Hello All,

Well that was fast! Spring Break is over and I hope everyone got to do some special things over the break or at least got some rest.  Now We are in the homestretch for the end of the year.  That is hard to believe. Please make sure you keep an eye on the calendar as there are several events happening for this last nine weeks.

The Crawfish festival is next Saturday 10am-8pm.  This is a huge event for the Band Parent Association and WE NEED YOUR HELP.  There are several volunteer opportunities in that we need folks to sign up for.  If you are still in need of fulfilling your BPA incentive, this is the perfect event to do so.  Please click HERE to sign up for one of the area.  All volunteers will need to come to the Crawfish Festival volunteers meeting on Thursday, April 6th at 6pm.  We also need help with items in the hospitality room.  These items are specified on the form.  Please click HERE to fill out the form.

Seniors, we will beginning making plans soon for the senior signing day.  This event was started last year and is meant to celebrate those seniors who have earned a scholarship in music in college or will continue to play in one of the bands in college.  This is not just for those who are going into music, but those who are simply going to continue playing their instrument in a band in college. We will have representatives from that college come in and give you a promissory note to sign for that college.  It's time to start making those decisions.  We will set a deadline and a date for the signing day. 

This Saturday is the last competition of the indoor season.  Circuit championships will be held at Tate High School and will involve all three of our indoor groups.  The performance times are listed below.  This will be your last chance to see these students' hard work in competition.  They will perform at the Spring concert but this will be a totally different atmosphere.  

Finally, students is there a certain show you have always wanted to try for marching band?  Well here's your chance to pitch your idea.  I am currently working on next year's show and have a few different idea that I am working with .  I always love to hear your ideas during this process.  This does not meant we will go with that idea, but the possibility is there.  In any case, yes we are already getting ready for next year.  WOW! Too fast right?Have a fantastic week!

Happy Birthday to the following student this week:
Crystalyn Sanders - Thursday

This Week:
Monday
- Begin 4th nine weeks
- 6pm-9pm - IP Rehearsal

Tuesday
- Concert Band Scale Pass-offs
- 4pm-6:30 - JV WG
- 6pm-8:30 - Varsity WG

Wednesday
- 6pm - Crawfish Committee Meeting

Thursday
- Concert Band Scale Pass-offs
- 4pm-6:30 - JV WG
- 6pm-8:30 - Varsity WG
- 6pm-9pm - IP Rehearsal

Friday
- Concert Band Scale Pass-offs

Saturday
- Circuit Championships @ Tate HS
    - 12:48 - Black Gold Percussion Ensemble
    - 5:02 - JV Winterguard
    - 7:04 - Varsity Winterguard

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Mon - Concert Band Rehearsal, 6th and final Winds/Percussion Payment ($75)
Tues - Symphonic Band Rehearsal
Thursday - Crawfish Festival Volunteers Meeting
Friday - Report Cards
Saturday - Crawfish Festival

Together We Are THE MIGHTY BLACK & GOLD!!!

Hello All,

If you haven't seen our indoor groups perform, you are really missing out! These young adults put on 3 incredible performances this past Saturday at Escambia High School.  I'm so amazed at the progress they have made.  The Black Gold Percussion Ensemble placed 2nd in their class jumping from 68 points to a season high of 76.  Both the JV and Varsity Winterguards earned 4th place in their perspective classes.  I am very proud of all of three of these groups! Your hard work is certainly paying off.  Of course these students have had huge help from our guard director Samantha Byrd and our percussion director John Whiddon.  Much thanks and much respect goes out to these two wonderful teachers as they guide our young adults along this path!

The end of the 3rd nine weeks is upon us and with that come the last minute attendance checks.  Students, please check your attendance on charms.  All appeal forms for unexcused absences are due by Thursday of this week.  

The Crawfish Festival is less than a month away.  Our committee has been working hard to finish all of the last minute details of our 2nd annual event.  I will be posting parent sign-ups on Charms for all who would like to help in the venture.  Remember, if you still have yet to fulfill the BPA incentive by working off a portion of the fare share, this will be the perfect event to do so! Last year's festival was a huge success and we are looking to make this one even bigger and better, but we can't do it without your help.  Caroline Rogers has been putting together the hospitality room items which will be in the band hall.  We need your help in gathering items for this room.  I will be sending out an online form similar to the Band on the Blackwater event to sign up for different food items.  This event is April 8th from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.  We are still looking for more vendors than we already have.  If you know of anyone that would be interested or if you would be interested in being a vendor, please direct them to the crawfish festival page on our website by clicking HERE.  

Finally, Milton High School will be bringing all 8th graders from King, Hobbs, and Avalon to the auditorium and gym this Wednesday.  Here, all clubs and organizations will be "showing off" to the 8th graders.  This gives them a chance to see the diversity of organizations we offer at MHS.  The Jazz band, the Marching Band, and the Varsity Winterguard will be performing for this.  The itinerary is below.  THIS IS NOT 8TH GRADE BAND DAY! All students are to wear show shirts and jeans!

Happy Birthday to the following student this week:
Connor Schlenker - Tuesday

This Week:
Monday
- 6pm-9pm - IP

Tuesday
- 1:30-6pmish - Meat Sticking
- 4pm-6:30 - JV WG
- 6pm-8:30 - Varsity WG
- 7pm - MHSBPA Monthly Meeting

Wednesday
- Milton 8th Grade Outreach Assembly
    - 8:30 - Jazz Band Set up in auditorium
    - 9:15 - Varsity WG moves equipment to gym
    - 9:45 - Jazz Band dismissed to auditorium
    - 10am - Jazz Band performs for 8th graders
    - 10:15 (Beginning of 2nd Period) - All marching band members meet in band hall - WEAR SHOW SHIRTS AND JEANS
    - 10:30ish - Marching band moves to gym
    - 11am-11:45 - Pep Rally for 8th Graders
    - 12pm - Return to class/Jazz Band move equipment back to band hall
- 6pm - Crawfish Committee Meeting

Thursday
- End 3rd nine weeks
- Firehouse Subs Spirit Night
- 4pm-6:30 - JV WG
- 6pm-8:30 - Varsity WG
- 6pm-9pm - IP

Friday
- Teacher Planning Day (No Classes)

Saturday
- Daphne Indoor Competition
    - 1:44 - Black Gold Percussion Ensemble
    - 5:13 - Varsity Winterguard 

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
SPRING BREAK!

Together We Are THE MIGHTY BLACK & GOLD!!!

Hello All,

Well what a way to end the MPA season with three wonderful performances this past Thursday! The Mighty Black & Gold shined bright from all three of our concert bands giving outstanding performances at Pensacola High school.  

• The Panther Band continued to push themselves above and beyond with earning 3 Excellents on stage and a Good in sightreading for an overall Excellent rating.  
• The Concert band made history by earning 2 Superiors and 1 Excellent on stage and an Excellent in sightreading for an overall Superior rating.  This was the first time in concert band's 8 years of existence that they earned an overall Superior.  
• The Symphonic Band performed exquisitely and held the standard of a superior performance by earning straight Superior ratings.  

We are very proud of all of these students and look forward to the next performances which is the Spring Concert!

All of our indoor groups are still working very hard with only three more shows left of indoor season.  You can see all three groups this Saturday at Escambia High School at the times listed below.  

This Tuesday is county instrument inventory day.  ALL SCHOOL-OWNED INSTRUMENTS MUST BE RETURNED TO SCHOOL BY TUESDAY MORNING.  ANYONE THAT DOES NOT BRING THEIR SCHOOL-OWNED INSTRUMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THAT INSTRUMENT!!!

That is all for this week.  May this week bring you something extraordinary! 

Happy Birthday to the Following Students this week:
Azlee Faircloth - Monday
Megan McGuyre - Friday

This Week:
Monday
- 6pm-9pm - IP Rehearsal

Tuesday
- County Instrument Inventory
- 4pm-6:30 - JV WG
- 6pm-8:30 - Varsity WG

Thursday
- 6pm-9pm - IP Rehearsal
- 4pm-6:30 - JV WG
- 6pm-8:30 - Varsity WG

Saturday
- Escambia Indoor Competition
    - 1:48 - Black Gold Percussion Ensemble
    - 5:33 - JV Winterguard
    - 6:37 - Varsity Winterguard

Looking Ahead to Next Week:
Mon - IP
Tues - Meat Sticking, JV WG, Varsity WG, BPA Meeting
Wed - 8th Grade Outreach Assembly
Thurs - Firehouse Subs Spirit Night, IP, JV WG, Varsity WG, End 3rd Nine Weeks
Fri - Teacher Planning Day (No Classes)
Sat - Daphne Indoor Competition

Together We Are THE MIGHTY BLACK & GOLD!!!

We have a fun-filled competition that we want to kick-off with the band and MHS family this week. This competition is actually sponsored by the United States “President’s Own” Marine Band and is called SOUSA’S MARCH MANIA!   If you are familiar with the NCAA Basketball March Madness, this is the musical version of it.  The Marine Band has 32 marches competing over 4 weeks in an effort to crown One Champion on April 3.  Your participation is two-fold:
 
#1 – Submit a completed Sousa’s March Mania Tournament Bracket to the MHS Band Office by the end of the day on Friday, March 3 to compete head-to-head with other participants in the Milton High School family.  Awards will be presented to the following based on the most overall correct picks:
 
                                1st Place - $50 Texas Roadhouse Gift Card
                                2nd Place - $30 LaHacienda Gift Card
                                3rd Place – Two Movie Tickets for the Ridge Cinema
                                    *Prizes may be adjusted in the event of a tie. 
 
            Points will be rewarded in the following manner.  
                1st Round - 3 pts per correct pick 
                2nd Round - 3 pts per correct pick 
                3rd Round - 2 pts per correct pick 
                4th Round - 2 pts per correct pick 
                Final Round - 10 pts per correct pick


#2 – Go to the US Marine Band website and vote for the marches on the appropriate dates.  Let your voice be heard as we crown the “Champion” March! 
 
This contest is open to all Milton HS Band Students, Band Parents, and MHS Faculty & Staff.  Again, get your March Mania Bracket to the Band Office by 3:30 pm on Friday to enter to win. 
 
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Here are resources from the President’s Own Marine Band Website:

March Mania home page: http://bit.ly/MarchMania2017

Program notes on each march: http://bit.ly/MarchMania2017notes

Bracket: http://bit.ly/MarchMania2017bracket

Playlist on YouTube: http://bit.ly/MarchMania2017playlist

Zip file to download all marches: http://bit.ly/MarchMania2017album

John Philip Sousa's Bio: http://bit.ly/SousaBio

The Complete Marches of John Philip Sousa: http://bit.ly/CompleteMarchesSousa1
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If you have any questions, please contact me via e-mail.  Thanks and best of luck!
 
Gray Weaver
Milton HS Director of Bands