Dear Current and Future HHS Band Students and Parents,
As you head off to a well-deserved summer vacation I wanted to leave a couple of reminders with you. I will be attempting to unplug from work and not checking my email as often as I normally do, so please be patient if you email me and don’t get an immediate reply. Even your fearless leader needs a bit of a respite from work to recharge! 🙂
Jazz Band Audition Results – The roster for next year’s Jazz Band can be found here. At this point, the roster is only for one jazz band as we do not have quite enough people to fill out a second band. As of right now, assuming the students who auditioned and were not selected want to do a second jazz band, we would have 0 altos, 2 tenors, 0 baris, 1 trumpet, 3 trombones, 0 guitars, 1 piano, 0 basses, and 1 drum. This is not enough to have a functional ensemble. If you would like to sign up to be in a second jazz band next year with no audition necessary, please fill out this form. If I end up having enough people to fill out a band I will notify you and move forward with a second jazz band.
Wind Ensemble Audition Results – The roster for next year’s Wind Ensemble can be found here. We still have some CRITICAL openings in the Wind Ensemble, including Clarinet, Alto Sax, Trumpet, French Horn, and Trombone. If you are interested in auditioning for a vacant spot, EVEN INCOMING FRESHMEN, please let me know. You will be expected to do your audition after the second day of band camp Tuesday, August 12. The audition material can be found in the Audition Information tab at www.hockinsonmusic.com. I want to stress that just because you audition does NOT mean you are automatically in the group. You will need to practice this summer. I recommend private lessons (for everyone, actually) if doable. Please email me if you have any questions.
Fireworks Stand Shifts – As of this email we still have about 130 open shifts for our fireworks stand that starts June 27 at our new location next to the Hockinson Chevron. Please sign up for any and all shifts you are able to work. There is no maximum number you can sign up for. Whether you’re an incoming freshman family, graduated senior, or anyone in between, we could really use your help if you’re available. We need parents and those over 18 for cashier positions, as well as stockers for those over age 16 and sign wavers for those under 16. Please click here for more information, to view the available shifts, and to sign up: https://signup.com/go/QyGfhCE If you have any questions about the fireworks stand, please email hockinsonmusicboosters@gmail.com or jenniferfoster98606@gmail.com.
Band Camp and Calendar for Next Year – Please make sure you have Monday, August 11 thru Friday, August 15 from 9am to 4pm blocked out on your calendar for Band Camp. Percussionists should also have Saturday, August 9 from 9am to 4pm blocked out. All students are expected to attend. Click here for more information, as well as to see all important dates for next year. Get them on your family calendar now before you forget!
2026 Southern California Trip – Please check your traveler accounts to make sure you are current on your payments and do not have any missing information. EDT will be purchasing airfare over the summer and we don’t want missing information to keep you from getting a seat! We still have 11 people (mostly adults) who are waitlisted on the trip. I am ONE TRAVELER AWAY from being able to reserve a third bus on the trip and open up the floodgates to anyone who wants to join. If you have not registered for the trip yet there is still time! Please see this information from earlier this year to learn more about the trip and to register (ignore the deadlines). Once airfare is purchased, we are truly limited to “space available” when adding new travelers (basically once the airplane is full). If you applied for the music booster’s needs-based scholarship, you should hear results about that as early as next week.
Private Lessons – I can’t stress enough how much a few private lessons over the summer (and beyond, hopefully) can improve your individual abilities. If you have the time over the summer, please consider taking a few. Contact one of the local music stores for instructor contact information, or email me for recommendations. This is ESPECIALLY important if you are in Wind Ensemble/Jazz Band, or are switching to a new instrument (and we’ve talked about it…PLEASE do not show up to the first day of band camp with a different instrument than what you ended this school year playing).
Have a wonderful and relaxing summer, and I’ll see you at band camp (and the fireworks stand)!