Band Camp Details

URGENT:  If you have not confirmed to anyone (band council members or myself) either through phone or email that you will be attending camp, please be sure to do so right away.  If you did not receive a phone call in the last week or two it means I do not have a current telephone number for you.  If you did not speak with a band council officer because of not receiving a phone call or just receiving a voicemail message, please email me as soon as possible.  I am in the process of finishing writing our first halftime show that we will learn at band camp and need an accurate head count in order to make sure that the music and drill do not have any big gaps in them.  If you are receiving this email but have decided not to continue with band this year (and I hope that’s not the case), please let me know so that I can remove you from our mailings and update my rosters accordingly.

We are quickly approaching our annual Band Camp!  I hope you are as excited as I am to be reunited with your fellow banditos and kick off another great year of band at Hockinson High School!  We get off to a quick start this year with our first performance being the third day of school (September 2)!  Including our return to perform at Husky Band Day at the University of Washington on Saturday, September 10 (more information to follow about this), we have three performances in the first three weeks of school.  Band Camp will get us on our way to being ready for these events!

As a reminder, band camp runs Monday thru Friday, August 8-12, from 9 AM to 4 PM.  ALL DRUMMERS:  Your extra drumline day is Saturday, August 6, from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Please remember to bring the following items to each day of camp (including the first day):

• Marching/pep band instrument
• Pencil
• 3 ring binder with at least 10 clear sheet protectors
• Instrument lyre and flip folder with at least 20 flip folder pages (Percussionists:  Wait to purchase your lyre until after Saturday when you know your instrument assignment)
  • Many schools in our area have band camp the same week as us and many music stores run out of these items quickly.  The sooner you get your lyre and flip folder, the better.  I also recommend you bring your instrument with you if possible to try the lyre on your instrument, as some lyres can be slightly too big or small.
• Water bottle (we will have cold water and Gatorade for you to fill your bottles with throughout the day)
• Sunscreen
• Lunch

School Instruments:  If you need to use a school instrument and haven’t already emailed me, please make sure you do so before coming to camp so that I can have an instrument ready for you.  Rental agreements will be available for parents and students to fill out, and the office should be open to accept your $100 annual rental fee (checks made out to Hockinson High School).  Remember, all students who use a school instrument must sign the rental agreement and pay the fee in the office before using the instrument.  This includes returning students.  If you are using a school instrument, please show up a little before the start of band camp to take care of the paperwork and instrument checkout.  If you are using a school instrument, please remember to bring your own accessories (reeds, neck straps, etc.).

Pep Band Music:  Both new and returning students have a LOT of pep band music to learn in the span of one week.  We have many pieces from last year, but a lot of new pieces as well.  You will receive packets on the first day of camp, or if you would like to pick a packet up earlier than that you can stop by the band room starting August 1 to grab one.  If you would like to listen to recordings of some of these pieces, you can visit the band website at www.hockinsonmusic.com/listening.

Attire:  Be sure to wear clothes that you can move freely in.  Dress for the weather, but are keep it school appropriate.  No one will be allowed to march in sandals, flip flops, or any open-toe shoe.  Please wear tennis shoes or some other closed-toe athletic shoe.  Don’t forget sunscreen!

Uniform Fitting:  All students will be fitted for marching uniforms at camp, as well as those in the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Jazz Band who need to be fitted/re-fitted for tuxedos and dresses.  All uniform parts will be ordered on the last day of camp, and if you miss that deadline you may have to pay more later on to get your items shipped to you in time and not as part of the larger, discounted group order.  This is especially important this year with our first home football game so early in the year (the third day of school!).  Watch your email for a message from our Hockinson Music Boosters with more information on uniforms for the year.  If you cannot attend camp, there will be some steps you will still have to take in order to get your uniform parts assembled and fitted by the first game.  Should you have further questions about uniforms, please email hockinsonmusicboosters@yahoo.com.  As an aside, we are still looking to fill out our Uniform Committee this year.  If you’re interested in helping out on this important committee please email the boosters ASAP.

Fall Sports:  Fall sports begin 2 weeks after band camp (or the week after for football), per WIAA regulations.  Anything planned by coaches or teams at this point is purely optional. I point this out because every year there are some conflicts with workouts or other unofficial athletic events.  The school has directed fall coaches to not ask band students to do anything for fall sports during the week of band camp.  I purposefully put band camp this early in August so that it will not affect sports tryouts or your number of required practices to play in your first game. I am more than happy to speak with coaches if you would like me to.

Wind Ensemble/Jazz Band Auditions:  Any students planning on auditioning (or re-auditioning) for vacant seats in Wind Ensemble or Jazz Band should plan on staying after band camp on Monday to do the live audition portion with me (12 major scales from memory, sightreading).  The two recorded pieces (Danny Boy and one other piece specific to your instrument) should be submitted to me by that time as well.  If you have not emailed me to let me know you are staying after, please be sure to do so.  While your audition will take about 5 minutes to do, please be ready to wait in line up to an hour depending on how many choose to audition.  More information on Wind Ensemble auditions are on the band website, www.hockinsonmusic.com. Please be prepared and remember that simply auditioning for Wind Ensemble does not guarantee you a spot in the group.

Program Ad Solicitation:  Please watch your emails in the coming days for information on selling ads for our annual Concert Program.  Last year’s inaugural issue was a success and we will be doing it again.  Be thinking about individuals and companies you could ask to support our program.

Update on the New Band Room:   I know many of you have been popping into school trying to get a peek at the new band room (trust me, so have I).  At this point it looks like the room will not be quite ready for occupancy during Band Camp, but should be ready shortly after that.  The district is doing everything they can to expedite the process, but we want to make sure we do it right in addition to doing it quickly.  The old band room is full of boxes and equipment waiting to go into the new room, but we will be able to have camp in the MPR and out in the staff parking lot.  We will probably get a chance to check out our new covered bleachers, too!

Questions?:  Please check the band website frequently (www.hockinsonmusic.com).  Dates for the year are listed on the letter sent home with students at the end of the year (see a copy here).  The same dates have not yet been added to the Google calendar on the website, but will be shortly. Be sure to “like” the Hockinson High School Band Facebook page as well .Do not hesitate to email me at corey.mcenry@hocksd.org with any questions or concerns.

I look forward to seeing each and every one of you once again to begin another fantastic year of band at Hockinson High School!