Welcome Back to the BHS Marching Band!

Ladies and gentleman,
Welcome back.  It may have only been about 2 weeks, but I'm hoping to see as many of you as possible on Wednesday for our first rehearsal.  I want to clarify a few things about this rehearsal and the parade to follow on Saturday:

1)  The first hour of the rehearsal will be spent on the show music for the fall.  To make this work well, I need you to be at the bandroom 10-15 minutes early so that you can find your seat, do a brief warm-up and be ready to go at 9:30 AM.  Anyone should attend, even if you can't make the parade on Saturday.

2)  The second 1 1/2 - 2 hours will be spent preparing for the Huntington Woods July 4th parade.  Since it's Motown themed, and to kick off commemorating MIchael Jackson (which we'll of course, now, be doing all fall), come prepared to play "I Want You Back."  Hopefully this was in your packets that you received at the end of the year--veterans of the band may also have it memorized, of course.  We will do the basics of parade marching, work on the piece, and should be done between 12:00 and 12:30 PM.  Again, this is only for people who are marching in the parade--if you're in town, please come, we need you!!

3)  We'll talk more about exactly where to meet up on Saturday the 4th, what time, what to wear, etc. at the rehearsal.  Don't forget to have a flip-folder, plastic page holders, and a lyre ready for this Wednesday's rehearsal--without it, you will be unable to march!

The last thing I want you all to know is how excited I am to see you.  This year's marching band has so much potential, it's scary.

Can't wait to you see in your chairs at 9:15 AM on Wednesday,
Mr. Shaw

Two Interesting Sites

Hello all,

As I write this, I'm sitting at the University of Michigan school of music, starting my masters degree in music education.  If you're bored, students, here are two cool (I use the term "cool" in the band sort of way) sites for you to peruse:

1)  http://www.musictheory.net/trainers/html/id90_en.html  (TRAIN YOUR EARS!)

2) http://www.folkways.si.edu/  (AMAZING COLLECTION OF WORLD MUSIC.  I LEARNED YESTERDAY HOW TO PLAY SAMBA, MERINGUE, AND MARIACHI FROM THE GUY WHO RUNS THIS WEBSITE FOR THE SMITHSONIAN).

See you all soon...

BHS Graduation Reminder

This is just a reminder for all Symphonic Band students that the bus for graduation will leave BHS at 5:30 PM. Students need to be at BHS in full uniform by 5:10 PM, and must ride home on the bus unless a signed parent note is provided. We should hopefully be back to BHS between 9:30 and 10:00 PM.

Students should plan on turning in their tuxes and dresses Tuesday night after graduation, or by Friday, June 12.