Dear Members, Parents and Potential Members,
 
Greetings from The PRIDE of Southside!  First, we would like to congratulate everyone on an outstanding 1st semester.   As always, our communities of Southside & Rainbow City have a lot to be proud of!  Our students’ dedication to musical and personal excellence continues to drive our band programs to new heights. 
 
As hard as it may be to believe, it is already time again to begin planning for next year. 
The award winning Southside Marching Band, “The PRIDE” of Southside is the flagship ensemble of the high school band program.  For 59 years, our members have thrilled fans with their entertaining performances and musical ability.  Comprised of some of the top students in the school, The PRIDE performs for thousands of people each year at Football games, competitions, concerts, recitals, performances, parades and many other events nation-wide.  All high school band students are automatically members of this prestigious ensemble.

BAND SCHEDULE – WEEK OF:  January 30th, 2017

MON 1/30
 
TUES 1/31
Symphonic Band & Percussion MPA Rehearsal
3-5:00pm
 
 
WED 2/1
 
THURS 2/2
Wind Ensemble & Percussion MPA Rehearsal
3-5:00pm
 
FRI 2/3
 
IMPORTANT REMINDERS

1. Calendar & State MPA Schedule: There are printable versions of each month’s calendar available online at: http://www.shs-band.com
   
   
2. Practice Records:  Practice records are due Monday each week for all Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble members.  Symphonic Band records should be turned into Mrs. Palmer; Wind Ensemble records should be turned into Mr. Weaver. 

 

1. Fees & Payments:  Parents, please note that all membership fees and other payments are now past due.  Please help us to prepare financially for the new-year by paying all remaining fees. 

 

1. Upcoming Concerts:  Don’t forget that our MPA Preview Concert will be held on Thursday, February 16th in the high school Biddle Auditorium.  The preview concert is free and will begin with the RMS Advanced Band at 5:30.  This event will also serve as our February PMA Booster meeting. 

 

1. State Music Performance Assessment: MPA is just a month away!  The event will run February 21st – 24th.  Our actual performance date and time will not be determined until roughly 1 week before.  Please keep an eye out for more information. 

MPA After School Rehearsals – Other School Activities Conflict
 
Dear Parents & Students,
As you know, we are currently preparing for State Music Performance Assessment.  We are to the point now in our calendar when we begin to hold after school rehearsals with both ensembles and their percussion.  These specific dates can be found on our blog at: http://www.shs-band.com/blog/state-mpa-rehearsal-schedule-2017  
 
*We have several students who are involved in other school activities & we love that!  We encourage our students to participate in everything our school has to offer.  This can however cause stress sometimes when conflicts arise.  Don’t worry though!  We have a wonderful working relationship with our athletic coaches.  We are all here for the kids!
 
Our policy for conflicts is this: 

1. Please notify the band office & your coach about any conflicts
2. We ask that members with other commitments SPLIT TIME between band & their other activities
3. A game/match or concert should always trump a practice or rehearsal.
4. If in doubt, email us.  We’ll talk to the coach/instructor and find a solution
5. DON’T STRESS……Communicate

 
 
 
State MPA After School Rehearsal Schedule
 

Symphonic Band
Tues. Jan 24th 3:15-5pm
Tues. Jan 31st 3:15-5pm
Tues. Feb 7th 3:15-5pm
Mon. Feb 13th 3:15-5pm
 
Wind Ensemble
Thurs. Jan 26th 3:15-5pm
Thurs. Feb 2nd 3:15-5pm
Thurs. Feb 9th 3:15-5pm
Wed. Feb 15th 3:15-5pm

 
SHS/RMS MPA Preview Concert
Thursday, Feb 16th - 5:30pm
SHS Biddle Auditorium
 
Alabama State Music Performance Assessment
ABA District II
Tues. Feb 21 - Fri. Feb 24
Gadsden City High School Auditorium  (All performances are free to the public)
 
*All dates listed above are graded requirements for our performing ensembles. Medical appointments other than illness are not excusable absences.

BAND SCHEDULE – WEEK OF: January 23rd, 2017
​
MON 1/23
The PRIDE Music Association Meeting – SHS Band Room
Executive Board: 6pm
General Membership: 7pm
 
 
TUES 1/24
Symphonic Band & Percussion MPA Rehearsal
3-5:00pm
 
 
WED 1/25
 
THURS 1/26
Wind Ensemble & Percussion MPA Rehearsal
3-5:00pm
 
FRI 1/27
 
IMPORTANT REMINDERS

1. Calendar & State MPA Schedule: There are printable versions of each month’s calendar available online at: http://www.shs-band.com
   
   
2. Practice Records:  Practice records are due Monday each week for all Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble members.  Symphonic Band records should be turned into Mrs. Palmer; Wind Ensemble records should be turned into Mr. Weaver. 

 

1. Fees & Payments:  Parents, please note that all membership fees and other payments are now past due.  Please help us to prepare financially for the new-year by paying all remaining fees. 

Congratulations to all of our band students who auditioned today.  We are very proud of everyone who took the time and showed the dedication to prepare for this audition!

Go PRIDE GO!

Dear Band Students and Parents,
 
It’s time to announce our annual Spring Trip! On Saturday, March 18th, we will be taking a day trip to the Tennessee Aquarium and Southern Belle Riverboat Cruises in Chattanooga, TN.
 
Just $75 provides a full day of fun including transportation, tickets, three meals, and a tee shirt!  We want to give every one plenty of time to bring in the money, so we have set the deadline to turn in money for Friday, March 3rd. This is the absolute last day to reserve a spot!  All high school band members (includes 8th grade marchers) and parents are welcome to attend!
 
We hope your child will be able to enjoy this reward to celebrate a wonderful year of hard work!  Please read the itinerary information on the following page.
 
Have a wonderful long weekend!
 
- Ms. Palmer and Mr. Weaver
 
TENNESSEE AQUARIUM / RIVERBOAT CRUISE
ITINERARY
Saturday, March 18th
 
7:45 AM
MEET IN SOUTHSIDE BAND ROOM

8:00 AM
BREAKFAST PROVIDED BY JACK’S

8:15 AM
LOAD BUSSES

8:30 AM
DEPART FOR TENNESSEE AQUARIUM

 
Address: One Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Contact: 800.262.0695

11:00 ET
ARRIVE AT TENNESSEE AQUARIUM/REGISTER

11:30 ET
EXPLORE!

1:45 ET
REPORT TO IMAX THEATER FOR LUNCH AND MOVIE

2:00 ET
MOVIE AND LUNCH BEGINS

2:50 ET
LOAD BUSSES

3:00 ET
DEPART FOR SOUTHERN BELLE RIVERBOAT CRUISE

 
Address: 201 Riverfront Parkway Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
Contact: 423.266.4488

3:15 ET
ARRIVE AT SOUTHERN BELLE RIVERBOAT CRUISE

3:30 ET
BOARD RIVERBOAT

4:00 ET
NARRATED CRUISE

5:00 ET
DOCK FOR DINNER

6:35 ET
LOAD BUSSES

6:45 ET
DEPART FOR SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

7:30 CT
ARRIVE AT SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

ALL STATE BAND AUDITION INFORMATION
Saturday January 14th, 2017
 
Hello Students and Parents,
 
You are receiving this email because your child showed interest and was registered for All-State Honor Band! That being said, the audition is upon us! If your child still plans to audition, all the information you need is below.  Good luck!!
 
Remember, students and parents are responsible for their own transportation to this event; however, we do encourage you to carpool and have fun!
 
 
Location:
Saturday, January 14th at Albertville High School
402 East McCord Ave,
Albertville, AL 35950
 
Registration:
AHS cafeteria from 8am -10am 
*We recommend that you arrive between 8:00 and 8:30, so you can beat the masses.
 
Student specific audition times will be sent to us tomorrow, and we will send these times to you as soon as we get them. Regardless of your child’s audition time, he/she MUST be registered before 10:00 a.m.
 
Transportation:
Students and parents are responsible for their own transportation to this event; however, we do encourage you to carpool and have fun! Please let us know if you need help setting up a carpool! Also, there is no food available at the audition site, so students will need to plan on travelling off campus to get lunch, or bring a lunch! Below are some nearby restaurants:

 

1.  Tacos El Paso
504 Baltimore Ave,
Albertville, AL 35950
2.  Tacos El Paso504 Baltimore Ave,
Albertville, AL 35950
3.  Sandwich Host212 E Main St,
Albertville, AL 35950
4.  Mater's Pizza And Pasta Emporium108 E Main St,
Albertville, AL 35950
5.  Taqueria Guanaguato515 Baltimore Ave,
Albertville, AL 35950
6.  Novedades La Reina133 E Main St,
Albertville, AL 35950
7.  Jamokas Coffee110 E Main St,
Albertville, AL 35950
8.  El Sol King Pollo113 Main St,
Albertville, AL 35950
 
9.  Chocolate Moose
700 Horton Rd,
Albertville, AL 35950
10.  China Chef 2611 E Main St,
Albertville, AL 35950
11.  McDonald's7375 US Highway 431,
Albertville, AL 35950
12.  KFC7285 US Highway 431,
Albertville, AL 35950

 
**Please review the below for information regarding the audition process. 

Audition Information
 
Student Instructions
·      Students should be familiar with the audition requirements.  Each student auditioning for All-State should conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.
·       Audition times have been emailed to each band director.
·       Registration procedures:

• All Students must be registered at the registration table by 10:30AM
• Go to the registration desk (cafeteria) to sign in.  Students will receive an audition card and a 4-digit student ID number on a label that must be worn on the student’s shirt throughout the audition process.
• BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR AUDITION CARD!!!!  Do not fold or write on the card.  Any damage to the card may prohibit the scanner from reading it properly or reading it at all.

 
Warm-up
A warm-up room (cafeteria) will be provided.  Do not play in the hallways at any time.
 
Audition:

• Arrive at your audition room before your scheduled audition time.  Upon arrival, a runner will escort you in to the audition room.  Realize that you may be ushered directly in to the audition room or you may have to wait a few minutes but the audition times should run close to the published schedule.
• The runner will match the number on the name tag with the number on your audition card.    
• SCALE/SIGHTREADING ROOM (NON-PERCUSSION): DO NOT SPEAK WHILE YOU ARE IN THE AUDITION ROOMS.  All communication will be between the runner and you.
• No music or scale sheets are allowed in the scale room.  You may leave any items with the student runner in the hall.               
• The student will begin playing the scales when they receive a signal from the runner.
• Students should perform scales according to the following written order: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, B, E, A, D, G.  A scale order sheet will be provided on the stand in the audition room.
• Students that do not pass the required number of scales will be notified by the runner that their audition is over and the student will not progress to the second room.  High school students must pass 7 pairs of major scales and their associated arpeggios.  Middle school students must pass 5 pairs of major scales and their associated arpeggios.
• If the student passes the scale requirement, they will then sight read in the same room.

EXERCISE ROOM  (NON PERCUSSION)

• After the student completes the scales and sightreading they will move to the second audition room.
•  Students may bring their own music into this room or the exercises will be provided on the stand.
• The runner will verify the number on the student's shirt matches the number on the audition card.
• Students will perform the "Lyrical" exercise first followed by the "Technical" exercise.
• Upon completion of the prepared exercises, the runner will excuse the student and the audition is complete.

PERCUSSION

• Percussion students will audition in two rooms.  The first room will be the mallet audition.  Upon passing the mallet scale requirement, they will play the mallet exercise and mallet sightreading.   After completion of the mallet room, the student will move to the Snare Drum/Timpani audition room.  A maximum of two judges will be in each room to communicate and guide the percussion student through the audition process.

 
Results
Results for All-State and District 2 Honor Band will be posted online at www.abafest.com.
 
Concessions
No Concessions will be available for purchase.
 
Parking
Below is a map indicating our main parking area.  If you are traveling by bus, it is suggested that you park in the big parking lot to the right of the Fine Arts Center.

STATE MPA REHEARSAL SCHEDULE - 2017
​
Hello PRIDE! 
 
Welcome back to school!  We hope everyone enjoyed the break.  The spring semester is always an exciting time of year full of chances for improvement.  Our program will kick off the New Year as we always do with preparations for MPA (State Music Performance Assessment). 
 
MPA is the most important performance of our year and requires commitment and dedication of every member.  Parents, your help is needed to encourage your child to stay on top of their practice at home as well as their school work.  This is an excellent time to practice good time-management skills for life after high school.  Every member is expected to practice daily between now and MPA.  (Not for hours on end; but a little bit every day)
 
Please review the scheduling information below and be sure to work out any conflicts as soon as possible. 
 
Let’s make this the best MPA performance yet!
 
After School Rehearsals

Symphonic Band
Tues. Jan 24th 3:15-5pm
Tues. Jan 31st 3:15-5pm
Tues. Feb 7th 3:15-5pm
Mon. Feb 13th 3:15-5pm
 
Wind Ensemble
Thurs. Jan 26th 3:15-5pm
Thurs. Feb 2nd 3:15-5pm
Thurs. Feb 9th 3:15-5pm
Wed. Feb 13th 3:15-5pm

SHS/RMS MPA Preview Concert
Thursday, Feb 16th – 5:30pm
SHS Biddle Auditorium
 
Alabama State Music Performance Assessment
ABA District II
Tues. Feb 21 – Fri. Feb 24
Gadsden City High School Auditorium (all performances free to the public) 
 
* Our actual performance date & times will not be released until approximately 1 week prior to the event.  We will publish the final schedule as soon as it is released from the District.