Week 8: September 25 - 30, 2023
MONDAY |
*MB Guard/Percussion Sectional Rehearsals (4:00pm-6:00pm) *CBMS 7th & 8th Grade Honor Band Practice (until 5:00pm) |
TUESDAY |
*MB: Full Band Rehearsal (All Students) (4:00pm-7:00pm) |
WEDNESDAY |
*FUNDRAISER DELIVERY* Pickup at CBMS Band Room between 4:00pm-5:30pm |
THURSDAY |
*MB: Full Band Dress Rehearsal (4:00pm-7:00pm) |
FRIDAY |
*MB: Away Football Game (@ Cedar Shoals HS) Call Time: 3:35pm Game Agenda |
SATURDAY |
MARCHING BAND COMPETITION - CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS East Jackson Comprehensive HS Call Time: 11:30am Event Itinerary |
As always, please check the band's calendar at:
FROM THE DIRECTORS:
We hope this message finds you well. As we embark on another exciting week of music and camaraderie, we would like to share some important updates and events happening within our band program.
Fundraiser Pickup (CBMS Band Room between 4:00pm-5:30pm)
Fundraiser items will be delivered to the school on Wednesday and will need to be picked up between 4:00- 5:30pm in the MIDDLE SCHOOL Band Room. Any students who sold less than 8 items will be able to carry them home on the bus or through car riders as normal. Any student who sold more than 8 will need to pick up their items in the bus parking lot at the side entrance of the school between 4:00-5:30pm. We will only be here after school until 5:30pm and ALL fundraisers must be picked up by then. The school does not have enough freezer space to store items that are not picked up. Please be sure that you make arrangements to get your items on time. These items are coming frozen but will not stay frozen for very long, so please be sure to hand them out or get them in a freezer quickly. Also, be sure to tell people thank you when you deliver items.
*Order Errors: With so many orders coming in, there are bound to be a few mistakes. If you find that you are missing anything or you have an extra item that is not yours, please fill out the google form sent home through Infinite Campus and Canvas. ALL missing items need to be reported by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th.
Tuesday & Thursday Marching Bears Rehearsals
We have two crucial rehearsal days on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. During these rehearsals, we will review this past week's performances and continue adding exciting elements to our show. It's essential for all band members to attend these rehearsals to ensure our continued progress.
Friday - Football Game at Cedar Shoals HS
This Friday, we be traveling to Cedar Shoals HS for the Varsity Football game. We will have a pre-game meal (Chick-fil-A) prior to our departure from CBHS. All details about this trip can be found HERE.
Saturday - Georgia Contest of Champions at East Jackson Comprehensive HS
We are thrilled to announce the Georgia Contest of Champions (Marching Band Competition) happening this Saturday, September 30th at East Jackson Comprehensive High School. To access all the essential details about the competition, please click HERE.
For your convenience, tickets can be pre-purchased for $12 through the S2 app HERE. or you can grab them for $15 at the gate.
We wholeheartedly invite our families and supporters to join us as our talented students perform in their first competition of the year. Your support is invaluable to our ongoing success, and we look forward to seeing you there!
We are looking forward to a fantastic week filled with music, teamwork, and community engagement. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our band program.
If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Fundraiser Pickup (CBMS Band Room between 4:00pm-5:30pm)
Fundraiser items will be delivered to the school on Wednesday and will need to be picked up between 4:00- 5:30pm in the MIDDLE SCHOOL Band Room. Any students who sold less than 8 items will be able to carry them home on the bus or through car riders as normal. Any student who sold more than 8 will need to pick up their items in the bus parking lot at the side entrance of the school between 4:00-5:30pm. We will only be here after school until 5:30pm and ALL fundraisers must be picked up by then. The school does not have enough freezer space to store items that are not picked up. Please be sure that you make arrangements to get your items on time. These items are coming frozen but will not stay frozen for very long, so please be sure to hand them out or get them in a freezer quickly. Also, be sure to tell people thank you when you deliver items.
*Order Errors: With so many orders coming in, there are bound to be a few mistakes. If you find that you are missing anything or you have an extra item that is not yours, please fill out the google form sent home through Infinite Campus and Canvas. ALL missing items need to be reported by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th.
Tuesday & Thursday Marching Bears Rehearsals
We have two crucial rehearsal days on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. During these rehearsals, we will review this past week's performances and continue adding exciting elements to our show. It's essential for all band members to attend these rehearsals to ensure our continued progress.
Friday - Football Game at Cedar Shoals HS
This Friday, we be traveling to Cedar Shoals HS for the Varsity Football game. We will have a pre-game meal (Chick-fil-A) prior to our departure from CBHS. All details about this trip can be found HERE.
Saturday - Georgia Contest of Champions at East Jackson Comprehensive HS
We are thrilled to announce the Georgia Contest of Champions (Marching Band Competition) happening this Saturday, September 30th at East Jackson Comprehensive High School. To access all the essential details about the competition, please click HERE.
For your convenience, tickets can be pre-purchased for $12 through the S2 app HERE. or you can grab them for $15 at the gate.
We wholeheartedly invite our families and supporters to join us as our talented students perform in their first competition of the year. Your support is invaluable to our ongoing success, and we look forward to seeing you there!
We are looking forward to a fantastic week filled with music, teamwork, and community engagement. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our band program.
If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
GO BEARS!!
CBBA GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

CBBA GENERAL MEETING
All parents are welcome to attend (Grades 6-12) as we work together to build an awesome experience for our kids. Our next Executive Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10th (6pm).
Our next CBBA General Meeting (All Parents) is Tuesday, October 10th (7pm).
All parents are welcome to attend (Grades 6-12) as we work together to build an awesome experience for our kids. Our next Executive Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10th (6pm).
Our next CBBA General Meeting (All Parents) is Tuesday, October 10th (7pm).

It's true that band is a wonderful experience for the students. It's also true that there's a lot of work required to support it! That's why we need you as a volunteer. And, yes, you really will have fun when you volunteer and get to know other parents and band students. Check out our SIGNUPGENIUS link to see how you can help us!
If you haven't already, join our Cherokee Bluff Band Parents Association - CBBA Facebook Group - this is a wonderful place to get answers, share photos, and talk with other band parents. Just search Cherokee Bluff Band Parents Association - CBBA (see image below)
2023 University of Georgia Flute Day

The University of Georgia Flute Studio is excited to invite your students to the 2023 UGA Flute Day! Taking place on Sunday, October 15th, 2023, from 1-5 PM at UGA’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music, this event is completely free of charge and designed to help middle and high school flutists prepare for All-State and college auditions.
Participants will learn from UGA flute professor Angela Jones-Reus about topics such as flute fundamentals, practice strategies, audition preparation, and more. Participants will also hear performances from current UGA flute students and learn about their experiences as music majors in a roundtable session. Selected participants will have the opportunity to work on the All-State etude with Professor Jones-Reus in a masterclass, where all students will attend.
The UGA Flute Day is open to middle and high school students grades 7-12. Click HERE for the SCHEDULE OF EVENTS and details. To register, please have the parents of your student complete the HHSOM Minors Authorization Form and have the student complete the Registration Form. Registration is due by October 1st.
Participants will learn from UGA flute professor Angela Jones-Reus about topics such as flute fundamentals, practice strategies, audition preparation, and more. Participants will also hear performances from current UGA flute students and learn about their experiences as music majors in a roundtable session. Selected participants will have the opportunity to work on the All-State etude with Professor Jones-Reus in a masterclass, where all students will attend.
The UGA Flute Day is open to middle and high school students grades 7-12. Click HERE for the SCHEDULE OF EVENTS and details. To register, please have the parents of your student complete the HHSOM Minors Authorization Form and have the student complete the Registration Form. Registration is due by October 1st.
2023 UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA HORN DAY

The University of Georgia Horn Studio is excited to invite your students to the 2023 UGA Horn Day! This will take place on Sunday October 15th, from 1-5pm at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music in Athens, GA. This event is completely FREE!
Students will start with a group warm-up that focuses on establishing good fundamentals, then participate in a mass horn choir reading which will culminate in a performance on the 4pm recital. Students will then separate into groups based on their level for a clinic on the All-State etude materials, featuring Dr. Jean Martin-Williams, Dr. James Naigus, and special guest clinician Achim Reus! The final concert will feature the clinicians, the UGA horn studio, and the participant horn choir!
The UGA Horn Day is open to all middle and high school students. CLICK HERE to see the schedule of events (and printable poster). To register, please follow the aforementioned link, or click the link below.
Registration form
Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. We hope to see your students at the 2023 Horn Day!
Middle School Announcements:
6th Grade Band:
- Fundraiser Delivery: All orders will arrive on Wednesday and must be picked up on that date by 5:30pm. A letter with fundraiser pickup details can be found HERE. The school does not allow us to use the cafeteria freezers to store items due to safety health codes so it is vital all items are picked up that day.
- Practice Logs: All 6th Grade Band students will be given a weekly practice log beginning this week and will continue weekly up until Christmas Break. Students should mark down any practice time outside of class throughout the week on this log with 100 minutes being the minimum expectation. Practice logs are due each Monday after being signed by a parent and students will submit a picture of the signed practice log through Canvas. We ask students to practice several days throughout the week to space out their practice time and we ask them to always take instruments home on Fridays because they will miss 3 days of possible practice if they leave it at school on Friday. Please help students set up regular practice days/times at home if possible.
7th Grade Band
- Fundraiser Delivery: All orders will arrive on Wednesday and must be picked up on that date by 5:30pm. A letter with fundraiser pickup details can be found HERE. The school does not allow us to use the cafeteria freezers to store items due to safety health codes so it is vital all items are picked up that day.
- Honor Band Practices: There will be Honor Band preparation practices for 7th/8th Grade students signed up to participate on Monday ONLY this week.
8th Grade Band
- Fundraiser Delivery: All orders will arrive on Wednesday, September 27th and must be picked up on that date by 5:30pm. A letter with fundraiser pickup details can be found HERE. The school does not allow us to use the cafeteria freezers to store items due to safety health codes so it is vital all items are picked up that day.
- 8th Grade Band Night Performance: We had a great time last Friday night at the CBHS Football game. We are looking forward to our 8th Grade Band students joining the Marching Bears next year as 9th Graders. Marching Band allows students to experience vast musical growth, enhanced work ethic habits, bus rides to football games, competitions, trips, and so much more!
- Honor Band Practices: There will be Honor Band preparation practices for 7th/8th Grade students signed up to participate on Monday ONLY this week.
- Marching Band Announcements: 8th Grade students participating in the CBHS Marching Band should always check the “Marching Bears Announcements” section of This Week in Band below to make sure you are aware of the happenings for marching band. Those details will not be included in the middle school announcements section.
High School Announcements:
- Fundraiser Delivery: All orders will arrive on Wednesday and must be picked up on that date by 5:30pm at the MIDDLE SCHOOL. A letter with fundraiser pickup details can be found HERE. The school does not allow us to use the cafeteria freezers to store items due to safety health codes so it is vital all items are picked up that day.
- Honor Band Practices: With the Fundraiser delivery and several Marching Band events happening this week, we will not have Honor Band Practices. However, we will have several opportunities over the next few weeks.
- UNG Symphonic Band invitation: All High School Band students are welcome to join the UNG Symphonic Band on the Gainesville Campus on Monday evenings from 7:00pm-9:00pm. The group meets in the Music Building (Room 111). This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to play with other musicians and make connections to UNG. We highly recommend this, especially for those students who may be interested in attending UNG. There is some paperwork that needs to be completed prior to arrival (all forms are online) HERE.
There are some other opportunities offered by UNG: 1.) All-State Band and Orchestra Clinic (Sat. Nov. 18th). There are registration deadlines, so please get these in if you are interested. Contact Dr. Ashely Jarrell for more information. - SCROLL DOWN AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE EVENT DATES ON THE CALENDAR! There is a list of events and a calendar. All parents and students need to mark these events on their calendar. There is no excuse for not knowing what's going on...please mark your calendars!
- Attendance: Every parent and student should read the ATTENDANCE POLICY. Please be reminded that if you see that you are going to be absent from class or rehearsal, please notify Mr. Cantrell so that we can plan accordingly for our rehearsals. It is recommended that you notify him well in advance (NOT THE DAY OF THE ABSENCE!). This is the link for the ABSENCE REQUEST FORM if you know you will be missing a rehearsal/event.

This year’s Furman Honor Band Symposium (for High School students) will be a concert band-based event. They anticipate seating two full bands; students will be placed in bands based on video audition (more information regarding video audition requirements will be distributed in early October to nominees selected).
Questions? Contact Dr. Sue Samuels at sue.samuels@furman.edu
Questions? Contact Dr. Sue Samuels at sue.samuels@furman.edu
MARCHING BEARS ANNOUNCEMENTS:
TUESDAY AND THURSDAY REHEARSALS (4pm-7pm)
We have two crucial rehearsal days on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. During these rehearsals, we will review this past week's performances and continue adding exciting elements to our show. It's essential for all band members to attend these rehearsals to ensure our continued progress.
We have two crucial rehearsal days on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. During these rehearsals, we will review this past week's performances and continue adding exciting elements to our show. It's essential for all band members to attend these rehearsals to ensure our continued progress.
AWAY FOOTBALL GAME - FRIDAY
This Friday, we be traveling to Cedar Shoals HS for the Varsity Football game. We will have a pre-game meal (Chick-fil-A) prior to our departure from CBHS. All details about this trip can be found HERE.
This Friday, we be traveling to Cedar Shoals HS for the Varsity Football game. We will have a pre-game meal (Chick-fil-A) prior to our departure from CBHS. All details about this trip can be found HERE.
Georgia Contest of Champions (East Jackson High School) - THIS Saturday (Competition 1)
We are thrilled to announce the Georgia Contest of Champions (Marching Band Competition) happening this Saturday, September 30th at East Jackson Comprehensive High School. To access all the essential details about the competition, please click HERE.
For your convenience, tickets can be pre-purchased for $12 through the S2 app HERE. or you can grab them for $15 at the gate. We wholeheartedly invite our families and supporters to join us as our talented students perform in their first competition of the year. Your support is invaluable to our ongoing success, and we look forward to seeing you there!
We are thrilled to announce the Georgia Contest of Champions (Marching Band Competition) happening this Saturday, September 30th at East Jackson Comprehensive High School. To access all the essential details about the competition, please click HERE.
For your convenience, tickets can be pre-purchased for $12 through the S2 app HERE. or you can grab them for $15 at the gate. We wholeheartedly invite our families and supporters to join us as our talented students perform in their first competition of the year. Your support is invaluable to our ongoing success, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Lake Hartwell Marching Contest (Hart Co. High School) - Saturday, October 21 (Competition 2)
We are excited to attend the Lake Hartwell Marching Contest on Saturday, October 21st. As soon as we get more information from the competition organizer, we will share it with you. Click HERE to see the latest information.
We are excited to attend the Lake Hartwell Marching Contest on Saturday, October 21st. As soon as we get more information from the competition organizer, we will share it with you. Click HERE to see the latest information.
Information about the Marching Bears can be found by clicking the button below. After arriving on the Marching Bears page, scroll to the bottom to find: the summer schedule, band camp info., full marching band schedule for the season, and other marching band resources for parents and students.
Rehearsals on Monday and Tuesday (see below) are critical and we need every student performer to attend these rehearsals in order to perform.
Student attendance at ALL rehearsals are required. Failure to communicate pre-arranged absences will result in penalty or withdrawal from the group. In order for us to be successful,
we need ALL STUDENTS at rehearsal ALL OF THE TIME!
we need ALL STUDENTS at rehearsal ALL OF THE TIME!
Marching Bears Weekly Practice Schedule
WEEKLY PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Mondays: Guard & Percussion Sectionals (4pm-7pm) / Winds Sections (TBA)
Tuesdays: FULL BAND (All Students) (4pm-7pm)
Thursdays: FULL BAND (All Students) (4pm-7pm)
Fridays: Football Game Performances
Saturdays: 9/16, 9/30, 10/21
Mondays: Guard & Percussion Sectionals (4pm-7pm) / Winds Sections (TBA)
Tuesdays: FULL BAND (All Students) (4pm-7pm)
Thursdays: FULL BAND (All Students) (4pm-7pm)
Fridays: Football Game Performances
Saturdays: 9/16, 9/30, 10/21

LOOKING AHEAD: These are the dates for our Christmas Parades. Be sure these dates are on your calendar!
- Flowery Branch Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 18th (more information coming as we get it).
- Gainesville Christmas Parade is scheduled for Sunday, December 3rd (more information coming as we get it).

Looking ahead to 2024:
Guard & Percussion Camp: June 24 - June 28 (All Colorguard and Percussion students must attend!)
Parent Meeting: July 14 (CBHS Theater - 5:00pm)
Marching Bears Pre-Camp Rehearsals: July 15-16, July 18-19 (All Marching Bears members must attend)
Marching Bears Band Camp: July 22 - July 26 (All Marching Bears members must attend)
*Please note that the above dates are required for full participation in the Marching Bears.
You can NOT miss any of those dates - NO EXCUSES!
Guard & Percussion Camp: June 24 - June 28 (All Colorguard and Percussion students must attend!)
Parent Meeting: July 14 (CBHS Theater - 5:00pm)
Marching Bears Pre-Camp Rehearsals: July 15-16, July 18-19 (All Marching Bears members must attend)
Marching Bears Band Camp: July 22 - July 26 (All Marching Bears members must attend)
*Please note that the above dates are required for full participation in the Marching Bears.
You can NOT miss any of those dates - NO EXCUSES!
CHEROKEE BLUFF BAND CORPORATE SPONSORS
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