FHUHS Fine Arts

PARADES, CONCERTS, & TRIPS

This next section of the handbook gives an overview of the major events during the year in the order with which they occur. This year we are trying the concerts at 7:30 as opposed to 7. It is my hope that this will make it easier on the athletes in the band.

The FHUHS Community Pep Band

Too Good to Miss
The pep band is a fun rowdy group that plays at all Home FHUHS Football games. It is open to any musician interested, students and adults. The music is simple and fun. The group?��s main purpose is to have a good time at the football games and to let that fun spread to the stands and encourage the home team. We will meet an hour prior to each home game in the FHUHS band room to rehearse and then move our equipment to the stands. If you are interested please call, e-mail, or just show up to the game.
265-4966 ext. 222 Mlenox@fhuhs.org

The Halloween Parad

Mandatory
The city of Rutland hosts a Halloween Parade every October 31st. This parade is one of the more enjoyable and unique experiences of the year, but also one of the most time consuming. The band takes on a musical theme each year and then creates a costume uniform for the entire band and a float to go in front of the band. We need student and parent help in coming up with costume and float ideas and then executing those ideas. During the month of October there will be several work nights designated for different tasks. Every parent is strongly encouraged to participate on some level. We also need several parents to chaperone the parade.

Every student has to participate in assembling either the costumes or the float.
This year the band will be playing the song ?��I Want Candy.?��

The Fair Haven Veterans Day Parade

Mandatory
Every November 11th Fair haven has a small Veteran?��s Day parade around the town green. There is no school on November 11th so students need to plan ahead about transportation to and from Fair Haven High School. Students should arrive at the High School by 9:30 and expect to be back by 12. I will announce exact times closer to the parade.

Fruit Sale Fundraiser

Optional
Traditionally the FHUHS Band sells citrus fruit in the month of November. Last year we sold candy bars due to the hurricanes. This year, fingers crossed, the band will again sell citrus fruit. This will be my first citrus sale but from what I have been told it can raise a lot of money.

Money from the fundraiser goes directly toward each student?��s trip expenses. So, if Sally raises $225 from selling fruit and the trip costs $325 then she only owes $100 for the trip. If students do not go on the trip the profit goes into the general fund. Students may not use the money from the citrus sale for other school trips.

The North East Music Festival in Lake Placid

Optional
The North East Music Festival is a unique opportunity for Fair Haven students. The festival is held the week and weekend prior to Thanksgiving each year at the Hilton in Lake Placid, New York. There isn?��t any audition to participate and most students are accepted into the band, which is made up of students from around the North East. The festival runs from Thursday to Sunday and involves a lot of rehearsing under the baton of a college professor. Musically, it is a powerful experience and a great chance for growth. As a good time, most participants agree that it is the best weekend of the year. Students get to mingle with musicians from other schools, eat out at local restaurants, go to the movies at night, use the hotel pool, etc.

The cost: Currently the band has budgeted for the bus, participation fee, and hotel. Last year we had enough in the budget to cover every student?��s expenses. If we have a larger turnout in the future there may be a cost to participate. Students need money for three lunches and three suppers.

Winter Concert

Mandatory
Every December the band puts on a formal winter concert that culminates our work for the first semester and celebrates the season. This year the concert will be at 7:30 in the Band room. Please bring a holiday baked good to be shared after the concert and look for the Band Booster 50/50 raffle.

ARSU Band Day

Mandatory
Band Day is a concert where the entire ARSU bands come together for a joint concert. It is chance for the younger musicians to learn from the high school musicians. It also gives our students an opportunity to learn through teaching. Besides its not every day you get to hear a band with over 200 musicians in it!

There will be a morning rehearsal on Wed. the 15th at Benson. We will return to the high school after lunch. Latter that night the ARSU combined band will put on a concert in the Benson Gym. A lot of the small details are still being worked out so pay attention for more information.

The Vermont Large Ensemble Festival

Mandatory
A large ensemble festival is a powerful learning experience for a band. The band will travel to Springfield, VT on the Wednesday prior to April break. We will play for three judges/college professors who will then rate us, suggest improvements, and give us a workshop. We will also be able to hear other high school bands. The bus will leave after the start of school and return before the end of the day. Currently I think students will need to pack a lunch but I will let you know closer to the festival.

Jazz Concert

Mandatory for the Jazz Band
This year the Jazz band will play a concert all their own. The concert will be held in the Band Room at 7:30 PM

April Break Band Trip

Highly Recommended
This is truly one of the highlights of the year. I believe that this year we will be going to Boston for about three days during April Break. More information should be available at a later time

Paying for the trip: The trip should cost between $300 and $350. I won?��t know till later in the year what it is going to add up too, but I can promise to work hard to keep prices down.

Currently the band only does the citrus sale to help with the cost, but in the past, some students have raised the entire bill from citrus sales.

To help make the trip more manageable I am going to try breaking the payments into 7 monthly payments of $50 due the 1st of each month instead 3 large payments. At the back of the handbook you will find a page of coupons to help you remember to mail in each payment and for me to keep track of who has paid.

Click here to download a Student Trip Payment Form

Click here for a Chaperon Payment Form

Checks for the trip should be made out to FHUHS BAND BOOSTERS

The Pops Concert

Mandatory
The Pops Concert is the peak of the musical year for FHUHS Band. The band takes over the gym and sets up tables and chairs in a nightclub setting with the band serving food at intermission. There are large decorations and sometimes costumes to help capture the theme of the music for the evening. The main focus of the night is the music as the band plays through a years worth of scores.

The pops concert is also a fundraiser for the Band Boosters. The booster club then uses this money for things such as: the Halloween parade, next year?��s pops concert, scholarships and the band picnic. Tickets cost $5 a seat and $20 for immediate families of 4 or more.

Look to make reservations about a month prior to the concert.

Volunteers Make the Pops Concert Possible

The Pops concert may be the best part of the year but it is also a tremendous amount of work, and many hands make light work.

The work tends to break down into 5 categories.
1. Decorations
2. Food
3. Advertisement
4. Ticket Sales
5. Set Up and Tear Down

Please look for an opportunity to help out in one or more of these activities.

The All State Parade

Mandatory
The All State Parade is my favorite Parade. It commences the Vermont All State Music Festival and is a parade of nothing but Vermont Marching bands. The parade takes place in the town hosting the festival so the location and time commitment changes from year to year.

This year the parade is in Bennington.

The Memorial Day Parades

Mandatory
The FHUHS Band has a very busy Memorial Day weekend with 4 parades: Castleton and Fair Haven on Saturday and Benson and Orwell on Sunday. Both Days will start at the High School around 9 AM and both days should end at the High School around 3 PM. Lunch is provided on both Saturday and Sunday but make sure you eat a good breakfast. Marching in wool uniforms is hot! We have had students pass out in the past and most of them did not eat a breakfast.

The band will need at least three adult volunteers to help pass out water and walk behind the band.

Taking into consideration that 4 parades in one weekend is a lot of work, band students are excused from school on the Monday of Memorial day weekend. J J

The Band Picnic

Too Good to Miss
At the end of the year the band will have a picnic to celebrate the year and welcome the summer.

Graduation

Mandatory The Band plays at Graduation. Students should arrive around 6 PM and plan on staying till 8:30 PM. Students are not allowed to leave until all of the instruments, drums, music, folders, and stands have been returned to the band room. If people leave early I end up moving all the equipment myself and that takes forever!