts of the prepared exercises.  These may help you in your preparation of the music for all-state auditions, UAB Honor Band, and our chair audition material.  We will use the first exercise along with a short sight-reading exercise for our chair placements in November.

https://sites.google.com/site/usadepartmentofmusic/all-state-podcasts/high-school

University of Alabama Honor Band Festival

The Honor Band is scheduled for February 6-9, 2014.  Students interested in applying for the University of Alabama Honor Band Festival should follow the link below.  For the 2014 Alabama Honor Band, students chosen to participate will be required to pay a participation fee of 75.00, which includes admission to all clinics, concerts and includes a Festival Participation Pin. It does not include housing or meals.  This participation fee will be due AFTER students have been notified that they have been selected to participate in the Alabama Honor Band. Much more detailed information will be available to those students selected to participate in the festival.  If you are selected, you will need a hotel room in Tuscaloosa, and you will need a parent to go and chaperone you.  The online registration will close on Friday, November 15.  You must register online before the deadline if you are interested.

http://bands.ua.edu/programs/honorband/    

October 14, 2013

Congratulations to the students on their performance this past Saturday at Pinson!  We received all superior ratings, best in class percussion, and best in class band.  We also received the gold division trophy.  This award goes to the group with the highest average of all scores which includes drum major, dance line, guard, percussion, and band.  Great job!!!

Practice this week will be on Monday and Thursday after school and Wednesday during last block.  We will not practice on Tuesday after school because All-County Band tryouts will be that day.  These auditions are optional.  They will be at Minor High School at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.  We have been working on the required piece of music in class for several weeks now.

Our game this week will be at Hewitt Trussville.  Call time will be 4:30 p.m.  Their stadium is not at the new high school.  They are in the process of building a new stadium but it is not finished.  Follow the link below for directions to the stadium for this week.

https://www.trussvillecityschools.com/schools/hths/Documents/Directions%20to%20Football%20Stadium.pdf

 Our second and last competition will be this Saturday at Hayden High School.  We play at 7:40 p.m.  Our call time on Saturday will be 3:45.  We will spend approximately one hour on the football field reviewing and practicing.  We will eat at 5:00 and then load equipment, put on uniforms and load the buses.  We plan to leave around 5:45.  Our warm-up time is 6:55. 



GHS Band after awards ceremony at Pinson 2013

Spring Trip Information

Here is the link to the information if you would like to print.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B15UcZMGFUvaZ1RPeEQ0aGplb00/edit?usp=sharing

 

 

 

 

 

Gardendale High School Band

800 Main Street

Gardendale, AL 35071

205-379-3603

tstarnes@jefcoed.com

Our spring trip plans are almost finalized.  I have listed below what is included in the trip, a brief Itinerary, and the payment plan.  You will receive a more detailed itinerary before the trip.

The trip includes the following:

·         Parade Performance- Friday, April 25, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.- Magic Kingdom (A great photo opportunity for parents)

·         Two nights hotel accommodations at the Residence Inn Sea World

·         Hotel Security Guard for our group

·         Three Day Park Hopping Admission to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom

·         Two hot breakfasts at the hotel

·         Three Disney Youth Lunch/Dinner Meal Coupons

·         Services of Musical Destinations Tour Staff

·         Transportation on Kingsmen Coach Lines- Coaches have wifi and satellite t.v.

The following is a brief itinerary.  A complete itinerary will be provided at a later time.

·         Wednesday, April 23, 2014- 7:00 pm- Leave Gardendale High School

·         Thursday, April 24, 2014- 7:00 am- Stop for breakfast (You need money for breakfast- fast food)

·         Thursday, April 24, 2014- 9:00 am- Arrive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

·         Friday, April 25, 2014- 7:00 am- Breakfast provided- Go to Magic Kingdom- Morning parade performance-Spend the remainder of the day in the park.  One meal voucher provided.  You will need money for one meal.  Watch the fireworks and parade at approximately 9:00 pm.

·         Saturday, April 26, 2014- 7:00 am- Breakfast provided- Check out of hotel.  Spend day at Animal Kingdom- One meal voucher provided.  You will need money for one meal.  Approximately 2:00 pm- Meet at designated location to Park Hop as a group to Epcot on Disney transportation.  Meet at designated location to watch Illuminations.

·         Saturday, April 26, 2014- 9:30 pm- Leave Orlando

·         Sunday, April 27, 2014- 7:00 am- Arrive at Gardendale High School

The payment plan is listed below.  This price is for the students.  Payments are non-refundable.  If the trip is cancelled for any reason the tour company will refund all money.  The total for each student will be $565.00.  This includes the cost of the buses.  The total for each chaperone will be $465.00.  These prices are based on Quad Occupancy (4 people per room).  Double, Triple, and Single rooms are available but at a higher rate.  If you are interested in this option, contact me for the prices.  Money from student accounts may be used toward payments.  Any fundraiser money between now and the due dates may also be used toward payments.  I am including payment slips for this reason.  If you are using money from your student account or pay pal for a payment, please return a payment slip filled out indicating that choice.  Payments may be turned in at the band room or mailed to the band boosters at the address on the next page.  All student band fees to the school and to the boosters must be paid in full before a student will be allowed to participate in this trip.

Gardendale Band Boosters

P.O. Box 185

Gardendale, AL 35071

Students Payments (Quad Occupancy)

October 31, 2013                                $100.00

November 29, 2013                            $77.50

December 20, 2013                            $77.50

January 31, 2014                                 $77.50

February28, 2014                               $77.50

March 28, 2014                                   $77.50

April 11, 2014                                      $77.50

 TOTAL                                                   $565.00

 

Chaperone Payments (Quad Occupancy)

October, 31, 2013                               $75.00

November 29, 2013                            $66.00

December 20, 2013                            $66.00

January 31, 2014                                 $66.00

February28, 2014                                $66.00

March 28, 2014                                   $66.00

April 11, 2014                                      $66.00

 TOTAL                                                   $465.00

Please plan ahead and try to make payments on time.  If you have an issue with making a payment when scheduled, please let me know with a phone call or e-mail.  We can be somewhat flexible with the payment due dates but the deposit must be paid no later than November 15.  The deposit will secure a seat on the bus.

Thank you,

Tracey Starnes

Gardendale Band Spring Trip                                                                                                                   Student Name  ______________________________________

Payment #1- Deposit $100.00 Due date:  October 31, 2013

Please check payment method.

Check  _____     Check #  __________     Please make checks payable to Gardendale Band Boosters

Student Account  _____

Pay Pal  _____  (credit card payment on band website)

Gardendale Band Spring Trip                                                                                                                   Student Name  _______________________________________

Payment #2- $77.50 Due date:  November 29, 2013

Please check payment method.

Check  _____     Check #  __________     Please make checks payable to Gardendale Band Boosters

Student Account  _____

Pay Pal  _____  (credit card payment on band website)

Gardendale Band Spring Trip                                                                                                                   Student Name  _______________________________________

Payment #3- $77.50 Due date:  December 20, 2013

Please check payment method.

Check  _____     Check #  __________     Please make checks payable to Gardendale Band Boosters

Student Account  _____

Pay Pal  _____  (credit card payment on band website)

Gardendale Band Spring Trip                                                                                                                   Student Name  _______________________________________

Payment #4- $77.50 Due date:  January 31, 2014

Please check payment method.

Check  _____     Check #  __________     Please make checks payable to Gardendale Band Boosters

Student Account  _____

Pay Pal  _____  (credit card payment on band website)

Gardendale Band Spring Trip                                                                                                                   Student Name  _______________________________________

Payment #5- $77.50 Due date:  February 28, 2014

Please check payment method.

Check  _____     Check #  __________     Please make checks payable to Gardendale Band Boosters

Student Account  _____

Pay Pal  _____  (credit card payment on band website)

Gardendale Band Spring Trip                                                                                                                   Student Name  _______________________________________

Payment #6- $77.50 Due date:  March 28, 2014

Please check payment method.

Check  _____     Check #  __________     Please make checks payable to Gardendale Band Boosters

Student Account  _____

Pay Pal  _____  (credit card payment on band website)

Gardendale Band Spring Trip                                                                                                                   Student Name  _______________________________________

Payment #7- $77.50 Due date:  April 11, 2014

Please check payment method.

Check  _____     Check #  __________     Please make checks payable to Gardendale Band Boosters

Student Account  _____

October 7, 2013

Our game this Friday will be at home against Shades Valley at 7:00p.m.  Call time will be 5:45.  Student drivers need to be here by 5:30 to park in the lot at the end of the school.

*Students should wear their band t-shirt and basketball shorts
*Bring or wear black socks
*Bring or wear band shoes
*Bring your black gloves
*The boosters will provide drinks and snacks after halftime so students do not need money

Since this is homecoming, we will do our regular half time show prior to the game around 6:35 or 6:40p.m.  We will be on the field during half time playing while the homecoming court is announced.

Practice will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday this week.  It is very important that everyone be at practice every day this week because we have our first competition this coming Saturday.  We want to be well prepared.

Bon Fire-  Our community bon fire is Tuesday, October 8 at 7:00p.m. at Moncrief Park.  Students should be there by 6:45 that evening.  It should end by approximately 7:45.  We have new shirts for the students to wear for this and the parade on Friday.  They may wear shorts or jeans to the bon fire. 

Parade-  Our homecoming parade will be on Friday at 1:00p.m.  We will wear the new shirt, khaki shorts, and tennis shoes for the parade.  If students check out after the pep rally Friday morning, they need to be back at the band room by 12:30 to prepare for the parade.  They do not have to check back in for the parade and they may leave immediately after we finish the parade.  Students who do not check out will still report to the band room at 12:30 and will remain in the band room after the parade until 3:03.

Call time for Saturday will be 2:15p.m.  This week's competition will be at Pinson Valley High School.  We perform at 6:30p.m.   We will have a short rehearsal/run through at the stadium when we arrive at 2:15.  We will eat around 3:30.  The boosters are providing this meal so students will not need money.  We will load equipment and buses after we eat.  We plan to leave here at 4:15.  When we arrive at Pinson, we will make a restroom stop and then unload our equipment.  Our warm-up time is 5:30.  We are the last band performing in the competition.  Pinson Valley, the host band, and UAB will perform after us.  Awards begin at 7:30p.m.  We should leave there around 8:00 or 8:15 and be back to Gardendale between 8:30 and 9:00p.m. if the competition stays on schedule.

UAB Honor Band forms are due to me by Wednesday, October 9.  I will not accept them after Wednesday at 3:30p.m.  The deadline on the form says Friday October 11, but that is the director's deadline to submit all of the forms online.  I will need time to put all of the information in and submit it to UAB.

2013-2014 Gardendale High School Band
 

September 30, 2013

Call time for this Friday will be 4:30 p.m.
Our game this week will be at Lawson Field vs. Huffman.

The address for Lawson Field is 5601 Oporto Madrid Blvd., Birmingham, AL.  You can click on the link below for directions or to view a map.

http://birmingham.citysearch.com/profile/1375082/birmingham_al/lawson_field_stadium.html

If students would like to apply for the UAB Honor Band, they should go to the link below.  This is for the Concert Honor Band not the All-Star Marching Band.  Students should click on the printable version of the application.  They will complete that form and bring it to me.  My deadline for the forms will be next Wednesday, October 9.  I will then enter the information on the UAB website by Friday, October 11.

UAB Honor Band Information
http://uabbands.org/events/honor-bands/

If students would like to participate in the UAB All-Star Marching Band, that deadline is this Friday, October 4.  I have the link below if you need it.

UAB All-Star Marching Band Info and Registration
http://uabbands.org/events/special-events/


I want to give a huge THANK YOU and congratulations to our band parents for a great band jamboree this past Saturday.  Lee Majors did a great job as usual in the organization of the event.  Jimmy Brown and all the parents were here working a majority of the day and well into the night.  Our band program would not be able to function like it does without the dedication and support of such a wonderful band booster organization.  Thanks to all of our parents!

Our students have worked extremely hard this year.  They have had some very good performances as well.  This past Friday and Saturday night, however, things really began to come together.  Everyone was finally able to start to see the final product of what we have been working towards since the middle of July.  We still have some work to do before our first contest, but we are well on our way.  I received more positive comments in the past few days than I can remember.  A lot of these were from people who have nothing to do with our band program.  The judges comments from Saturday night were very positive and complimentary.  They did give us a few things to look at before contest.  A couple of the judges asked what we had been doing to get to this level so early in the season.  I told them that the students have just been working really hard.  Thanks to all of our students!

CORRECTION!!!!!!

I had a typo on the parent code.  It should have been @5978a not @5798a. Sorry!

We have another way for me to get important information to you.  There is no charge for it.  Normal text rates apply unless you have unlimited texting which I think most everyone has now.  It is called remind101.  It is a texting app that allows me to send texts to everyone who signs up for it.  Most students have already done this.  I will not send lots of unimportant texts.  I will only send them the day of or day before an event for call times.  I can also send a reminder the day before something is due, such as the final day of a fundraiser.  If something happens or there is bad weather the day of a practice or event I could use this to let parents and students know if we need to cancel or postpone a meeting time.  I sent one out this past Saturday morning as a reminder about the call time for jamboree.  It is easy to do.  For the parent reminders simply text the code @5978a to 256-474-4541.  For the student reminders simply text the code @3efcf to 256-474-4541.  Put the code in the space for the message.  You should receive a reply within a few seconds showing that it was successful.  You may sign up for one, both, or neither.  I will usually send the same message to both groups.  If you decide you don't like it, you can stop it at any time.  It's just an easy way to get the information out quickly.

We will not practice this afternoon.  I think we all deserve a day off!  We will resume our normal practice schedule tomorrow.

Practice this week will be on Tuesday, and Thursday after school.  We will also go outside during last block on Wednesday.  Please make sure your child has the correct footwear and a drink for practice.

Practice next week will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

*Students should wear their band t-shirt and basketball shorts
*Bring or wear black socks
*Bring or wear band shoes
*Bring your black gloves
*The boosters will provide drinks and snacks after halftime so students do not need money

Important dates to remember:
Saturday, September 28- Band Jamboree at Gardendale- Time approx. 4pm-10pm
Tuesday, October 8- Homecoming week bon fire at Moncrief Park- Time approx. 6:00pm
Saturday, October 12- Contest at Pinson- Time approx. 12:00pm-10:00pm
Saturday, October 19- Contest at Hayden- Time approx. 12:00pm-10:00pm
I will have definite times as we get closer to each event.

Homecoming will be on Friday, October 11 at the Shades Valley game.  We will do our normal half-time show prior to the game that evening around 6:35 or 6:40p.m.We will have a bon fire on Tuesday, October 8 around 6:00 or 7:00p.m.  I will have an exact time as we get closer to that date.  This usually takes place at Moncrief Park.  Please add this to your calendar.

2013-2014 Gardendale High School Band