Gardendale High School Band: October 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

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.

Parkway Place Mall

2801 Memorial Parkway Southwest
Huntsville, AL 35801

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

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

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

Buckhorn High School

4123 Winchester Road

New Market, AL 35761

GHS Band at Hayden Contest 2013

Friday, October 18, 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

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

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/

Monday, October 14, 2013

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

Thursday, October 10, 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.