3-31-25 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. 

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.  Students may wear their Sunday Best all day on performance day.

(Field Trip Permission Forms have been handed out, and should be returned ASAP.)

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 6th Grade Band, 7/8 Grade Concert Band, 7/8 Grade Percussion Ensemble and our High School Symphonic Band.

8:30 -- depart Haynes

8:45 -- arrive

9:10 -- MS Percussion warm-up

9:30 -- MS Percussion perform

10:10 -- Beginning Band warm-up

10:30 -- Beginning Band perform

11:00 -- listen to T. H. Harris

11:20 -- LUNCH

12:00-- listen to Thomas Jefferson

12:40 -- 7/8 + High School Bands warm-up (others listen to Meisler)

1:00 -- 7/8 Band perform

1:30 -- High School Band perform

2:00 -- depart

2:15 -- arrive Haynes

Haynes Band Hosts Calabasas High School

Congratulations to our 7/8th Grade Band and to our High School Band for our best performances of the year today!  Both groups sounded our best yet!  (Our 7/8th Grade Band was most impressive today!  Their hard work and perseverance is really paying off!)

Then we combined with the Calabasas High School students and had a fun and energetic performance of Allegro Barbaro -- it was AWESOME :). Then, ... we shared a delicious lunch and got to hang out and visit with our new friends from California!

Thanks to our parent volunteers for picking up and setting up our lunch and supplies, to everyone who brought drinks for today's meal, and to our students for a fun event!  

Please help us to extend a big THANK YOU to Mr. V for allowing us to host this event, to our Coaches for sharing the Gym with us, and to all of the teachers who brought their students to hear some or all of our performance today.  All of these people contributed to make today a very special event for our students and guests, and we greatly appreciate their contributions!

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.  (There are a few questions you must answer before you will be granted access to this group, to keep out bots and scammers -- if you are having trouble accessing the group, please contact Mr. Phelan, and he will connect you with our Band Boosters.)

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/

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.

Saturday, April 12

Bill Evans Jazz Festival (at SELU)

Jazz Band

(Sunday best dress)

Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts

220 E Thomas St, Hammond, LA 70401, USA

9:00 -- arrive at Columbia Theater

9:45 -- warm-up

10:30 -- performance

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