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
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
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