Hillwood Band Newsletter
Charger Band
Next Week in Band:
Band Hall Hours next week:
Mon- Wed: 7am-5pm
Thur: 8am-4pm
Fri: 8am-5pm
Monday, April 7: Practice Log 2 Due
Monday AM: Wind Ensemble Woodwinds
Monday PM: Concert Band Brass, Symphonic Woodwinds
Tuesday AM: Concert Band Woodwinds, Symphonic Brass
Tuesday PM: Wind Ensemble Brass and Percussion
Wednesday AM: Concert Band Percussion
Wednesday PM: Jazz Band
Thursday: STAAR
Friday AM: Symphonic Percussion
Friday PM: Wind Ensemble FULL Band
View upcoming sectionals and dates at: https://parkwoodhillwood.band/hillwood-calendar
Upcoming Band Events:
Friday Evening April 25: Performance
April 25, 2025
North Texas Festival of Distinction
Location: Haltom High School: 5501 Haltom Rd, Haltom City, TX 76137
This is a Band competition where our bands will be ranked with other bands in the same division.
Concert band will compete with other sub-non varsity groups. Symphonic with compete with other non varsity group. Wind Ensemble will compete with other varsity groups.
Students must pass all classes the grade check on April 11 to be eligible to attend.
4pm Students will go home to eat and change clothes
5:00pm Students arrive back at Hillwood MS in tux uniform
5:10pm Load bus
5:40pm Concert Band Warm up
6:15pm Concert Band Performs
7:15pm Symphonic Band Performs
7:45pm Wind Ensemble Performs
Parents encouraged to take your child home after performance. No sight reading, just stage performance.
May 2025:
Friday, May 2: Spring Concert @Hillwood Middle. Performance begins at 7pm.
Saturday, May 10: Solo Contest @ Central High School (individual times will be scheduled between 9am-noon)
Wednesday, May 14: School Owned- Instruments Due for Check-In (see more info below)
Solo Contest Information
All students in the Hillwood and Parkwood Hill band program will be required to learn and perform a solo at the Keller ISD Solo Contest. Solos are a great way to develop individual skills and build confidence by providing students with a piece of music tailored to their specific strengths and areas for growth!
Students will receive a summative grade for their performance.
Date: Saturday, May 10
Time: 9 AM - Noon (students will have a specific performance time and can leave after performance)
Location: Central High School (9450 Ray White Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76244)
Uniform: Formal Attire (no tennis shoes or jeans)
Important Info
When you arrive, check in with your monitor at your assigned room, then go to the cafeteria to warm up.
Arrive at your assigned room 5 minutes before your scheduled time.
You will be performing for just one judge in a classroom. Parents, you are welcome and encouraged to attend your child’s performance.
If you are a Hillwood student using SmartMusic, your monitor will help you connect the ipad to the speaker and begin your recording. Parkwood students will have a CD player and the judge will start and stop the recording for students.
When you finish, be sure to thank your judge and collect all your belongings.
We will give you results the week after the solo contest, so you are free to go when you finish.
If you have a conflict or need some sort of accommodation, please reach out to your director by April 4, so we can help find a solution.
Piano Accompaniment
Students have the option to use a live accompanist, instead of a recording of a piano.
The fee is $45. The fee includes one live rehearsal, a practice track, and the live performance.
Students who want to use a live accompanist must let their director know by March 14.
Performance times will be given in early April.
Summer Band Camps
Summer Music Camps Information
Summer Music Camps are a GREAT way to continue your band experience and learn and grow even more over the summer! We HIGHLY encourage all students to attend one camp (or more!) over the summer to keep their abilities fresh. Additionally, camps are a great way to meet new friends and establish friendships across the state! I am still friends with many people that I first met at camp when I was a young student! There are band camps, where the experience focuses mainly on the ensemble experience of playing in a band (all instruments), and there are also some instrument specific camps for students where they can dive deeper into specific knowledge regarding playing your particular instrument!
The best summer music camps are places to meet new friends, perform new music, and provide new inspiration to encourage continued study. This list is by no means an exhaustive list of summer camps to consider. It is organized chronologically and includes both day and overnight camps. 8th graders rising to high school have the option to attend either middle school or high school camps.
Highly recommended band camps where students will receive exceptional music instruction as well as a well organized and fun camp experience are marked with an * and in BOLD. All these camps are fantastic and we recommend them all - so find one that fits your schedule and budget and go for it!
Band Camps:
*Sounds of Summer KISD Band Camp
Dates: June 2-5
Sam Houston State University Band Camp
Dates: June 1-5
Tarleton State University Band Camp
Dates: June 8-12
*University of Texas Arlington Band Camp
Dates: June 9-13
Texas A&M Corpus Christi Band Camp
Dates: June 9-13
Texas Christian University Middle School Experience
Dates: June 13-14
*Baylor University Band Camp (Mrs. Bosch will be teaching at this camp! You should go!)
Dates: June 15-21
Stephen F. Austin University Band Camp
Dates: June 15-20
UT San Antonio Band Camp
Dates: June 16-21
Texas Lutheran University
Dates: June 23-28
University of Houston Band Camp
Dates: June 22-27
*Texas Tech University Band Camp
Dates: June 29-July 5
*West Texas A&M University Band Camp
Dates: July 6-12
Instrument Specific Camps:
TCU Summer Flute Workshop
Dates: June 24-25
Floot Fire (Flutes)
Dates: June 23-27 (Dallas)
Bocal Majority Double Reed Camp (Oboe/Bassoon)
Dates: Multiple in DFW
TCU Summer Clarinet Workshop
Dates: July 24-25
Young Saxophonist’s Institute
Dates: Multiple in DFW
TCU Summer Saxophone Workshop
Dates: June 26-27
Blast of Brass
Date: June 22-27
CorDallas (Horn Camp)
Dates: Multiple in DFW (Keller Camp June 16-20)
Texas Trombone Academy
Dates: Not yet posted - check back soon!)
Texas Low Brass Academy (Trombone/Euphonium/Tuba)
Dates: July 10-13 (University of Houston)
TCU Percussion Camp
Dates: June 17-18
Jazz Band
Spring Jazz Band Dates
Rehearsals @ HMS Band hall, 4-5:30pm
January 22
January 29
February 5
No jazz on Feb 12- due to TMEA
February 19
February 26
March 5
March 12
No jazz on March 19 due to spring break
March 26
No jazz on April 2- due to varsity UIL
April 9
April 16
April 23
April 30
Performances:
April 17- Cafe Hillwood
May 2- Spring Concert @ HMS Gym
Parent Volunteers
Parent Volunteers needed for upcoming trips/ events. Please let a band director know if you'd like to help!
District Volunteer Background check link: https://kellerisd.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx?jcat=Volunteer
Hillwood Band Event Calendar 2024-25
In May, at Band Registration families were given a tentative event calendar for the year. This calendar is updated as of 8/22/24. Please use this calendar to update your personal calendar!
