Latest News

Winter Concert INFO

11/30/2019

It’s hard to believe that the end of the semester is just around the corner… and so is our concert! I just wanted to send you a few reminders about the concert. Our concerts will be on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 at Northeast State’s Regional Center for the Performing Arts. That morning, we will be playing two concerts for Holston Elementary and Holston Middle School/Innovation Academy. These will begin around 8:30am and 9:30am and are these concerts open to the public. For these concerts, students will need to wear their HMS Band t-shirts and blue jeans.
The night performance for friends and family will begin at 6:30pm at Northeast State. The students will need to wear their HMS Band Polos and khaki pants (or skirts for the ladies, of course meeting dress code). The 6th grade students will need to arrive at 6:15 SHARP. Please be on time! The 7th and 8th grade students will need to arrive at Northeast State at 6:50pm that evening. Please be on time! This assures we have time to get everyone on stage and warm-up before the concert begins.
The concerts are a requirement for a grade for the second nine weeks grading period and any absence will have to be discussed and excused PRIOR to the concerts. Any unexcused absence will result in a zero for the performance grade for the nine weeks counting 25% of the final grade.
It has been a great school year and I am looking forward to wrapping up the year with excellent concerts!
THANKS for your support and helping the HMS/IA Band!

Parent Letter regarding the Thursday (9/26) HMS v. BMS football game @ SCHS

9/22/2019

Dear HMS/IA Band Parents, Guardians and ESPECIALLY Members,
This letter is to inform you about the Thursday, September 26th HMS football game performance involving all 7th and 8th grade HMS Band Members. ALL BAND MEMBERS NEED TO BE IN THE SULLIVAN CENTRAL FOOTBALL STADIUM, SEATED, AND READY TO PERFORM BY 5:15PM SHARP! It is crucial that you are on time so that we have time to warm-up, tune and practice the National Anthem. Expect us to perform the National Anthem approximately 5 to 10 minutes before kick-off, which is set for 6pm.
The band will play pre-game, 1st quarter, 2nd quarter, and 4th quarter. All band members will be off duty during half time and 3rd quarters to allow time for bathroom visits & to visit the concession stand. All band members should plan to bring extra money for the purchase of food and drink. All band members will be allowed into the game for no charge. NO STUDENT WILL BE PERMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE FOOTBALL STADIUM GATED AREA FOR ANY REASON AT ANY TIME. This is to ensure the safety of all of our members during this game. The game should be wrapping up around 7:45/8:00pm. Parents please be on time to pick up your band member! Please have students send you a text or a brief call during the 4th quarter to alert you of the game coming to an end. Again, no one should leave the gates until parents are there for pick-up.
We will wear our band T’s and jeans…if you do not own a band T shirt, please wear HMS colors of blue, orange, grey, or white! It might be a good idea to bring along a jacket for the cooler temperatures in the evening.
ABSOLUTELY all school rules are in effect for this game. It is so important to understand our role as ambassadors for our HMS/IA community at this game. Good sportsmanship, musicianship, and attitude is expected at this game. Let’s all do our absolutely very best for our team and cheer them on to a victory!
As always, if an absence from this game is required – I’ll need a note from parents BEFORE Thursday’s game explaining the nature of the absence. If no note is received, your attendance is mandatory and expected. We NEED our members there – EVERYONE has an important part!

If you own your own wire music stand, PLEASE bring it! We will need as many as possible for this performance!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the HMS/IA Band office at 423.354.1513 or email hms@hotmail.com

Can’t wait to have some fun and play some fun tunes on Thursday, September 26th with our awesome HMS/IA Band!

Mr. Jonathan Nichols
HMS Band

HMS vs. BMS @ SCHS football game date change

9/16/2019

Hello everyone!
Our HMS vs. BMS @ SCHS football game has been pushed back to THURSDAY, September 26th! The band calendar now reflects this change! I'll post a letter with more information VERY soon! PLEASE check back with the webpage and Facebook soon!

First Semester 2019 Band Dates now on Calendar tab of webpage!!

7/30/2019

THE HMS/IA BAND CALENDAR IS NOW PUBLISHED ON THE BAND WEBSITE! Please see the "Band Calendar" tab in the blue to the left of this page!

GEARING UP FOR 2019-2020

7/25/2019

Mr. Nichols is back in the office and making final preparations for the 2019-2020 school year: copying music, setting dates for the calendar, enrolling all of the awesome new beginning band members... GREAT TIMES ARE AHEAD! Get excited!

Have you heard that our 6th grade orientation is Thursday, August 1st, from 4:00pm - 5:00pm? We STRONGLY encourage all of our 6th graders to attend if at all possible! "Back to School Night" for our 7th & 8th graders will be August 1st as well from 5:00pm - 6:00pm.

If you need anything or have any questions, please email us (hmsband@hotmail.com) or call the band office (423.354.1513).

ATTN: ALL RISING 6TH GRADERS

5/9/2019

Dear 5th Grade Parents & Students of Holston Elementary and Indian Springs,

It is almost time for you to embark on your journey to Holston Middle School! We are excited and looking forward to your arrival! It is important that we begin now in making preparations so the start of the year goes smoothly. At HMS, we have classes called Related Arts that rotate every nine weeks. For example, the first nine weeks a student may have Computer Technology & P.E.; whereas the second nine weeks the schedule may change to Art & General Music. The Related Arts include Computer Technology, Art, P.E., Health, and a choice of a music class.
Every student has a choice when it comes to music. HMS offers General Music, Chorus, or Band. If a student decides to take Chorus or Band, he/she will NOT be scheduled for General Music. Of course, it is not possible for a student to be involved in multiple music classes, so it is important to choose the one that will be most interesting for you.
Band is a class that meets every day for 45 minutes. We have two separate classes; Woodwinds (including flutes, clarinets, and saxophones) and Brass/Percussion (including Trumpets, French Horns, Baritones, Tubas and all Drums). There are only two after school events that students are required to attend: A Winter Concert (usually right before school gets out for winter break) and a Spring Concert (usually at the beginning of May). Because of this schedule students are able to participate in all sports, cheerleading, 4-H, tutoring and many other HMS after school activities.
Everyone starts at the beginning of the basics of music; absolutely no music knowledge is required! Mr. Nichols will teach everything you will need to know about performing on your instrument, how to read music, and even how to take care of your instrument. It is so very important to make the decision on what you want to learn to play. To assist you in this decision, Holston Middle School Band will host Instrument Fitting Days on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Wednesday, May 13th, 15th and 17th in the HMS Band Room from 3:30pm – 6:30pm. During this time, you will be able to try all of the instruments and find the one that is best suited for you. Mr. Nichols will be present to answer any questions or concerns you have about Beginning Band.
In addition to performing concerts during the year, there are fun opportunities to perform at our HMS homecoming football game, ETSBOA’s Solo & Ensemble Festival, ETSBOA’s Honors Band, and Sullivan County Honors Band. Our Spring Concert this year was held at Northeast State’s Regional Center for the Performing Arts. All of this FUN while learning to play an INSTRUMENT! Now is a great time to join our 160 member band…we are growing larger every year!
If for some reason you can’t make it to HMS during these fitting days, please call or email (see top of page) Mr. Nichols to set up a time that you would be able to come and try out the instruments! We need to have you enrolled as soon as possible so we can have band put into your schedule. There are limited spots in each section, and we fill them on a first come first serve basis. We do this so that we can have an equal amount of instruments in each section. (We couldn’t have a good sound with 2 trumpets and 23 drummers!!) So, the sooner you get in touch with Mr. Nichols the better! Hope to see you one day from Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Wednesday, May 13th, 15th and 17th in the HMS Band Room from 3:30pm – 6:30pm
Jonathan Nichols
Holston Middle School Band
423.354.1513
hmsband@hotmail.com

PS - Please enter HMS at the front entrance and proceed straight to the band room (just follow the signs). We’ll get you in and out as soon as possible! Shouldn’t take any longer than 20-30 minutes! THANK YOU!!

A Few Things You May Want To Know about Band:

- One in two sixth graders is currently enrolled in band at HMS!!

- Being involved with band can actually help improve your grades!! Studies show that Band members usually are among the highest scores on standardized tests!!

- Did you know you can get scholarships for college just for playing an instrument in the college band?!

- You will make friends in the sixth grade band that you will have all the way through high school. You also will have one class throughout you middle school & high school years that you will know people in...BAND!

- EVERY HMS/IA Band Member that participated in 2019’s Solo & Ensemble all received the highest rating, superior and received a gold medal!!

- LEARN MORE ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ALREADY LIKE – MUSIC!!!!!

-“The band is my home away from home!” - Former HMS Band Member, Emma Corey

- “BAND IS FUN FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” – Former HMS Band Member, Parker Fischer

- “Band is like a second family!” – Former IA Band Member, Morgan Lafferty

2019 Calendar now under "Calendar" tab!!

12/30/2018

Please see the new and updated 2019 Calendar under the "Calendar" tab to the left on this page! Secure these dates in your planner for our upcoming events! THANKS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

winter concert & fruit pick up info

11/27/2018

Dear HMS Band Parents and Guardians,

It’s hard to believe that the end of the semester is just around the corner… and so is our concert! I just wanted to send you a few reminders about the concert. Our concerts will be on Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 at Northeast State’s Regional Center for the Performing Arts. That morning, we will be playing two concerts for Holston Elementary and Holston Middle School/Innovation Academy. These will begin around 8:30am and 9:30am and are these concerts open to the public. For these concerts, students will need to wear their HMS Band t-shirts and blue jeans.
The night performance for friends and family will begin at 6:30pm at Northeast State. The students will need to wear their HMS Band Polos and khaki pants (or skirts for the ladies, of course meeting dress code). The 6th grade students will need to arrive at 6:15 SHARP. Please be on time! The 7th and 8th grade students will need to arrive at Northeast State at 6:50pm that evening. Please be on time! This assures we have time to get everyone on stage and warm-up before the concert begins.
The concerts are a requirement for a grade for the second nine weeks grading period and any absence will have to be discussed and excused PRIOR to the concerts. Any unexcused absence will result in a zero for the performance grade for the nine weeks counting 25% of the final grade.
It has been a great school year and I am looking forward to wrapping up the first semester with excellent concerts!
THANKS for your support and helping the HMS/IA Band!

ALSO – the fruit fundraiser will arrive at the Sullivan Central High School Band Room on Wednesday, December 5th. Pick-up will be from 3pm – 6pm. PLEASE make arrangements to get your fruit during this time – the earlier the better! I cannot express how much your efforts are appreciated!

How to practice effectively!

7/24/2018

A must watch video: VERY interesting!!

July 24th, 2018 - "LAST CAllllllll...."