MP BAND WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 5 DECEMBER 2025
From The Desk of Mr. Lee
OFFICIALLY ON THE DOWNHILL SKID OF THE 1ST SEMESTER! It is crazy to think that we are only 2 weeks away from ending the 1st Semester of the 2025-2026 school year. The next week for us is super busy with rehearsals and our Winter Concert on Sunday, 14 DEC. Please ensure you are tracking the schedule for the next week!!
In this week's edition:
- MARCHING BAND UPDATES: Parade Information
- WINTERGUARD UPDATES: Commitment Forms Due 15 DEC 25, Winterguard Rehearsals / Schedule
- NEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM: Assignments Due for the 2nd Quarter, SmartMusic (MakeMusic Cloud) Registration, Winter Concert (14 DEC 25)
- NEWS/EVENTS FROM AREA COLLEGES: Music Major/Minor for a Day Events at Meredith College, UNC-Charlotte, and East Carolina University
- BAND PARENTS CORNER: Latest Episode of The Band Dads podcast
- SCHEDULE FOR 5 - 22 DEC 2025
MARCHING BAND UPDATES
PARADE INFORMATION
The Mount Pleasant Christmas Parade will be tomorrow, Saturday, 6 DEC. Parades are always a little bit of a "hurry up and wait" kind of situation. Please be prepared for this. Information will be as follows:
Report: 11:30 AM Dress/Prep: 11:35 AM Board Buses: 12:45 PM Leave MPHS: 12:50 PM Arrive to Holding Area: 1:15 PM Line-Up: 2:45 PM Parade Begins: 3:30 PM Approximate End of Parade: 5:00 PM Return to MPHS: 5:15 PM Dismissal: 5:45 PM (Approx.)
WINTERGUARD UPDATES
COMMITMENT FORMS DUE 15 DEC 2025
We have officially started the 2025-2026 Winterguard Season. For all members that have been selected for our varsity group, if you plan to carry on with participating in this group, you need to complete the Commitment Form NLT 15 DEC 25. Please ensure you read the Winterguard Handbook before signing the Commitment Form (can be found HERE).
Please go HERE to complete this.
WINTERGUARD REHEARSALS / SCHEDULE
Winterguard rehearsals are going extremely well, thus far. The schedule of events and rehearsals for the season are available on the BAND app, on the band's website, and the Winterguard handbook. Please ensure you are tracking the schedule.
In the event of absences for rehearsals, etc. (please read the handbook on the policy on this), absences can be requested through the Absence Leave Request form (NLT 48 hours prior to a planned absence). Emergency absences (under the 48 hour mark for emergency circumstances such as sickness, etc.) need to be submitted to me through an e-mail (keith.lee@cabarrus.k12.nc.us).
UPDATES FROM THE CLASSROOM
2nd Quarter is almost over and before you know it, the 2nd Semester will come to a close. I am proud of the students' work, thus far. Lots of great things are happening. We are working hard to prepare for our winter concert on Sunday, 14 DEC.
SmartMusic (MakeMusic Cloud Accounts)
To create SmartMusic accounts (if you have not done so), do the following:
- Go HERE to register
- The class code should automatically populate, but if it does not, it is UC7CCJ-V4WYE
- Hit “Find Your Class.” The class Mount Pleasant HS Band 2025-2026 should populate. Hit “Join this Class.”
- Please put in an e-mail address that you utilize often to establish your account.
- Check your e-mail for a confirmation e-mail. Please confirm your account.
To Login to SmartMusic: Go to HERE
Assignments for the 2nd Quarter
The following exercises are PAST DUE as of Sunday, 16 NOV, 11:59 PM with an absolute NO NEGOTIATION DEADLINE of Monday, 8 DEC.
- Sightreading #3 (2nd Quarter)
- Sightreading #4 (2nd Quarter)
- Angelic Celebrations (m. 80-END)
- Jingle Jam (m. 1 - 58)
The following exercises are PAST DUE as of Sunday, 30 NOV, 11:59 PM with an absolute NO NEGOTIATION DEADLINE of Monday, 8 DEC.
- Sightreading #5 (2nd Quarter)
- Sightreading #6 (2nd Quarter)
- Jingle Jam (m. 58-82)
- Jingle Jam (m. 82-END)
The following assignments are PAST DUE as of Sunday, 2 NOV, 11:59 PM. If late, they must be turned in by the absolute NO NEGOTIATION DEADLINE of Monday, 8 DEC.
- Sightreading #1 (2nd Quarter)
- Sightreading #2 (2nd Quarter)
- Angelic Celebrations (m. 39 - 60)
- Angelic Celebrations (m. 60 - 80)
All assignments are to be completed in SmartMusic (MakeMusic Cloud).
Winter Concert (Sunday, 14 DEC 25)
We will be hosting our winter concert on Sunday, 14 DEC 25. This concert will feature the MPMS 8th Grade Band and the MPHS Wind Ensemble. Report time for all students for this event will be 1:30 PM. Concert will begin at 2:30 PM. Per the handbook sent out at the beginning of the semester, this is a REQUIRED event for all students. This will be part of all students 1st Semester Exam Grade.
In order to preapre for this event, we will also have a series of REQUIRED after school rehearsals. These are graded events. These rehearsals will run 2:30 - 4:30 PM on the following days:
- Monday, 8 DEC 25
- Tuesday, 9 DEC 25
- Wednesday, 10 DEC 25
- Thursday, 11 DEC 25
NEWS AND EVENTS FROM VARIOUS AREA COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
News From Meredith College
Meredith College is an all female school in Raleigh, NC. They are hosting series of "Be a Music Major/Minor For a Day" events. To view information, please go HERE.
News from UNC Charlotte
Summer Music Camp (June 17th - 20th, 2026): students will work with faculty and guests in full band, chamber music, and composition (Tyler S. Grant, guest composer). See information below from Dr. Taylor: "I'm excited to announce registration for the Charlotte Summer Music Camp is now open! This year we will host Composer-in-Residence Tyler Grant. In the full band portion of the camp, students will workshop unpublished music with Mr. Grant to learn about the compositional process and refine compositions soon to be published. The full band will culminate with a professional recording session of Mr. Grant's music. Additionally, students will participate in chamber ensembles and masterclasses coached by UNC Charlotte Faculty and Charlotte Symphony Musicians. Students will get valuable experience performing in small groups and receive crucial individual instruction, and perform in a chamber concert on Saturday, June 20th. Finally, scholarships are available by audition. Students should submit a single video link of their District Band Audition Solo, Ab Concert Scale, and Chromatic Scale to be considered for Scholarship. Register here by January 18th to be considered for a scholarship! Registration fee of $30, final payment of $120 due by May 1.
Find all of our events stay up to date with registrations here and follow CLTBands on Instagram.
Finally, for any student interested in band or music at UNC Charlotte - encourage them to reach out! Check out the attached postcard for more information and visit our website for information about admissions and auditions. We highly encourage interested students to apply by November 1."
News From East Carolina University
From John Bishop, Assistant Director for Student Services: "As application season begins, I wanted to share that ECU will host its first satellite audition day at the Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, NC. This event is designed to give students in western North Carolina access to our programs and scholarship opportunities without the need to travel to Greenville. Attached is the flyer for this event!"
"ECU offers a highly competitive scholarship program—last year alone, we awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships to our incoming class. Students auditioning at the Charlotte location will receive full and equal consideration for admission and scholarships as those who audition on campus."
BAND PARENT CORNER
Band parents make it possible for us to do what we do. We appreciate you so much!!!
The Band Dads Podcast
The latest episode of The Band Dads podcast is now available. Please go HERE to listen.
SCHEDULE FOR 5 - 22 DEC 2025
6 DEC 25: Mount Pleasant Christmas Parade; See Info Above
8 DEC 25: Dress Rehearsal for All Wind Ensemble Members (MANDATORY); 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
8 DEC 25: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
9 DEC 25: Dress Rehearsal for All Wind Ensemble Members (MANDATORY); 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
10 DEC 25: Dress Rehearsal for All Wind Ensemble Members (MANDATORY); 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
10 DEC 25: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
11 DEC 25: Dress Rehearsal for All Wind Ensemble Members (MANDATORY); 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
11 DEC 25: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
14 DEC 25: Winter Concert Featuring MPHS Wind Ensemble and MPMS 8th Grade Band; Report Time 1:30 PM, Start Time 2:30 PM
15 DEC 25: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
17 DEC 25: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
18 DEC 25: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
22 DEC 25: Winterguard Staging Camp; 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM