MP BAND WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 23 JANUARY 2026

VISIT OUR WEBPAGE FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR BOOSTER ORGANIZATION
MOUNT PLEASANT BANDS' WEBSITE

From The Desk of Mr. Lee

SNOWMAGGEDON 2026 IS AROUND THE CORNER!!! Hope you all have gotten you bread and milk for the upcoming winter storm. Nothing is more comforting on a cold, icy, snowy day like a nice milk sandwich! In preparation for this weather event, the All-County Band clinic that was supposed to happen this weekend is now a one day clinic (Friday, 23 JAN). Everyone needs to be super attentive to all channels of communication for changes to schedules for the next several days. Please be safe!

MAJOR FAVOR NEEDED: We have a super important fundraiser coming up and I need all band members and families to do me two favors in prepartion for this event:

  • In order for us to be successful, we need to spread the word about this event. Please share the event link (http://www.facebook.com/share/17WigE2nFA/) on your social media pages to help start getting the word out now about this important event.
  • On Thursday, 5 FEB 2026, we will have a very important band parent meeting. This meeting will not be very long, but it will be very informative. We need all band families to have at least one adult representative to be present for this meeting (parent/guardian, grandparent, aunt/uncle, etc.). It is imperative that we have full participation in this. If we have at least 100 parents/guardians that show up, we will automatically make $1000 on our next fundraiser. That is just to show up to a meeting! Please plan to attend!

Topics to be discussed during this meeting:

  • Band Booster Organization Board Nominations and News
  • Upcoming MPMS and MPHS Band Events
  • Information concerning our upcoming Annual Mattress Sale (on Sunday, 1 MAR 2026)
  • A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!!! 

Meeting will begin at 6:30 PM. Should last approximately an hour.

In this week's edition:

  • BAND BOOSTER BOARD NOMINATIONS
  • ANNUAL MATTRESS SALE FUNDRAISER
  • WINTERGUARD UPDATES
  • UPDATES FROM THE CLASSROOM
  • NEWS AND EVENTS FROM VARIOUS AREA COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
  • BAND PARENT CORNER
  • SCHEDULE FOR 23 JAN - 7 FEB 2026

BAND BOOSTER BOARD NOMINATIONS

We are looking for our next group of parents to join our fantastic band booster board. Are you interested in joining or do you know someone that would be a great fit for our organization? We are looking for folks who can help our organization thrive so they can continue to support our band programs. No experience required. Submissions due by 1/30. Please go HERE to submit nominations.

ANNUAL MATTRESS SALE FUNDRAISER

Crazy how time is just flying by.  Seems like we just started the school year.  Hard to believe that we are well into our 2nd Semester.  Lots of great things are happening in both the middle school and high school band rooms and we are so pleased with the progress that all the students have made thus far.  We are extremely excited to see what the future holds for these young performers.   As you all know, running a band program can be a very expensive venture.  Lots of money is spent on a yearly basis to keep the program running.  Thousands of dollars are spent to purchase new instruments/equipment, new music, instrument repairs, etc.  Even though we are able to get some funding from the county and our schools to help in this, the fact of the matter is they are only able to cover a fraction of what we truly need to run a successful program.   In a continued effort to ensure we, as a program, are financially sound, we try to do a few “heavy hitting” fundraisers during the year.  During the fall, we were very successful in raising money through hosting the Cabarrus County Marching Band Preview Show in September and through our donation fundraiser we ran in November.  I am grateful to you all for helping to make those campaigns fruitful.  This semester, we will host one more “heavy hitting” fundraiser.  On March 1st, 2026, we will host our annual mattress fundraiser.  For those who are new to the band program or new to this fundraiser, it may sound crazy that we do this, but believe it or not, this can help us to raise lots of money with minimal effort, if done right.  This sale will be hosted at Mount Pleasant High School in the Commons.  The company we work with to help run this fundraiser does all the heavy lifting.  They move all items, they have a team here to assist in the sale of their products, and they tear down after the event.  There will be a variety of products made available for purchase (mattresses, bedding, pillows, etc.).  The company we work with provides delivery of products, financing, etc. (just like you would get if you were to go to a store).  The difference here is that we, the Mount Pleasant Band program, benefits from the proceeds of all purchases made.     The main thing that we need your help in is by spreading the word about this important sale.  Do you know anyone (family, friends, etc.) that may be in the market for a new mattress this year?  If so, direct them to our sale.  I promise, they will have access to the same great products that a mattress store would have at a cheaper price while still being able to support a very important cause.     As an added incentive, all students who help us to bring in customers will receive a credit that goes into their personal student accounts we have created for each child within the MP Band Boosters.   Any customer that comes in from a student’s referral and makes a purchase, that purchase is credited to the student and the student will gain a financial reward for that purchase.  The money that is held in these accounts can be used to help students pay for a variety of band related expenses such as band fees (marching band, winterguard, etc.), band trips, band supplies (mouthpieces, reeds, repairs to student owned instruments, etc.).    In order to prepare for this event, pushing out information to potential customers is important.  Here are ways you can help us to maximize our profit during this event:  

  1. Each student will be receiving 10 flyers. Please help us by handing these flyers out to friends, family, etc. that might be willing to come and help support us during this sale. At the bottom of each flyer, there is a place for the students to mark their name down. If a customer comes in with this flyer and makes a purchase, the student will be rewarded for that purchase with a monetary credit that will show up in their band accounts. This flyer also serves as a coupon for potential customers. More coupons can be made available if students ask.
  2. Please help us to spread the word via Facebook. On each flyer, there is a link that friends and family can go to for more information. That link is http://www.facebook.com/share/17WigE2nFA/ . Please get on Facebook and share this link with all your family and friends. Have them also share out the information. The more this event is shared out, the more fruitful this event will be.
  3. PARENT MEETING: We will be hosting a parent meeting on Thursday, February 5th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. to get more information out to you. This meeting is an important event for us. If we have 100 parents show up to this meeting, we (the Mount Pleasant Band Program) will automatically make $1000. This is a lot of money for minimal time and effort. Meeting will be held in the Mount Pleasant Middle School Auditorium and should take roughly an hour. PLEASE plan to come and help us meet our goal of 100 parents so we can make that $1000.
  4. STUDENT MEETINGS:  The fundraising company will be coming back Tuesday, February 12th, 2026 to meet with the students during the school day to help promote this fundraiser and get more information out.  
  5. DAY OF THE SALE:  As previously mentioned, the sale will be on Sunday, March 1st, 2026 at Mount Pleasant High School and will take place 11 AM – 6 PM.  Customers are invited to drop in between those times.  The company will be here to talk customers through their purchase, go over delivery, set-up, and removal of old mattresses.  They will also have financing options available.  For the students and parents of the band program, we will invite folks here to help promote the sale, but as previously mentioned, the company does the heavy lifting.  

  Programs that do this fundraiser right (by pushing the information) make lots of money for minimal work.  It is not unheard of for programs to make $12,000 in a 7-hour period.  That would be a huge feat for us and would help our program so very much.  Please help support this fundraising campaign.     As always, we greatly appreciate your support.  Thank you for all you do!  We look forward to a great fundraising event!!!!

WINTERGUARD UPDATES

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).

Winterguard Fee Payments

Per the Winterguard Handbook, the first payment for student's winterguard fees was due on 31 DEC. If you have not made this payment, please do so ASAP. Next two payments are due:

  • 15 January 2026
  • 1 February 2026

To make payments online, please go HERE.

CWEA Premier @ Catawba Ridge High School

Our first contest of the season is right around the corner. The schedule for the day will be a full schedule due to this being the first show out and because we are going to potentially be missing some rehearsals this week due to winter weather. Schedule for the day is as follows:

  • REPORT: 8:45 AM
  • REHEARSAL: 9:00 AM
  • LUNCH/DRESS/LOAD EQUIPMENT: 11:30 AM
  • FINAL MEETING: 1:10 PM
  • BOARD BUS: 1:15 PM
  • LEAVE MPHS: NLT 1:20 PM
  • ARRIVE TO CATAWBA RIDGE HS: NLT 3:00 PM
  • CONTEST PREP AND DINNER WILL BE HELD BETWEEN THEIR ARRIVAL TIME AND TIME THEY WILL GO TO WARM-UP; MORE DETAILS TO COME
  • HOLDING FOR WARM-UP: 7:11 PM
  • WARM-UP: 7:16 PM
  • LEAVE WARM-UP/HOLDING FOR PERFORMANCE: 7:32 PM
  • PERFORM: 7:35 PM
  • LOAD EQUIPMENT: 7:50 PM
  • RETURN TO GYM FOR REMAINDER OF CONTEST: 8:15 PM
  • AWARDS: 9:30 PM
  • LEAVE CATAWBA RIDGE HS: 10:15 PM
  • ARRIVE BACK TO MPHS: APPROXIMATELY 11:30 PM
  • DISMISSAL: APPROXIMATELY 11:45 PM

UPDATES FROM THE CLASSROOM

Cabarrus All-County Band

This year, the Cabarrus All-County Band Clinic will be held on Friday, 23 JAN. IT HAS NOW CHANGED TO A ONE DAY CLINIC DUE TO WEATHER!!!

Friday, 23 JAN 2026

  • 8:00 a.m. – Meet at West Cabarrus High School
  • 9:00 a.m. – Rehearsal Begins
  • 12:30 p.m. – Lunch (provided as part of fee paid)
  • 1:30 p.m. – Rehearsal Resumes
  • 5:30 p.m. – Dinner and Change in to Concert Attire
  • 6:30 p.m. - Warm-up
  • 7:00 p.m. - Concert

Class Assignments

The first assignments for the 3rd Quarter have been posted in SmartMusic. The following assignments are due on Sunday, 25 JAN:

  • Heartland March (measure 1 - 23)
  • Sightreading Exercise #1
  • Sightreading Exercise #2

Next group of assignments that are due Sunday, 2 FEB:

  • Heartland March (measure 23 - 35)
  • Sightreading Exercise #3
  • Sightreading Exercise #4

While all exercises assigned have a particular due date given, students can take up to Monday, 2 MAR to get them in. I DO NOT RECOMMEND WAITING THIS LONG TO DO THESE THINGS. If students wait until then to do all of their assigned playing assessments, it is their gamble. If the system goes into an update that causes the system to go down for awhile and this forces students to miss the Monday, 2 MAR mark, the assignments will be scored as zeroes. THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO FLEXIBILITY GIVEN FOR THINGS TO BE TURNED IN PAST THE MONDAY, 2 MARCH DEADLINE.

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

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."

News From Western Carolina University

We are excited to announce that registration for the 2026 Summer Symposium is officially open! The Pride of the Mountains Summer Symposium is designed to serve both students and band directors, offering multiple instructional tracks that support musical growth, leadership development, and professional learning within the marching arts.  Student Tracks We are pleased to offer a wide range of student-focused instructional tracks, including:

  • Drum Major
  • Wind
  • Front Ensemble & Rhythm Section
  • Battery Percussion
  • Color Guard

The 2026 Summer Symposium will take place July 5–9, 2026. Students will enjoy a full week of high-quality instruction, engaging activities, and meaningful mentorship. Participants will study with renowned clinicians from across the country, work closely with assigned WCU student leaders, and gain valuable skills in leadership and musicianship they can take back to their home programs. Guest Artist-in-Residence We are thrilled to welcome Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps as our 2026 Artist-in-Residence. Students will have the opportunity to observe a rehearsal, experience Crown’s Summer 2026 production, and participate in an exclusive clinic with this world-class ensemble. Eligibility Rising high school freshmen and rising college freshmen are also eligible to attend. The registration link can be found HERE. We would love to have you and your students join us for a rewarding and inspiring week. If you have any questions, please contact us at potminfo@email.wcu.edu.

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 23 JAN - 7 FEB 2026

22 JAN 26: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM

23 JAN 26: Cabarrus All-County Band Clinic; See Info Above

23 JAN 26: Spin Club; 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

24 JAN 26: Winterguard Saturday Camp; 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

26 JAN 26: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM

28 JAN 26: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM

29 JAN 26: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM

30 JAN 26: Spin Club; 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

31 JAN 26: Winterguard Contest @ Catawba Ridge HS; SEE INFORMATION ABOVE

2 FEB 26: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM

4 FEB 26: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM

5 FEB 26: Winterguard Rehearsal; 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM

6 FEB 26: Spin Club; 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

7 FEB 26: Winterguard Saturday Camp; 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM