This Week's Newsletter
October 27, 2024
Director's Notes
Thank you for your support of our football season and our annual Butter Braid fundraiser! We have had another busy week and are very excited to share our Halloween Concert with you this Tuesday!
We are getting to the point in the semester where several students are starting to run short of some supplies. Please be sure all clarinets/saxes have at least 3 good reeds and all 7/8 grade percussionists have all necessary mallets. Percussion - mallets can be ordered through the HCMS Band if needed. Please contact Ms. Parker or Mr. Moran if you have questions about materials.
HCMS HALLOWEEN CONCERT - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29- REQUIRED PERFORMANCE FOR 7TH/8TH GRADE BAND STUDENTS
WHO: 7th and 8th Grade Band Students
WHAT TO WEAR: Halloween Costume (Must be in line with the school dress code!) OR Football Band Uniform (black band shirt, khaki pants, tennis shoes). We will have prizes for the Best Overall, Funniest, Scariest, Most Creative and Dynamic Duo costumes! Masks may be worn to compete for costume - but must be taken off during the concert portion. No toy weapons allowed due to school regulations!
WHAT TO BRING: Instrument (please leave case in car), band binder
WHERE: Huntsville High School Auditorium (Be sure to note the change from our original venue!)
WHEN: Call Time is 5:30 p.m. - Jazz Band (Horns N' Hooves) members will find their seat in the Jazz set-up on the floor in front of the stage. Symphonic (7th/8th Grade) Band members will find their seat on stage in the band set-up.
Additional Info
6th Grade (Beginning Band) students are more than welcome to come enjoy the concert! 6th Grade will not be performing for this concert but they are welcome to wear their costumes and come hear the music to see some of what we do in 7th/8th grade band!
Immediately following our concert, the Huntsville High School Band will have their Fall Concert, beginning around 7:30. Students and families are welcome to stay and enjoy! There is no cost to attend and it's a great way to know what is ahead in the HHS Band program!
BUTTER BRAID FUNDRAISER Thank you for your support of the Butter Braid Fundraiser. Delivery will occur on November 14th with pick-up in the HCMS Cafeteria from 3:00-5:00 p.m. We will confirm and remind you of that date!
CONCERT UNIFORMS (7TH/8TH GRADE) We have just about fitted everyone for concert uniforms and will be sending home all uniforms this week as we receive signed uniform agreements and payment ($25 - cash, check, MySchoolFees). An email has been sent to any students who are missing one or both of those items. Please help us collect forms and payments as soon as possible so we can distribute uniforms promptly. We would like to use concert uniforms for the Veteran's Day Concert on November 7. Please refer to your uniform handout packet for instructions on how to do a temporary hem! This paperwork is also included in the newsletter below - Remember: uniforms may not have excess fabric cut! Contact the Band Parents with any questions (hcovemsband@gmail.com).
VETERAN'S DAY PROGRAM The HCMS Veteran's Day program will be Thursday, November 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the HCMS Gym. The 7th/8th Grade Band will be performing - and it is a required performance for all 7th/8th Grade Band members. We are planning to wear concert uniforms for this performance - so please be sure your student's uniform is ready to wear!
SPEAKING OF HALLOWEEN...If you happen to have any extra Halloween candy left over from trick-or-treating, please consider donating it to the HCMS Band! We like to keep incentives on hand to reward our students for exemplary behavior, musical progress, etc.
JAZZ We will continue our weekly Jazz rehearsals on Monday afternoons from 3:00-3:45. We do not anticipate any more schedule changes at this time! Thanks for being flexible during football season!
THANK YOU Special thanks to all of our chaperones for football games and those helping us fit and distribute uniforms! We greatly appreciate you sharing your time!
This Week: Next Week:
Monday (10/28) - Jazz Band (3:00-3:45) Monday (11/4) - Jazz Band (3:00-3:45)
Tuesday (10/29) - HCMS Halloween Concert* Tuesday (11/5) -
Wednesday (10/30) - Wednesday (11/6)-
Thursday (10/31) - Thursday (11/7) - HCMS Veteran's Day Program**
Friday (11/1) - Friday (11/8) -
*10/29 - Halloween Concert - Huntsville HS Auditorium - Call Time 5:30 p.m. - Concert Begins at 6:00
**11/7 - HCMS Veteran's Day Program - HCMS Gym - Call Time 5:00 p.m. - Program starts at 5:30
Welcome, Mr. Moran!
Hello everyone!
My name is Stephen Moran. I am a musician and educator originally from Norwood, Massachusetts. I moved to Alabama while I was still in early elementary school, giving me plenty of time to learn to love and appreciate this amazing state. I ended up graduating from high school in Enterprise, Alabama. I was proudly a member of the Big Blue Marching band from all the way back to my first summer band camp. Music had such an impact on me that I decided to further study it at Troy University in Troy AL. I graduated in December 2021 with a Bachelors of Music Education. I moved to the Huntsville area in the summer of 2023 and have been happily living here with my wife Maddie ever since.
As a saxophone player primarily, I have lots of experience in a variety of ensembles. A personal favorite genre of mine would have to be jazz! I have lots of experience both in the big band setting as well as with various smaller ensembles and combos over the years. I was lead tenor in Troy’s own Jazz Ensemble and principal saxophone with the Symphony Band. I also played sax and arranged tunes for a student jazz combo called Blue Root. Some of the other instruments I also play include the clarinet, flute, and Bass Guitar. Besides being an active musician, I also enjoy getting out to nature when I can. Kayaking, hiking, and traveling are some of the ways I personally prefer to R&R.
I am a firm believer in the idea that I should strive to be the best I can in everything I do, and I hope that reflects on my students. I work hard as a musician and educator so that I can take what I have learned and pass it on to my students. I would like to leave every student of mine with not only a deeper understanding of music, but also how rewarding it can be to grow in a discipline, the same way I did with music. If I can offer every student a chance at that, then I think it’ll all have been worth it. I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach at HCMS. I am already a few days along and have been loving every minute! The students are wonderful and Mrs. Parker is phenomenal as their director; I really look forward to learning from and working alongside her. It’s easy to be optimistic about the band here at Hampton Cove. I really look forward to contributing what I can and introducing myself properly to everyone else who makes this community such a treasure. Go Bulls and Go Band!!
All the best,
Stephen Moran
Band Director and Music Teacher,
Hampton Cove Middle School
Stephen.Moran@hsv-k12.org
Reminders for Daily Band Class Success:
All Band Members:
Ensure your name is on all band instruments, books and supplies. With so many coming in and out of the room each day, it really helps to be sure everyone keeps up with their things!
Add Flair to your instrument case to make it easier to find!
Don't forget your pencil and band folder.
Beginning Band: Be sure you have lined up an instrument AND the red Tradition of Excellence Book 1 for your instrument (Available at local Music Stores and on Amazon)
Symphonic Band (7th/8th Grade): bring your Blue Tradition of Excellence Book 2 daily (Available at local music stores and on Amazon)
Clarinet / Sax Players: Have at least 3 good reeds (strength 2.5) with you
Percussionists: Bring your drumsticks, yarn mallets, rubber mallets, bell (hard) mallets and stick bag
Contact Ms. Parker with questions!
Concert Uniform Rental Packet (7th/8th Grade)
First Day Paperwork
24/25 Band Handbook 7/8.docx24-25 Handbook 6th Grade.docx