3-17-25 Newsletter

Taste and Tunes

Taste and Tunes is our annual Spring Concert, featuring all of our various Bands and Percussion Ensembles, and lots of awesome food shared by our parents and supporters.

Please visit our Taste and Tunes Page for a full description of this fun event.

This year's event will be held Sunday April 6, 2:00 pm in the Haynes Gym, with set-up Saturday April 5 at 2:00 pm. 

We will have a brief meeting Tuesday March 18, 6:00 pm in the Band Room, to help organize and prepare for this year's event.  We invite all parents and supporters to join us!

Announcements

Upcoming Assessment Performances

We have received the schedules for our upcoming performances.  Parents and supporters are welcomed and encouraged to join us for any or all of these events.  Our students are sounding better every day, and we would love for you to be in the audience cheering for us!

These events are our District and State Assessments for Band, so it is imperative that every student is preparing diligently for their performance.  Thank you in advance to our parents who help to keep us focused and motivated.

We are looking for someone to pull our equipment trailer for these events.  

We would also love to have a few parents on site to help out with dinner after school on April 1, and snacks after our performance on April 8.  Contact Mr. Phelan if you are available for any of these jobs, and thank you!

Students should wear "Sunday Best" attire for all of these performances (no t-shirts, sneakers, jeans, etc.). We must look professional for each of these performances.

(Field Trip Permission Forms will be handed out this week.)

Tuesday April 1 

LMEA Large Ensemble Assessment

Sigur Center -- Chalmette, LA

This performance is for our 7/8 Grade Concert Band, and our High School Symphonic Band.

(Students remain after school for a quick dinner.  We'll probably be looking for snacks when we get there :)

4:30 pm -- depart Haynes

5:15 pm -- arrive

6:00 pm -- 7/8 Grade Concert Band performs

6:45 pm -- quick snack between performances?

7:40 pm -- High School Symphonic Band performs

9:30 pm -- depart

10:15 pm -- arrive Haynes

Tuesday April 8

Jefferson Parish Superintendent's Assessment

Jefferson Performing Arts Center --  Metairie

This performance is for our 7/8 Grade Concert Band, 7/8 Grade Percussion Ensemble and our High School Symphonic Band.

8:30 -- depart Haynes

8:45 -- arrive

9:30 -- 7/8 Band performs

11:00 -- 7/8 Percussion Ensemble performs

11:30 -- quick snack between groups

12:30 -- High School Symphonic Band performs

1:30 -- depart

1:45 -- arrive Haynes -- more snacks before returning to class

Wednesday April 9

Jeffeerson Parish Superintendent's Assessment

Jefferson Performing Arts Center --  Metairie

This performance is for our 6th Grade Beginning Band and 6th Grade Percussion Ensemble.

12:45 -- depart Haynes

1:00 -- arrive

2:00 -- perform

2:45 -- depart

Special Guests This Week!

We have Dr. Shaun Popp from UL Lafayette visiting our after school rehearsal on Tuesday March 18.  He is driving all the way in from Lafayette to work with our students!

On Thursday March 20 we have Dr. Robert Schwartz from Southeastern in Hammond coming to our after-school rehearsal!

We know that both of these gentlemen will bring some fresh insights to our students as we preapre for our upcoming Assessments, and we appreciate their efforts on our behalf.  Be sure to bring your college-related questions!

Band Parents' Group

Our first meeting was very productive!  Congratulations to Mrs. Sarah Lauten, who put a ton of time and effort into organizing this group.  We are looking forward to growing this organization to help suypport our amazing students.

Please complete this form to be added to future activities of our (temporarily unofficial) Haynes Band Boosters:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpXMiO_7FRnrqWgjjJS4dAZWjcGnta0LDqyaaOO2JTSS0RXg/viewform?usp=sharing

They have also set up a face book page for additional communication.  Be sure to answer the three questions before attempting to join.

Band Parents Face Book Page 

For more information, please email Haynesbandparents@gmail.com    All are welcome.   

Band Dad's Podcast

Speaking of Band Parents, Mr. Phelan has come across the Band Dad's Podcast, which many of our Band Parents may find interesting and informative, and maybe even entertaining? :)  From their website:  " ... Join us as we break down the wild, wonderful, and slightly chaotic world of band parenting with humor, sarcasm, and just enough actual knowledge to keep us from getting kicked out of the booster club. Whether you're a seasoned band parent or still figuring out what a “reed” is, we’ve got your back. Tune in—confusion loves company!"

https://www.banddadspodcast.com/

New Orleans Piano Institute

We are happy to share that applications are now open for the 2025 New Orleans Piano Institute, which will take place from July 19-27, 2025! The application deadline is March 15. Financial Assistance is available. 

The New Orleans Piano Institute (NOPI) is an international, award-winning, intensive solo performance program for advanced and intermediate college, high school, and junior high school pianists. The 2025 NOPI participants will receive lessons, master classes, attend lectures, discussions, guest artists recitals, and perform in the Showcase Recital. In addition this year participants may enter the 2025 NOPI Solo and Concerto Competitions. 

Applications and more information can be found here: https://masno.org/new-orleans-piano-institute/

Haynes Band to Host Visiting Musicians

The Haynes Band will play host to students from Calabasas High School, in Calabasas, CA on Friday March 28!  We'll need a few parent volunteers to help with lunch after our performance.  Contact Mr. Phelan if you are available.  Here is the tentative schedule of events on this day:

Fri. Mar. 28 (morning) - visit by Calabasas High School from Los Angeles, CA

9:30 -- Calabasas arrives 

10:00 -- Haynes students report to Band Room (beginning of 2nd period)

10:30 -- joint warm-up and performance (in Courtyard)

11:15 -- lunch and social time (in Band Room)

12:00 -- Calabasas departs / Haynes students return to class

Summer Drummin at USM

This year's Summer Drummin will be held June 23-26 at USM in Hattiesburg.  Spend four days drumming with some great players and teachers!  

Summer Drummin Registration Link 

Interlochen Arts Camp and Arts Academy

Interlochen is still accepting applications for their Summer 2025 programs.  Learn more here:  

Interlochen Arts Summer Camp 

After School Practices

It is imperative that students attend every rehearsal of the Haynes Band.  Conflicts should be discussed with Mr. Phelan in advance, so we can attempt to work out the best solution.  Thank you for your cooperation.  (Don't forget to use the Absence Request Form to let us know that you will be missing.)

We will be working strictly on Concert Band music as we prepare for our Large Ensemble Assessments.  

Also, after school practices will still end at 5:30.

Jazz Band

We'll hold Jazz Band practices on Wednesdays after school until 5:30 pm.  We invite any interested members of the Haynes Band program to participate.

We are registered to perform at the Bill Evans Jazz Festival at the Columbia Theater for the Performing Arts in Hammond, on Saturday April 12 at 10:30 am.  We invite everyone to come out and cheer on our Jazz Band!

Calendar

Please refer to our Calendar for a complete list of activities.  Our Calendar is the most up-to-date information we have available.

Morning and Afternoon Procedures

Students may drop off their instruments in the Band Room before school, and pick them up at the end of the day.   Students may not loiter in the Band Room before school.

Band Fee

The Haynes Academy Band charges a $30 annual fee, which covers the purchase of music, transportation, etc.  This fee has been posted to student accounts.  Please contact Mr. Phelan with questions or concerns.

Student Information Form

We ask all parents to fill out the Student Information Form on our website, to continue to receive our weekly-ish email newsletters.  This will also allow you to include additional email addresses as needed.  Thanks!

Band Camp 2025

We are *tentatively* planning for our Band Camp to be held July 28-Aug. 1, 2025, with clean up and organizing days likely the week before.  We'll let everyone know as locations and schedules become finalized.  High School Band students are expected to participate in Marching Band in the fall semester, including Band Camp.  Middle School Band students are invited to join us.  We hope to see everyone there!

Closing

Please visit our Calendar for all the latest updates, and feel free to contact Mr. Phelan at any time with questions or concerns.  We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Mr. Phelan