Welcome to our weekly update.
Now, more than ever, it is important to communicate information and update you on everything happening throughout the Mt. Hebron Band Program.  Updates will be provided weekly... posted on Sunday evening.  If you have something that you would like added to the update, please contact Mr. Fischer at joe_fischer@hcpss.org.
FROM THE PODIUM
​Good Morning Band Family,

I hope that this message finds you safe and healthy.  As we navigate these uncertain times I want to assure you that ​we are working diligently behind the scenes to make sure that your band experience is positive and enriching.  I plan to post an update here every Sunday to help communicate more efficiently and effectively with the entire MtH Band/MU Community.  My top priority is and will continue to be your health and well-being during these uncertain times.  Please help me help each of you by checking in, sharing your laughter and your stories, and supporting each other with positivity and compassion.

I look forward to a time when we can be together in person and make music as a family.

Viking Strong!
Mr. Fischer
WEEK OF...     June 1 - 7
​GENERAL INFORMATION​
MtH Fight Song Project
  • see the home page for our final product.  Thank you to everyone that submitted.  If you would like to be on the team to help create official words to the fight song, please email me directly at joe_fischer@hcpss.org.
Instruments / Equipment / Uniforms
  • Please mark June 11 on our calendars as a TENTATIVE date to return materials/pick-up materials from school.
MtH Band/MU Yearbooks - Pictures are now OVERDUE!
  • Please refer to the information included in WEEK OF...  May 11 - 17.
Percussion Rehearsals
  • In an effort to continue to move the program forward despite our circumstance, we have coordinated percussion rehearsals for current and future Mt. Hebron percussionists.  The focus of these rehearsals will be to prepare for the fall marching season.  Please refer to the welcome information that was sent via canvas last week for more information.
Band/MU Appreciation and Awards…  Monday, June 1 - 7:00pm
  • Please refer to the information included in WEEK OF...  May 11 - 17.
​2020-2021 MtH Band/MU Orientation...  Monday, June 8 - 7:00pm
  • This will be for ALL RETURNING AND NEW (INCOMING) STUDENTS.  Important Welcome Information was sent via Canvas last week that requires your prompt attention and response.  Please review these materials ASAP!
​UPCOMING...          NOTE:  All in person events and activities have been cancelled until further notice.
  • Thursday, June 4 (7:00pm) - Jazz "Virtual" Masterclass
  • Monday, June 8 (7:00pm) - MtH Band/MU Orientation
WEEK OF...     May 25 - 31
​GENERAL INFORMATION​
MtH Fight Song Project
  • We are finalizing the Fight Song Project and hope to have something to share later this week.  If you would like to assist by helping us sort through the submitted lyrics and working to create official words to the fight song, please email me directly at joe_fischer@hcpss.org.
Instruments / Equipment / Uniforms
  • We do not have any updates on when instruments and equipment can safely be returned to school.  We continue to monitor the situation and are awaiting guidance from the Music Office.
MtH Band/MU Yearbooks - Pictures are now OVERDUE!
  • Please refer to the information included in WEEK OF...  May 11 - 17.
​Band/MU Appreciation and Awards…  Monday, June 1 - 7:00pm
  • Please refer to the information included in WEEK OF...  May 11 - 17.
​2020-2021 MtH Band/MU Orientation...  Monday, June 8 - 7:00pm
  • This will be for all returning and incoming students.  More information to follow.​
​UPCOMING...          NOTE:  All in person events and activities have been cancelled until further notice.
  • Thursday, May 28 (7:00pm) - Jazz "Virtual" Masterclass
  • Monday June 1 (7:00pm) - MtH Band/MU Appreciation and Awards
  • Monday, June 8 (7:00pm) - MtH Band/MU Orientation
What have we been up to during Distance Learning?

​Well...  we organized a trumpet ensemble
to record the Star Spangled Banner for graduation.

A huge THANK YOU to...  Mr. Corbett, Lexi Cucchiaro, Aiden Interrante, Gabi Peters, Mr. Roberts, and Nick Venginickal ​for sharing your time and talent in helping put this together.
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
Star Spangled Banner
​John Stafford Smith (arr. by M. Joseph Fischer)
Mt. Hebron HS Trumpet Ensemble
WEEK OF...     May 18 - 24
​GENERAL INFORMATION​
Senior Plaque - TIME SENSITIVE!
  • I sent an email requesting all seniors confirm the spelling of their name on the senior plaque.  Please give this your immediate attention and email me with an edit or an OK so I can process this order.  
Instruments / Equipment / Uniforms
  • We do not have any updates on when instruments and equipment can safely be returned to school.  We continue to monitor the situation and are awaiting guidance from the Music Office.
MtH Band/MU Yearbooks
  • The best laid plans of mice and men...  We still plan to create a yearbook to help us capture the many amazing memories from this CRAZY school year.  We are asking all students to take a self portrait following the guidelines listed below.​  Please refer to the information included in WEEK OF...  May 11 - 17.
​Band/MU Appreciation and Awards…  Monday, June 1 - 7:00pm
  • We would like to celebrate the end of another outstanding year of music making...  albeit a bit shorter than we had anticipated.  Please join me in a Google Meet "Virtual" Celebration as we close another year and send off our seniors towards their next big challenges and triumphs.​  Please refer to the information included in WEEK OF...  May 11 - 17.
​2020-2021 MtH Band/MU Orientation...  Monday, June 8 - 7:00pm
  • This will be for all returning and incoming students.  More information to follow.
​
​UPCOMING...          NOTE:  All in person events and activities have been cancelled until further notice.
  • Thursday, May 21 (7:00pm) - Jazz "Virtual" Masterclass
  • Monday June 1 (7:00pm) - MtH Band/MU Appreciation and Awards
  • Monday, June 8 (7:00pm) - MtH Band/MU Orientation
WEEK OF...     May 11 - 17
GENERAL INFORMATION
​Beauty and the Beast - CANCELLED!
  • The spring musical, "Beauty and the Beast" has been cancelled​ and will not be restaged.  Thank you to everyone that worked behind the scenes to prepare the musical score.  Pit Orchestra...  Please erase all markings and hold onto your books until further notice.
Music For All - Mid-Atlantic Regional Concert Band Festival - CANCELLED!
  • Participants will receive a full refund.  Cash and checks that were not returned prior to school closing are safely secured at school.  Refunds will be distributed as soon as we are able to access the building.
Spring Concerts - CANCELLED!
  • We had originally planned to push our spring concert programs until the end of the school year but due to the recent school closing, all spring concerts are now cancelled!  Thank you for your all of your efforts this year.
​Senior Plaque - TIME SENSITIVE!
  • I sent an email requesting all seniors confirm the spelling of their name on the senior plaque.  Please give this your immediate attention and email me with an edit or an OK so I can process this order.  
Instruments / Equipment / Uniforms
  • We do not have any updates on when instruments and equipment can safely be returned to school.  We continue to monitor the situation and are awaiting guidance from the Music Office.
MtH Band/MU Yearbooks
  • The best laid plans of mice and men...  We still plan to create a yearbook to help us capture the many amazing memories from this CRAZY school year.  We are asking all students to take a self portrait following the guidelines listed below.​
​Guidelines (and tips) for capturing your self-portrait.
  • Wear your MU uniform jacket/top only. (no shako, no instruments, etc.)  If you did not participate in the MU or do not have your uniform... wear your concert attire!
  • Stand and look directly at the photographer, with your arms down by your sides.
  • We are looking for a headshot from the elbow to 6” above your head.  (This allows for cropping as necessary.)
  • All pictures should be taken outdoors.  Take the photo about 15 feet from a background of trees, bushes, etc.  (Make sure there is no skyline showing above the trees and be sure there are no tree branches/trunks that look like they are ‘growing out of your head’
  • SUN - The sun should be directly behind you, not shining in your face or on the side of your face.
  • OVERCAST - This is actually the perfect setting to take a photo and use the flash.
  • Take a series of pictures without flash.
  • Take a series of pictures with flash.  (Even if you think you don’t need to use it, take some with flash!)
  • Select the best shot without flash and the best shot with flash.
  • Send the two images in an email to yearbook4MTHMU@gmail.com.  Include the following in the subject line:  Last Name, First Name, Graduation Year (ex. 2020), instrument/unit
  • SENIORS...  Photos due ASAP - prior to returning uniforms!
  • ALL OTHERS...  Photos due by Friday, May 22.
Band/MU Appreciation and Awards…  Monday, June 1 - 7:00pm
  • We would like to celebrate the end of another outstanding year of music making...  albeit a bit shorter than we had anticipated.  Please join me in a Google Meet "Virtual" Celebration as we close another year and send off our seniors towards their next big challenges and triumphs.​
  • This event will be held on Google Meet as required by HCPSS guidelines.  What this means is that only students can access this event through their HCPSS Google accounts but family members are welcome to join us by watching on the student’s device.
  • LOGIN INFORMATION
    1. ​​Go to http://meet.google.com
    2. Click on “Join or start a meeting”
    3. Enter the nickname “MHHS-MJFischer-Appreciation2020”
    4. Click “Continue”
    5. Mute your microphone and then click “Join now”
Here is what you need to do...  All materials are due no later than Wednesday, May 27!
​Questions? Email Mr. Fischer at joe_fischer@hcpss.org.​
  • SLIDE SHOW - We will be creating a slide show to look back on our rear together.  We have a ton of photos, but we could always use more.  If you have photos from Band/MU events this year, please submit them to Chloe Parkinson at chloe.parkinson@verizon.net.
  • SENIOR VIDEOS - It is tradition that seniors create a short video (approx. 30 seconds) to say good bye and announce where they are headed after graduation.  If you would like to submit a senior video, please submit them to Chloe Parkinson at chloe.parkinson@verizon.net.
  • SENIOR SLIDES - i will also be creating a slide for each senior as a part of my presentation.
    • I would like for every senior to send me a picture of themselves during their freshman year and one from their senior year.  School appropriate of course!  Please make sure to save your pictures as .jpg files  (I have already begun working on my slide:0)
    • Answer one of the following questions...  "What is your favorite memory of being in band?" or "Do you have any parting words?"
    • Email your response and pictures to Mr. Fischer at joe_fischer@hcpss.org.
  • BLACK TIE OPTIONAL! - but... let's get dressed up!  A great excuse to wash those sweat pants​ you have been wearing:0)
2020-2021 MtH Band/MU Orientation...  Monday, June 8 - 7:00pm
  • This will be for all returning and incoming students.  More information to follow.
MtHMU 2020
  • Band Leadership Team - BLT interviews are complete.  Thank you to everyone that took the time to apply.  I sincerely hope that you discovered a lot about who you are, your potential as a leader, and how you can best serve your community... regardless of your title.  More information to follow.
  • Cavaliers - Still searching for staff for the fall.  Please let me know if you have any leads.
  • Lancers - We welcome Mrs. Jen Dipietro as our new Lancers coach/sponsor.  Mrs. D and I have already started collaborating and we look forward to partnering together to support the Lancers and the MtHMU.
  • Spring Rehearsals/Recruiting - I am working to update the Virtual Rehearsal Room with information and resources to support the MtHMU during our time apart.  More information to follow.
​
UPCOMING...          NOTE:  All in person events and activities have been cancelled until further notice.
  • Thursday, May 14 (7:00pm) - Jazz "Virtual" Masterclass
  • Monday June 1 (7:00pm) - MtH Band/MU Appreciation and Awards
  • Monday, June 8 (7:00pm) - MtH Band/MU Orientation