Hello All,

I am going to push back chair tests until we get through the next two weeks of performances for Trojan Band and 8th Grade Night.  This will allow us time to work on some of our performance material this week and then chair test material the next week.

All chair tests will now take place from September 9th – 11th in class.  I think this will give everyone extra time to be ready and prepared for both very important performances.

Thanks,

Mr. Huls

Hello All,

What a great first full week, here are some reminders to remember coming up:

CALENDAR:  Please visit the calendar page and sync to the google calendar.  You also should have received a blue copy for your fridge at home, I passed them out in class.  Please make sure to look through all of the band events and rehearsals and make special plans to have your child at each event.

NOTEBOOKS:  A lot of students have their 1 inch binders with plastic sheet protectors, their are still a handful that do not, please remember that that is part of your child’s participation grade in class.  If you can not afford the binder and pages please send me an email and we will get your child what they need.

TROJAN BAND:  I will be making the shirt and hat order this Friday, please have all forms and fee’s in by Thursday.  PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK ALL TROJAN BAND DATES ON THE CALENDAR.  If you are a parent that would like to come help chaperone at football games, help monitor the kids, and pass out pizza please email me ASAP with your shirt size.

8TH GRADE NIGHT AT THE HS:  All 8th graders will be participating in 8th Grade Night at the high school on September 4th.  There is a mandatory rehearsal the night before on Sept 3rd from 6 – 7pm.  We will teach all the kids the routine for pre-game and they will have a chance to meet their HS band buddy for the night.  The only students that may miss this rehearsal are 8th grade football players, and 8th grade football cheerleaders. We will get them caught up during class on Friday before the game.  Please remember, even though your child may be nervous to perform with the HS band or in front of a lot of people at a football game, please assure them that it will be alright.  I have never had a student get done with 8th grade night and regret going, I have had a few students not go and regret it for the rest of the year.

7th GRADE TRUMPETS SWITCH TO FRENCH HORN: Attention all 7th grade trumpet players and trumpet player parents.  We are looking to add 3 – 4 trumpet players to switch the french horn section.  Benefits to switching:

1.  The french horn is an awesome instrument that has similar fingerings and mouthpiece to a trumpet.

2. French horn is a school owned instrument which will be good if you are playing a rented instrument, no more monthly payments.

Please have your child come down in the mornings to give it a try or email me and let me know you’re interested.

CHAIR TESTS:  We will begin the chair placement tests next week Aug 26th – 28th in class at school.  Chair placement tests are a grade for class and will determine which part your child will play.  Here is the criteria that will be on the test:

1.  The student will have 2 minutes to play the F, Bb, Eb, and Ab concert scales.  Then they can play as many scales and arpeggios he / she knows successfully for bonus points.
2. The student will play a prepared solo that is 8 measures long. (this will be handed out in class on Monday Aug 24th)
3. The student will sightread an 8 measure sight reading example.

Each portion of the test will go into the gradebook as a grade.  YOU SHOULD BE HEARING A LOT OF PRACTICING GOING ON AT YOUR HOUSE IN PREPARATION FOR THIS TEST.  PLEASE ASK YOUR CHILD WHAT THEIR PRACTICE ROUTINE IS AS THEY GET READY.

Thanks all, remember if you have any questions feel free to email me.

Joe Huls

Band Director

Carrollton Bands

Hello all,

What a great start.  It was so much fun seeing all the smiling faces of my 7th and 8th graders as they walk through the door this week. 

We were able to get a lot of organizational things done as well as go over the handbook. Please take a moment to look it over yourself and if you have any questions I will be happy to answer them. 

Please remember to pick up a BLACK one inch binder, with the pocket in the front and plastic protector sheets to put inside. This is due by MONDAY, that way we can get started learning music. 

I am one step away from releasing our final yearly schedule as soon as it is done I will post it here and send a hard copy home for the fridge. 

Just a reminder that all of our forms and fees are due by August 24th and that includes Trojan Band. 

Thanks again for your support. It’s going to be an awesome year. 

Mr. Huls

Hello all,

I am very much looking forward to starting a new school year tomorrow. Please remember to bring your instrument to school with you on the first day and if you were at open house and received all of your forms please remember to bring those with you along with any fee’s and payments in a clearly marked envelope. 

I have so many awesome things planned for your children this year and I cannot wait to get started. 

Kindest regards

Mr. Huls

Hello all 7th and 8th grade band parents! I hope you have had a great summer so far!

As we get closer to the start of school I will release a whole lot more info regarding our calendar, events and concert info but I thought I would let you know of some new items that students will need for class this year. 

Each student will need a black, one inch binder with a clear view window on the front. They will be given a nice cover sheet to put in the clear view window that will have our logo, name and slot number on it. Inside they will need a bunch of plastic sheet protectors atleast 20. They will need a clip in pencil holder case, and mechanical pencils. 

With this folder in hand we can be assured of always being prepared for class and also looking very classy on stage and at concerts and events. 

Thanks all. Enjoy the rest of your summer and I will see you all at open house. 

Joe Huls

As we get closer to the end of the week we want to let you all know some important info. 

• All privately owned instruments need to go home by Friday. Students should clean out the cases, practice regularly over the summer, and make sure they keep their horn in working condition.  If you are still making payments please continue to do so over the summer. 
• Anyone playing a school owned instrument like a tuba, baritone, French horn, tenor sax, Bari sax, bassoon, or bass clarinet can sign one out for the summer to practice. We will have those forms available Wednesday. 
• All percussion kits need to go home for the summer by Friday as well. 
• See our previous article about summer camps or email us if you would still like your child to attend a summer music camp. 

Please make sure your child has a plan for getting their instrument home this summer. With all these awesome skills we can’t let them go to waste. 

Thanks all

Thank you again to all our awesome students and parents. We sincerely hope that you enjoyed tonight’s performance. 

We would like to reach out to the band family and ask for a special request. Over the weekend one of our eighth grade band members lost her home to a house fire. From what we know everyone is okay, but the house is a total loss. 

If you are willing to bring in a donation of cash $5, 10 or $20 we are planning on collecting it and putting together a special card signed by the band, and visa gift card to help with any expenses during this troubling time.

Every little bit can help. We will collect cash donations until Thursday, and plan to deliver the cards Friday.

Thanks again everyone.

Hello all,

Tonight we will have our final performance of the year. Our Spring Concert. This concert is for all band members 6th – 8th. 

The concert begins at 7:00 PM. Six graders need to arrive at 6:30 PM, and seventh and eighth graders at 6:45 PM.  Please plan on staying for the entire concert, we should be done by 8:15pm. 

 Uniform includes the following:

CJHS band polo, black dress pants (no jeans), formal dress shoes, black socks.

Please let us know if you can help with supervision, handing out programs, or with loading and unloading equipment. 

We look forward to seeing everyone there tonight. 

Hello all,

As you all know. Next Monday is our spring concert at the MAC at 7pm. We sure could use some help unloading the trailer at 3:15pm at the MAC and then of course loading after the concert. If you would be willing to help please email me or Ms. Menendez. 

Thanks everyone, we are very much looking forward to performing for you. 

Hello all,

Ms. Menendez and I want to thank all the awesome 6th grade parents for getting your child dressed in uniform this morning. Our concert was awesome, and the 4th and 5th graders are fired up about joining band for next year.

  
The sixth grade band did such an excellent job representing the band program today. Bravo!!!!
Next week monday is our last performance. 7pm at the MAC (6th graders arrive at 6:30 in uniform.)

See you there!!!