Saturday, November 30
📢 Important Announcement: Holiday Parade Participation Update
I know many of you were eagerly looking forward to performing in this evening’s Holiday Parade, as was I. However, after careful consideration and review of the forecast, which predicts wind chills as low as 18 degrees at the parade start, I have made the difficult decision to cancel our participation.
The well-being of our performers is my top priority. Spending over two hours outdoors in these temperatures poses significant risks, not only to our health but also to the functionality of our brass instruments, which are likely to freeze and become unplayable.
Thank you for your understanding and support. While it’s disappointing to miss this opportunity, I believe this is the best decision for everyone involved.
🎵 The Marching Grayhounds look forward to sharing our music with you at future events! 🎵
Monday, November 25
Ho-ho-holy cow! 🎅🎄 Our marching band is marching into the Very Vintage Christmas Holiday Parade as entry number 28!
Call time is 4:45 PM. Be there and be ready to spread some holiday cheer!
Tip for the night: It’s gonna be a chilly one, so bundle up in those long johns! 🥶🥶 Let’s hope the trumpet valves and trombone slides don’t freeze up!
Check out the attached map to find your lineup location.
Let’s make this a very vintage Christmas!
#MarchingBand #ChristmasParade #BundleUp #HolidayCheer
Wednesday, November 20
🍂🦃 Happy Thanksgiving Season, Band Fam! 🦃🍂
Here’s a quick rundown of all the exciting things happening as we head into the holidays:
🎺 Second Trimester Reminder:
During 0-hour, please park in the student parking area. Faculty and staff spaces are off-limits. Let’s keep things running smoothly!
🎄 Holiday Parade:
Mark your calendars for next Saturday! 🎉 While I don’t have our line-up info just yet, I’ll share it as soon as it’s ready. Don’t forget to decorate yourself and your instrument with lights to spread some holiday cheer!
👕 Uniform Update:
Uniforms will be ready to take home next Monday and Tuesday—perfect for getting parade-ready!
🎶 Upcoming Performances:
🎷 Pep Band is right around the corner, so stay tuned for more details!
🎤 BHS Winter Jazz Concert: December 16th @ Edward Stone MS (7 PM)
🎼 BHS Winter Concert: December 19th @ Memorial Auditorium (7 PM)
I’m so excited to showcase all the amazing work you’ve been putting in. Let’s make this season magical! ✨
#BandFamily #HolidayCheer #WinterConcertSeason
Tuesday, October 29
🎃👻 “We’ve been hauntingly quiet, but the band is back with plenty of treats and a few tricks! 🎺👻
Here’s the scoop, spook! 🕸️ Our marching band has one last hurrah before winter concert season, with a special, lighted-up holiday performance at the Burlington Lighted Holiday Parade on November 30th! 🕯️🎷 The parade starts at 5 PM, so get ready to see us decked out with Santa hats, antlers, and even lit-up instruments! 🎄✨ (Pro tip: make sure your instrument still plays after you’ve got it all shining! 😉)
Pep Band season is upon us, and schedules are posted in the band room and at grayhoundbands.org. Attend five performances to meet requirements, or attend all to earn a music letter or service bar. Honor Band season is also creeping up; sign-up sheets are on my office window!
Last but not least, mark your calendars for our winter concerts:
🗓️ Dec 16: Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, and Chamber Strings (ESMS Auditorium, 7 PM)
🗓️ Dec 19: Band, Choir, Orchestra (Memorial Auditorium, 7 PM)
Happy Halloween from the Band of Boo-tiful Sounds! 🎶💀 #MarchingIntoTheHolidays #SpookySeason 🎃👻
Wednesday, October 16
Despite the chilly weather this morning, you all did amazing! 🎶 Friday night is our final game of the season, and as a reminder, we don’t have school that day. Please arrive by 6:15 PM so we can make sure everything is ready for our 8th grade marchers and Senior Night. It’s hard to believe the marching season is almost over, so let’s give the audience our best performance of the year! 🎺🥁
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is this Saturday morning at Westland Mall. If you’re one of the 25 who said yes, make sure to take your instruments home after the game and do not put them in the trailer. 🎷 Call time is 9:53 AM behind the mall. We’ll play between 10 and 10:30 AM. For more info, check out the link: https://act.alz.org/site/TR?sid=23932&type=fr_informational&pg=informational&fr_id=17562 💜 #MarchingBand #SeniorNight #WalkToEndAlzheimers #FinalPerformance
Wednesday, October 9
🎶🎺 Marching Season is Coming to a Close! 🎺🎶
Our final performance of the season is Friday, October 18th, featuring our talented 8th graders during pre-game! 🎉 Don’t miss it!
📅 Important Dates:
- Morning Rehearsal: Wednesday, October 16th at 7:15 AM with the 8th graders.
- Alzheimer’s Walk Performance: Saturday, October 19th, around 10 AM at Westland Mall. Stay tuned for more details!
🎼 Reminders:
- Chair auditions need to be completed—don’t forget! 🎶
- Fundraising popcorn has arrived and is ready for pick-up! 🍿
- Coffee delivery is on its way—should be here any day now! ☕️
Let’s finish the season strong! 💪 #MarchingBand #FinalPerformance #Fundraising #EndOfSeasonVibes #BandFamily
Monday, September 30
🎉 Great job at the game on Friday, everyone! We’ve got a few weeks to fine-tune our show before our final home game on the 18th. Let’s make it count! 💪
🎓 Seniors: Don’t forget to fill out your Senior Night forms! They were emailed to you, so check your inbox. 📧
🎶 Chair placement auditions must be completed by next Friday—get practicing!
🎺 Mark your calendars: The marching band has been asked to perform at the Alzheimer’s Walk at Westland Mall on October 19th at around 10 AM. Let’s show up strong! 💜 #MarchingBand #SeniorNight #AlzheimersWalk #FinalHomeGame #GoTeam
Wednesday, September 18
🚨 Busy Day Tomorrow! 🚨
Here’s a quick reminder of everything happening:
🕖 7:15 AM – Morning marching band rehearsal with the alumni band.
🚛 The band trailer will be at school with your uniforms!
🎺 Parade Call Time: 5:30 PM at the corner of West Avenue and Garfield.
🎡 Enjoy the carnival after the parade!
🎶 Assembly Performance: 8 PM, call time 7:45 PM.
Important:
❌ No instrument cases, hat boxes, hangers, or garment bags at the parade!
🏈 Fall sport athletes can wear their jersey instead of the band top.
📅 Homecoming Game – Friday
Call time: 6:15 PM (We’ll only march the first two songs due to the queen ceremony).
⚠️ Don’t forget:
Black gloves
Black socks
Plume
That should cover it all! See you there! 😊 #BandLife #HomecomingWeek #MarchingBand
Friday, September 13
🎶🎺 Great work this week, Jazz Band and Marching Band! The jazz band is off to an amazing start, and the marching band’s dance moves are going to be 🔥.
Next week is a big one with Homecoming! Here are some highlights:
📅 Thursday:
- 7:15 AM – Marching Band rehearsal with alumni
- 6:00 PM – Homecoming Parade
- 8:00 PM – Carnival & Pep Assembly at BHS
🏈 Friday:
- 6:30 PM – Call time for the Homecoming Game
Stay tuned for more details next week! Let’s make this a Homecoming to remember! 🎉 #Homecoming2024 #MarchingBand #JazzBand #GoTeam
Wednesday, September 4
🎶 2024 Alumni Homecoming Band Participants! 🎶
If you signed up, you should have received an email from me. 📧 If you didn’t, please reach out to me at derrick.murphy@bcsds.org.
📅 Important Dates:
- Thursday, September 19th: Morning rehearsal with the HS band at 7:15 AM.
- If you can’t make it, no worries! We’ll run through the music during warm-up on Friday.
- Friday: Call time is 6:30 PM.
🎷 Jazz Band rehearsals start next Monday!
Looking forward to seeing everyone! 🎺🥁 #AlumniBand #Homecoming2024 #BCSDS
Tuesday, September 3
Exciting News: Our First Marching Band Performance is This Friday!
Get ready to experience the energy and talent of our marching band as they take the field for the first performance of the season this Friday at Bracewell Stadium.
Important Details:
- Call Time: 6:30 PM at Bracewell Stadium.
- Uniforms: Students, please remember to bring your black socks and gloves. Uniforms will be delivered directly to the stadium in the band trailer.
Upcoming Fundraisers:
Starting next week, the music department will be launching a fundraiser to support our every four-year trip. We will be selling delicious coffee and popcorn—perfect for the upcoming holiday season! Your support in this effort is greatly appreciated.
Annual Patron Drive:
As we kick off our performance season, it’s also time for our annual patron drive. If you would like to support our music program, please consider becoming a patron. You can find more details in the letter provided, and donations can be sent to the address included.
Thank you for your continued support of our music department. We look forward to seeing you at the stadium and appreciate your contributions to our ongoing success!
Wednesday, August 28
Attention All Band Members! 🎷🎺
Jazz Band will kick off on Monday, September 9th at 7 AM. If you’re interested in joining, please make sure to attend the first meeting—I’ll add you to the roster afterward. We’re expecting a great group this year!
Uniform Sizing:
- I started sizing uniforms this morning during Marching Band.
- All freshmen, I plan to finish your sizing by this Friday.
- Returning members who need a new size, please stop by for sizing before school, during lunch, or after school.
I need to have all uniforms ready before our first game on Friday, September 6th, so please don’t delay!
Monday, August 26
Welcome back! It was great to see everyone today. Here is a link to the slide show from this morning. We will be outside tomorrow.
Sunday, August 18
🎺 Band Announcement 🎷
Hey everyone! The band uniforms will be returning from the cleaners this Wednesday at 1:30 PM. I could really use some help unloading them and getting everything back in order. If you’re available to lend a hand, that would be awesome! Thanks in advance! 😊
#BandFamily #Teamwork #UniformDuty
Friday, August 2
Band Camp Update
I was informed that the construction supervisor will have the workers park in the south lot, allowing us to park in the loading dock area for easier access to the band room.
Thursday, August 1
Band Camp Reminders
- Uniform Sizing: If you are a new member or need a different uniform size, please fill out the uniform sizing sheet.
- Parking: Please park in the far west lot by the bus barn/track to avoid the construction area.
- Restrooms: The concession stand restrooms will be open during camp.
- Water: Make sure to bring water to stay hydrated.
- Lunch and Rehearsals: We will use the band room for lunch (if you bring one) and some music rehearsals.
- Sunscreen: Please be sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses
Monday, July 29
The new webpage is active! Please bear with me as I learn the ins and outs of our new system. Use the arrows to scroll through the available documents and links. Feel free to email me with any questions.
Thursday, July 11
I am thrilled to announce that this year’s band camp will be held at BHS (as of now), scheduled from August 5th to August 9th. Sessions will run from 8:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm daily.
Our drum majors and section leaders recently returned from an enriching leadership camp and are eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with the band.
Additionally, please note that the band page will soon transition to the new bcsds.org website in the upcoming weeks. We encourage everyone to stay updated for further information.
Looking forward to an exciting and productive band camp!