3-20-23

We had a small but enthusiastic drumline Saturday as we performed for the Dance Team Showcase! Thanks to our students who came out and entertained the crowd. Our favorite parent quote was "We get music, AND a comedy show!"

Congratulations to our High School Band!

We had a great clinic with Dr. Kelvin Jones from LSU on Tuesday evening. Dr. Jones enjoyed our performance, and he found several new and interesting ways for us to think about our playing. A special Thank You goes out to all of our studentsand parents who accommodated our unusual schedule for that rehearsal.

Jazz Band at Lakeside Mall

It's official -- the Haynes Jazz Band will be performing next month at Lakeside Mall! We invite everyone to come out and cheer us on at the Vets Skylight in Lakeside Mall.

Saturday, April 15

9:30 am - setup

10:30 am - perform

12:30 pm - tear down

Practice Schedule Updates

We have several schedule adjustments to our regular practice routine, as follows. Thank you in advance for ensuring that your student is present at every rehearsal as we prepare for our upcoming performances!

Tuesday March 14 - no practice

Thursday March 23 - practice until 5:00 (with special guest Dr. Charles Taylor from UNO)

Taste and Tunes -- We Need You ! ! !

Saturday April 1 -- Set-up and Decorating (times TBA)

Sunday April 2 -- 2:00 Performance

The Taste and Tunes concert and banquet is our largest performance of the year (and our only fundraiser).

WE NEED YOU (Parents, Guardians, Supporters) to be a part of Taste and Tunes! Our students deserve the highest quality instruments and music, and Taste and Tunes is the best way we can provide these items for our students.

T & T Silent Auction -- Items Needed

We will be holding a Silent Auction for this year's Taste and Tunes, and we need YOU to contribute! We encourage you to share gift cards, unique items (including store-bought items, gift baskets, etc.), or even gift cards for your favorite venue. Let us know how you can help via the Sign Up genius link below.

We also have need of several additional food items. Please consider contributing your favorite meal or snack. Let us know what you will be bringing via the Sign Up genius link below.

Taste and Tunes Sign Up Genius 2023

We will be enlisting our students to create various forms of Publicity (including posters, videos, etc.) to draw a bigger audience, and we can't wait to share some of their fun (and probably quite original) products!

Online tickets for Taste and Tunes are now available for purchase via this link:

Taste and Tunes Tickets

If you have friends or relatives who would like to make a donation toward our Band, we also have a link for that:

Haynes Band Donation Portal

LMEA Large Ensemble Assessement (formerly known as District Festival)

We have received our schedule for this year's LMEA Large Ensemble Assessment, to be held at Chalmette High School. Due to festival limitations, we will only be able to bring our High School Band this year (along with select Middle School students). Students should wear their "Sunday Best" outfits, or their school uniform.

Tuesday March 21

9:00 -- depart Haynes

9:45 -- arrive Chalmette HS and unload

10:00 -- warmup room

10:30 -- perform

11:00 -- sight reading

11:30 -- depart Chalmette HS

12:15 -- arrive Ci Ci's Pizza (Airline Drive, Metairie)

1:15 -- depart Ci Ci's

1:45 -- arrive Haynes

Students must bring $9.50 to pay for their lunch this day. Cash is highly preferred, and will allow students to move quickly into the buffet area.

Parents are welcome to come out to the Chalmette Cultural Arts Center to hear our students perform tomorrow. We hope to see you there!

Jefferson Parish Superintendent's Large Ensemble Assessment (aka Parish Festival)

We have also received this year's schedule for Parish Festival. We invite all of our parents and supporters to join us at the East Jefferson High School auditorium to cheer for your favorite young musicians! Yes! Parents are welcome to meet us there, and to watch as our students perform.

Please note that Middle School and High School groups will perform on different days. Lunch arrangements for Middle School are tba. Students should wear their "Sunday Best" outfits, or their school uniform.

High School Band (Wed. March 29)

8:15 - check in to 1st period, then report to Band Room

8:20 - load bus

8:25 - depart for EJ

8:40 - arrive EJ

9:00 - perform

9:40 - watch Meisler MS

10:00 - depart EJ

10:15 - arrive Haynes, unload report to 2nd period

Middle School Bands (Thu. March 30)

10:30 - students report to Band Room (quick lunch)

11:00 - load bus

11:15 - depart

11:25 - arrive EJ

11:45 - 6th grade warm-up (on stage)

12:15 - 6th grade perform

1:05 - 7th & 8th warm-up

1:35 - 7th & 8th perform

2:05 - load bus

2:15 depart EJ

2:30 - arrive Haynes

Jazz Band at Bill Evans Jazz Festival @ Southeastern

Our Jazz Band One will again perform for the Bill Evans Jazz Festival at Southeastern La. University in Hammond, on Thursday March 30. We will again be asking for our parents to provide transportation. Here is our tentative schedule:

2:30 --- depart Haynes

4:30 --- warm-up

5:15 --- perform

6:00 --- dinner (details TBA)

8:00 --- return to Haynes

Special Olympics

The Haynes Academy Band has again been invited to perform for the Special Olympics Track and Field Meet at Pontiff Playground on Friday March 31! Watch for permission forms soon.

9:15 called out of class

9:30 depart for Pontiff

9:45 in our seats

10:00 event begins

11:00 return to Haynes

11:30 go to 3rd period

Shirts Have Arrived

Students may pick up their ordered shirts and sweatshirts at any time. Thanks to everyone who purchased a shirt, and who wears it proudly to show their support of the Haynes Academy Band!

High School Band

Our High School Band has resumed our weekly practices on Tuesday and Thursday until 5:00 pm. Attendance at these practices is required to participate in future performances. Thank You to all of our students who attend every rehearsal!

This week is our Large Ensemble Assessment! We hope everyone has been practicing!

It's College Audition Season!

No matter your school of choice, Band is one of the most fun and rewarding activities you can join. You will immediately make tons of new friends, find a "home" on campus, and become an active member of your school community from Day One. Most schools also offer some form of Band Scholarship for participating in Band. (Many of these scholarships are not related to being a Music Major -- instead they are focused on students who just want to PLAY FOR FUN!)

We have had several college Band Directors on our campus this year, and EVERY ONE of them has shared some of the benefits to our young people of playing music in college. From having an instant circle of friends, to fun activities, to all of the obvious musical and artistic opportunities, College Band is a great choice for students.

We strongly encourage all of our students to explore the musical offerings at your school of choice. Please contact Mr. Phelan if you would like additional information.

Middle School Band

7th & 8th Grade Bands

Our 7th and 8th graders can now play through both "Serengeti Dreams" and "Incantation and Ritual" as we prepare for our upcoming festivals, and we continue to improve both individually and as a group. Please ensure that your student has their own copy of Essential Elements Book 2, so they do not fall behind.

We have now received all of our awesome African drums, so Serengeti Dreams will sound GREAT! (Thanks again to our Donors Choose supporters!)

Over the next few weeks we wil be pulling these students together during their lunch period to assemble our tunes. Please encourage your student to join for the first few minutes of lunch.

Remember: Focus on one measure at a time as you learn.

We invite our Middle School musicians to join us for High School Band practices on Tuesday and Thursday.

Beginning Band

We are working on "Asturias," and "Character" and will perform these pieces for festival in March. We also continue to progress forward through our Essential Elements books, and are learning new things every class!

Every student should have their own copy of the Essential Elements for Band Book 1, as well as a supply of reeds, valve oil, etc. Please let Mr. Phelan know of any instrument problems or concerns.

We invite our Middle School musicians to join us for High School Band practices on Tuesday and Thursday.

We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

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