BECOMING ACTIVE BECOMING AN AAN CTIVE MEMBER Volume V, Issue III
Spring 2015
S a v a n n a h Va n W h y, I o t a C la s s This year was my first year at college, and although I knew I would have new experiences and opportunities, I had no idea about many memorable experiences I would have. I knew I was going to be in the marching band, but I didn't know that I would walk into several bars with a bunch of friends and have no issues with the legality of me doing so. For anybody who's just as confused by that idea, as I would have been if I had been told last year, I took part in one of the “Bar Bands” in fall. I also had several other strange experiences that, when taken out of context, could raise more than just a few eyebrows. On the first day of Campus Band, I thought I would play clarinet because I didn't know any other instruments. A friend convinced me to try trumpet on that first day, but I quickly discovered that I still can't play a brass instrument. For several years, I had thought about trying bassoon or bass clarinet, but I hadn't gotten any opportunities to do so. I decided near the end of our first rehearsal to learn bassoon and play it in Campus Band. Since I hadn't ever mentioned wanting to try a second instrument to anyone, my family thought that I had decided on a whim to try an instrument that they couldn't even identify. During Spring Term, I was part of the Native American Style Flute Circle. The flute circle included more than 300 people and set a new world record. I decided to take my required "Cultural Diversity" course during spring term. I decided that the Native American Flute class (MUS108) would be more interesting to me than the other options which fit into my schedule. I thought the class would involve listening to Native American flute music and listening to lectures about Native American culture, especially music. Instead, I spent half of the classes learning Native American flute and the other half listening to lectures about Native American culture. Of course, the most interesting statement I've ever told my family was, "I'm joining a fraternity." Most of my family knew about honorary fraternities and sororities, but my grandmas only knew about the stereotype of legallyquestionable (or fully illegal) activities in some fraternities and sororities. Once my parents had eased my grandparents' concerns about me getting involved in a fraternity, they wanted to know if I had meant to say "sorority." I then had to explain that Kappa Kappa Psi was a co-ed fraternity associated with the band. My father didn't even know about unhoused fraternities, so he wanted to know how the housing was dealt with. Even if explaining that Kappa Kappa Psi was unhoused, co-ed, and not the old stereotype of a party-oriented fraternity was slightly complicated, my decision to take part in the initiation process and eventually become an active member in the Iota class was anything but complicated. All of my experiences involving music, both with Kappa Kappa Psi and in courses, have made me look forward to next year more than I would have otherwise.
Nathanial Patlovich, Iota Class Going through the Prospective member process for Kappa Kappa Psi was somewhat of a blind adventure. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to be faced with, nor did I know how the process would change me as I went through it. I did know one thing, however. I knew that whatever KKPsi was, and that I wanted to be a part of it. I’ve been playing clarinet for almost ten years now, and throughout that time I have gained an enormous respect for musicians and have actively tried to better the band programs that I’ve been a part of. Going through the process of education, I learned what KKPsi was really about, the principles on which it was founded, and what each member strives for. At the culmination of the process, I knew that this was where I belonged. These were my people, and this was my place in life: to be a member of Kappa Kappa Psi; to strive for the highest.
From a Prospective Member to an Active Miranda Raw, Iota Class Being an Oregon State University instrumental musician, there are multiple opportunities to get involved in the Beaver Nation music department. Options include playing in different ensembles and taking lessons, as well as being involved with the co-ed honorary band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi. During my second year of marching band, I found an interest to join Kappa Kappa Psi; I enjoy playing my instrument on a daily basis, wanted to meet new people, and to show peers that music students are not “geeks” but instead talented unique individuals. Now, having reflected on my experiences becoming an active in Kappa Kappa Psi, I can say I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of this great fraternity. Being an active in Kappa Kappa Psi involves completing three degrees. First degree occurs when people find interests in the fraternity and are considered, also known as “bid,” by an already active member during fall term. Once the invitation into the fraternity is accepted, they become a prospective member, or “P.M.” During winter term, the newly named prospective members go through the education process to fulfill second degree. Once a week over the course of the term, each PM learns the history and present day events of the fraternity. When winter term ends, the prospective members take a small test over what they have learned and what their goals are if they were to be an active. Once the exam is taken and reviewed by the chapter, the prospective member may then become an active
and is recognized in the third degree ceremony. While being a Prospective Member, I gained a lot of insight towards how musicians play a role in schools. What I understood most in the education process is that musicians have a meaningful purpose in life: they hold the natural talent to play a musical instrument with abilities to produce a variety of music creations to enlighten future audiences. I realized musicians are able to set a prime example on how to set achievable goals, provide support to peers, show leadership to others, and use communication skills effectively. The skills and attributes I have learned in degrees, in education, and by talking to my older brothers assist me in more than just music affiliated activities, but also in daily life. Now I am an active in Kappa Kappa Psi; it has been a fun experience so far by helping through service needed around campus, and talking to others about what the duties are while active in the fraternity. I have met many new people and continue to make good friends. To me, personally, being a part of this fraternity is a great relief from any outside stress and whenever I see other members, I am instantly put in a good mood, no matter what. Attending any meeting, event, or activity affiliated with this group makes me truly happy and helps me realize that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else to receive the enjoyment, and also the recognition for being a dedicated musician. Overall, I am so glad I made the decision to be a member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
GEOFF BISHOP
Bachelor of Science in Music Education Final Thoughts: KKPsi has been one of my proudest times throughout my university career. Getting to bond with my Eta class and then 40 other thetas was incredible. I can't express it enough how happy I am to have shared the past few years of my life with you all and I can't wait to come back and watch the chapter continue to grow. I love you all! AEA and MLITB
JAMIE MARIE GREGORY
GARRETT ELZIE
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Favorite memory of KKPsi: Theta's annual camping trip! Thank you to someone who has impacted my education: My big, Brian McFadden Final Thoughts: Follow your dreams. Do whatever makes you happy. Go get 'em.
Honors Bachelor of Arts in Music, with an option in Music Education, with a minor in Sociology Thank you to someone who has impacted my education: Thank you to Branden and Megan Hansen who have always been supportive of my education and have helped guide me in many ways, including encouraging me to become a member of Kappa Kappa Psi. Future Plans: I will be attending Oregon State as a graduate student starting in the fall of 2015 and will be working towards my Master of Arts in Teaching as well as obtaining my teaching license credentials. Favorite service project: My favorite service projects always involved the projects when we helped out at local schools in our community. One of my favorite service projects was during Wagon State Days in Eugene two years ago. So many brothers helped to repair, clean and paint stands, sort music, clean the room, and help out in general. Very fun and very productive! Final Kudos: Kudos to my Littles and the Bounty Hunters Family for being the best.
DANNY MITCHELL
Bachelor of Art in Music Education with a minor in Spanish Favorite memory of KKPsi: My very first district convention was amazing because I got to meet and hang with a lot of my fellow brothers! Thank you to someone who has impacted my education: I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Dr. Jason Silveira. Your endless wealth of knowledge has taught me so much and I have learned that you can never stop learning about how to be a better teacher! Thank you so very much! Future Plans: I will continue at Oregon State University for an additional year to receive a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. With this degree, I want to give back to the Salem/Keizer school district, my hometown, and teach middle school band! Final Kudos: A true kudos to the next generation of actives in the Theta Chapter! You are and will be great leaders of the OSU Bands. Stay in contact with the alumni and ask for help if you ever need it!
SARAH MONTAGUE
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry/Biophysics with minors in Chemistry and Business Entrepreneurship Thank you to someone who has impacted my education: I would like to thank my amazing big Allison Julander. She has become the closest person I've gotten to know through KKPsi and I am so happy that our relationship has grown from brothers to lifelong friends. I look forward to more of our hang outs and explorations of Portland together and just catching up about our lives over meals. I can't thank you enough for all of your kind and encouraging words. Final Thoughts: Thank you for letting me serve as your treasurer for this year! I had a great time and learned so much. I can't wait to see how the chapter will grow financially in the next couple of years. AEA
Favorite memory of KKPsi: States Days and Wagon Days my freshman year and to various camping trips! Thank you to someone who has impacted my education: Dr. Chapman and Dr. Carlson had a great impact on my music education and formation as a young adult. Future Plans: I will take a year to do youth ministry and teach music lessons and then travel the world! Favorite service project: I enjoyed working with the local school music classes and working the state festivals at La Sells. Final Kudos: Please stand up to receive your round of applause. Final Thoughts: I love you all! Thank you for wonderful memories of service and brotherhood! AEA and MLITB
JACQUELINE M. PORTILLO
STEPHEN NGUYEN
Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife and Minor in Music
Bachelor of Art in History Favorite memory of KKPsi: The day I was initiated and gained some many lovely Brothers. Thank you to someone who has impacted my education: My family is very adamant about furthering your education and without them I could not have come this far. I thank them for all they have done for me and all the faith they have in me. Future Plans: Over the Summer I will be interning at a Holocaust museum in Los Angeles then I hope to continue furthering my education. Favorite service project: I thoroughly enjoyed helping at middle / high school concerts. I like seeing the students facing filled with excitement before a concert and pride afterwards. It reminds me when I was their age. Final Kudos: Kudos to Don Jahne, the greatest big to ever big. Also, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and hope to see you all again meanwhile, strive for the highest.
2014-2015 School Year
OSU Band Trips October 4, 2014 A pep band of 50 marching band members travelled by plane to Boulder, Colorado to play at the Oregon State University vs. The University of Colorado football game. The Beavers won 36-31.
October 24, 2014 A pep band of 50 marching band members travelled by bus to Stanford, California to play at the Oregon State University vs. Stanford University football game. The Beavers lost 38-14.
March 6, 2015 The Rhythm and Beavs “Beavs Traveler” pep band traveled to Seattle, Washington by bus to play at the PAC 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Beavers played the University of Colorado and lost 68-65.
March 11, 2015 The Rhythm and Beavs pep band traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada by plane to play at the PAC 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Beavers played the University of Colorado and lost 78-71.
March 20-23, 2015 Oregon State hosted the NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional Tournament. A 29-person pep band played at both games. On March 20, the Beavers played against South Dakota State University and won 74-62. On March 22, the Beavers played against Gonzaga University and lost 76-64.
May 20-26, 2015 The Oregon State Wind Ensemble travelled to Hawai'i for their 2015 tour.
Long before the massive present-day Oregon State University Marching Band, there was the quaint Cadet Band that was established in 1891. 100 years ago on 14 March 1905, a meeting was called by the leader of the college bands where the first request for monetary aid for the band was presented to the Student Assembly of Chapel Oregon Agricultural College. Two days later, another meeting was held proposing how to finance the Cadet Band. Up to this point, the members financed their own musical endeavors and made due with what they had. All previous efforts to provide aid to the band had failed and the President of the College lacked interest in the matter. The Student Assembly moved to raise 2,000 dollars to properly equip the Cadet Band by electing them to participate in the Lewis & Clark fair, where they would participate in competitive military drills for a grand prize. To ensure optimal utilization of funds, it was clarified that only the Commandant Chief Musician or the Commandant of the Cadets could authorize the use of the funds. In the end of the meeting, the Student Assembly fully supported providing funds to the Cadets and thus, funding for the music program begun. The repercussions of this seemingly minuscule event can still be seen 100 years later with the current Oregon State University music program. The actions taken by the roughly 30 piece military band of Chapel Oregon Agricultural College created the foundation of which the 200 + Oregon State University Marching Band has been built. We owe a great deal to the student assembly of 1905 because music is truly the greatest of arts and we must strive to protect its virtue. 1909 OAC Cadet Band
2014 Oregon State University Marching Band
Kade Gerlach, Iota Class 2015-2016 Historian I have had conversation with some staff members at OSU’s Special Collections and Archives in the library through projects in the history department, and they are always eager to tell you how much of Oregon State’s history is tucked away within their corridors. During a visit for a history club meeting, I became curious of the music history here at OSU, something I was eager to explore in KKΨ. To trace the story of our bands, their formation and changes, projects and travels, the evolution of our fight song and alma mater, seemed all a great and colorful opportunity.
I was surprised that KKΨ had no document outlining the history of OSU’s music program. Looking at the constitution, the focus of the position rests on bookkeeping and social records than research and discussion of local music history. Coming out of the experience with Bob Schapper’s history project, my goal is to bring a fundamental change to the role of historian, not only within the chapter, but also within the music community. The aim of this new project is to address local music history and provide a record and analysis of events. Given that this is a role and responsibility that is being largely created from scratch (though Bob’s work will undoubtedly be a tremendous help), I decided that the first step would be to build a reference guide. The purpose of the reference guide is not to begin historical analysis, but rather to help provide a base knowledge that can then be used as a jumping board for further research. With help from the chapter, we will establish a time outside of meetings to pore over documents in the archives, recording important dates and events with their source into a holding document, accessible to everyone. From there, our committee will discuss our findings and determine what is relevant and what can be discarded. This will help maintain an appropriate level of detail without flooding the guide with information. As for the guide itself, I intend to have this document in at least working order by the end of the year. It will contain a broad overview of our music history in an easily accessible and well-formatted form, and equally important, will be sourced appropriately. This document, with approval from the president and chapter as needed, will then be under the sole responsibility of the elected historian. It will be available to view, but in order to maintain its integrity as a reliable document, will only be editable by the historian and potentially an appointed advisor. When this project has been completed to an acceptable level, we as a chapter will be able to look back at our history and hold meaningful conversation, which will be invaluable to our community.
DR. DANA BIGGS DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC BANDS
As many of you know, I am an alumnus of the University of Kentucky and a pretty big college basketball fan as a result. Kentucky had a fairly decent season this year on the hardwood, making it to the Final Four and ultimately finishing with a record of 38-1. While the result is not what Kentucky fans were hoping for, it was still a season for the record books. As the season was unfolding, my attention (and excitement) kept building with each and every game. I started hunting for as much media on the team as I could find, which was something I used to always do as a student in the band. I was consuming as many articles, pump-up videos, analyses and highlights as I could find on a weekly basis. During the season, I was reminded of a book that the Kentucky coach, John Calipari, had written the year before entitled Players First: Coaching from the Inside Out. I decided to get the book for a few reasons: 1) I was consuming everything related to Kentucky Basketball because of the season they were having, 2) I have always been drawn to books such as this, where people in leadership positions give insight into the secrets of their success, and 3) the title really jumped off the page to me. My colleague, mentor, and friend, Allan McMurray, who is now the Director of Bands emeritus at the University of Colorado, has an instructional video entitled Conducting from the Inside Out. Obviously, with all the connections to everything I know and love, it was a must read for me. Whether it is coaching, conducting, or doing anything “from the inside out,” that phrase implies looking to one’s self, or within the group, for purpose or direction. Both of these outstanding leaders, while in completely different circles, had come up with the same idea about leadership. Great leaders must first look within themselves, and the individuals they are leading, and ask if there is anything we can do differently to be the best we can be. All the great leaders I have known, or have read about, live by the rule that when something goes wrong, the first thing they do is look within themselves and ask, “Is there something I could have done differently?” rather than placing blame on outside forces. In terms of basketball, Kentucky is a special place, having had the number one recruiting class in the nation for about 5 years in a row, with this year’s team fielding nine (9) McDonald’s All-American players. This requires a bit of a different approach to coaching than what you find in many other places around the country. Calipari talks in his book about not recruiting players that want to just show what they can do, but instead who want to learn how to be the best they can be, both on the court and in life. He understands that all his players ultimately plan to move on to the NBA, and he wants to teach them what it takes to help them achieve that goal. However, the players must understand that if they want playing time, they must be willing to work hard and more importantly learn to be great people on and off the court first. Upon examining what he teaches, I was drawn to what Calipari calls the three pillars of the Kentucky program; they are industriousness, servant leadership, and kind-heartedness. Industriousness is working hard. Any successful organization must have hard working members. These members are those who are honest and have the integrity to know that they must work, and know not to do the minimum to just get by. They build the habit of always understanding that, and therefore knowing how to be the best. People like this actually enjoy labor. They understand that it is not just practice that makes perfect; it is perfect practice that makes perfect. You must perform to the best of your ability at all times, not just when the spotlight is on. Servant leadership is something that we actually began talking about in leadership camp this past year. Servant leadership is both a philosophy and a set of practices. Traditionally, leadership has been thought of as being an exercise of power. However, a servant leader puts the needs of others first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. There is an ancient Chinese passage that ranks the different levels of quality leadership. “The highest type of ruler is one whose existence the people are barely aware. Next comes one whom they love and praise. Next comes one who they fear. Next comes one who they despise and defy.” It is Calipari’s goal to teach his players to be great teammates and to care more about the other person than himself. This is what lies at the heart of servant leadership.
Having a kind heart is trying to bring joy to at least one person every day. According to Calipari, “Being a player [at Kentucky] isn’t just about playing basketball. There comes a great responsibility when you play for [Kentucky]. [It] means taking time to sign autographs, taking pictures and spending time with fans, meeting a child or going to an elderly home. It’s doing different things that take 30 seconds that changes people’s lives.” It is interesting to me that in my two years at OSU I have seen many great examples of these three pillars at work. I have always said that this is the best marching band that I have ever directed, and a lot of that is because of students who live by these three pillars, whether they realized it or not. Can you and I both improve in these areas, though? Of course we can! I believe that in general the culture here lends itself to industriousness. Living in Corvallis, a relatively small town, I have noticed that people work hard. It might be that there are not as many distractions in a small town, but one thing I have noticed is that people are always working. The key for us in the band program is to maintain that high level of commitment to work, even when no one is looking. I feel we have a decent size core of students that are always asking, “How can I help?” It would be my goal to expand that core of students who “enjoy the labor” to the majority of our program. Last year we had 51 student leaders. That is one-fifth of the total program. One of the things I love most about that is that you, the students, are taking ownership of the program. This is your band, and I want you all to feel like you make a difference, as student leaders or not. The band would just not be the same without each and every one of you. While we have talked about servant leadership, I don’t feel like we are 100% there yet. To me, I feel like the higher up in the leadership ranks you move, the more you must sacrifice yourself; what is best for you, and your own desires. As Spiderman had to learn, “With great power comes great responsibility.” We all must learn that the only way you create success and joy in your life is by doing things for other people. If you want to be a leader in the band program or any organization, your job is to help others be happy and succeed. When it comes to kind-heartedness, are you someone that is always spreading rumors and saying negative things about people, or are you someone that is always trying to look at things from the other person’s perspective? Do you try to be understanding of the other person’s situation and feelings, or are you the type of person that feels like they know more than everyone else and must always tell everyone what they need to do differently? Are you someone that only takes care of #1, or are you someone that looks for ways to take care of others and to lift them up? In my two years here at OSU, I have seen many examples of both sides of the coin. There is a quote that says, “Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating.” It is my goal to have everyone look out for each other and love one another. I learned a long time ago as a director how every single person in the band is important. It takes everyone to make up the group and simply being a member in the group should guarantee love. Now if I could just learn everyone’s names! While I have seen great examples of these three pillars, and unfortunately poor examples as well, I know that none of us are perfect. I suppose that is what it means to love someone; you are willing to care for someone, imperfections and all. I love being your director at OSU! We have so much for which to be proud and the future looks even brighter! You all have heard me say how special it is to be in this band program and to get to do what we do. It is the sum of all of you in our program that makes it so special. Vince Lombardi, the winning coach of the first Super Bowl, was quoted as saying; “The price of success is hard work, dedication, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” My ultimate goal as your director is that you leave here having made the three pillars of industriousness, servant leadership, and kind-heartedness a part of who you are and a part of who we are as a program. Go Beavs!
2 Dudes, 7 Trumpets
On Saturday, May 3rd, Danny Mitchell and Geoff Bishop performed their senior trumpet recital, titled "2 Dudes, 7 Trumpets," in the Memorial Union Lounge. Danny and Geoff each performed four solo pieces and one final piece with the trumpet choir. My favorite piece Danny played was "Nightsongs" by Richard Peaslee. I enjoyed the themes and styles woven throughout the piece. This piece also added to the count of seven trumpets as it is written for trumpet and flugelhorn with piano. My second favorite of Danny's pieces was the lively "Badinage" by Eugene Bozza. This piece was short, with upbeat call and response passages between the trumpet and piano. There was definitely a melody, but it seemed to be highly focused on the technical aspects associated with playing shortly and crisply. The other pieces Danny played were "Sonata in D major" and "Sonata for Trumpet and Piano." Geoff seemed to stick with the more lively pieces in general. He also played a range of trumpets with varying tone qualities. My favorite of his pieces was "Boutade" by Pierre Gabaye. This, similar to "Badinage," had a clear melody but also seemed like a technical challenge for the performer. My second favorite of Geoff's was the "Concert Scherzo," another short, lively piece. The other pieces he played were "Trumpet Concerto in E-flat minor� and "Sarabande et Rigaudon." The final piece of the concert was "Fantasia for Seven Trumpets." I have wanted to watch the trumpet choir perform all year and continued to miss their concerts for my own concert commitments. It was nice to finally hear them on what some of the performers assured me was their best piece. The piece, led by Jay Chen, was long and had evolving themes throughout. There seemed to be different passages where each player had a chance to stand out and lead the group in some way. Overall, Danny and Geoff put on a wonderful recital. It was a fun twist on the idea of a single instrument recital to have them switch trumpets between and in the middle of performances.
A Different Point of View of the State Band Competition Miranda Raw, Iota Class
I volunteered at the OSAA Band/Orchestra Competition held at LaSells Stewart Center. I chose to volunteer while my high school was performing, so I could watch them. This opportunity made me realize that being a musician is truly a gift and a talent, and should be greatly honored. I was a member of that band as an elite flute and piccolo player in both Symphonic and Jazz Band for four straight years. I enjoyed every minute being with the group. Performing for numerous audiences, creating friendships, reaching goals I never thought possible were some of the many memories I still cherish. Those great moments, including those endured since fifth grade got me to where I am today. Now, as a college student, having the ability to play a musical instrument has never felt so important to me. Music is my minor, I am an active member of the honorary band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, and I play in as many ensembles as I am able to with Exercise Sport Science as my major. The most important thing to grasp out of all this is that I still have the same desire to play a musical instrument as I did when I first picked up a flute at 10 years old. Nobody from my old high school band knew I was going to be at the competition, not even the director. My intentions to be there was to say hello to the younger students I was in the band with 2 years ago, but I especially wanted to surprise the director. My job at the event was to hold the door as the bands were escorted to the sight-reading room after completing their performances. Before my high school performed, it was really interesting to listen to the competition that they were up against and what repertoire they chose. No doubt it was a tough competition. They finally performed. Their efforts paid off as they received second place. Aside from hearing the fantastic news, the most memorable moment from this day, which I will always remember, was when my old director was completely surprised by my attendance at the competition. After they completed their performance, at the end of the line out the door came my director through the doors, I told him “Nice Job.� The reaction of surprise he had is just too priceless for words knowing that I, as an alumni from the band, was able to witness history made and seeing my director happier than I can ever remember, Being at state is the biggest goal in high school activities. College students have their thoughts about what high school was like for them. For me though, having been enrolled in a smaller school, then transitioning into a large university, and then having the chance to see something I did two years prior, really made me remember why music is so important to students. Music students and faculty should be honored and acknowledged because over time, the enjoyment of being involved with creating music is greatly grown or progressively lost.
THE PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE By Gordon
Truong, Iota Class
Today, I had the opportunity to witness a couple of my fraternal brothers perform their percussion concert in room 202 of Benton Hall. I thought that the performance went well. What was astounding was the fact that
one of our brothers, Jade Hails, conducted the first piece, I must applaud him for his work and efforts in his part of the performance. Additionally, he is a music education major. I think that Jade will be a great band director (or Director of Percussion). The third and fourth pieces were my favorite. The third piece involved many drums; it was a very dynamic piece since it had some softer, quieter moments. The fourth piece was also my favorite because it was a complete contrast from the third piece; it exclusively featured keyboarded instruments, (such as the marimba,
xylophone, and vibes). Even though the performance was relatively short (about 35-40 minutes), I thought that the percussion ensemble had done well. Also, this was a great experience to base my percussion performance report on that I have to do for my percussion tech class.
Corvallis-OSU Symphony Concert May 19, 2015 Jade Hails, Iota Class
I am sure that everyone who went will all agree with what I have to say: The CorvallisOSU Symphony concert was not only amazing, but also a great example of what members of our chapter and music department are capable of. The concert, under the direction of Dr. Marlan Carlson, featured two pieces by Shostakovich: The first movement of his Fourth Symphony and his entire Fifth Symphony. Many of our fellow brothers participated in this concert and each one was a crucial part in the performance. From the sweet melodies in the flutes and piccolos to the brass fanfares of the trumpets and everything in between, nearly everything was spot on and served as an example of great musicianship within our school and chapter. The music of Shostakovich is a challenge for every player, the strings often had very difficult passages to perform and many of the other instruments dealt with moments of utter isolation with solos and exposed passages being passed around from section to section. The intensity of the performance never broke either, the audience was captivated by the softest of passages and blown away by the loud, bombastic sections. At the end of the performance, under the exhaustion, fatigue, and sweat you could see the pride beaming from the performers as they stood and received their well-deserved applause. Each and every
musician on that stage should feel proud about the performance they gave, because it was one for the COSU Symphony record books.
This year, the Majestic Community Theater put on a production of Les Misérables. The show consisted entirely of volunteers within the Corvallis and Albany community. The directors, cast, crew, and orchestra were all volunteers who put thousands of hours into this production. The director was Mary Jeanne Reynales, she has directed previous shows at the Majestic in the past. The musical director was Nathan Boal, he has also been involved in other Majestic shows. He is a saxophone instructor at Oregon State and often performs with the OSU-Corvallis Symphony Orchestra and the OSU Wind Ensemble. Multiple brothers performed in this fantastic production, including Danny Mitchell, Daniel Malmuth, Jade Hails, Sarah Montague, Bob Schapper, and myself. Danny, Daniel, Jade, Bob, and I played in the pit orchestra, while Sarah took to the stage as a cast member. Last year, I played tuba in the pit for The Sound of Music, and when Nathan asked me if I would play tuba this year in Les Mis, my answer was an immediate and enthusiastic “YES!” Once the part arrived, we found out that it was a split part between trombone and tuba. I used to be quite good at trombone, so I said I would still like to play. I started practicing my trombone to build up my chops, and then after the first rehearsal, I discovered that the part was almost entirely trombone, with very little tuba. This gave me a great opportunity to improve my trombone skills. At first, I was definitely not proficient at the trombone. I had not touched it in over a year, so the first few rehearsals in January were rough. After quite a bit of practice, I had gotten much better and was able to play all of the notes in my part. The show premiered on May 8, 2015 and it was groundbreaking. The Majestic sold out every single show, and there was a waitlist line outside of the theater every single day, so that they could double sell tickets if someone didn’t show up for their seats. In the end, over 4,000 tickets were sold. The show was so incredible. I am still amazed at how talented the community members here in Corvallis are. Being in the pit orchestra, I performed in over half of the performances, while the other trombone player covered the rest. I was lucky enough to be able to go see the performance on one of my nights off, and it was magical. Being able to see the play on stage was such an incredible experience for me, since I hold this musical very dear to me. The most amazing part of this performance was how much passion and heart everyone put into the production. On the last night, emotions were running high for everyone. The cast, crew, and orchestra members had all put our hearts and souls into the production, and everyone was incredibly proud of the production we had put on. Being a part of this performance meant a lot to me. Being a part of something so magical and so monumental for our community was a great experience that I will remember for a long time. Amy Hodges, Theta Class
Photo by Scobel Wiggins
Annual Theta Camping Trip
and are the three pillars on which the high ideals of Kappa Kappa Psi are founded. Through , we can serve communities and band programs. Through , we support our peers and those we come in contact with as they experience the highest and lowest points of life. However, it seems to me as though there is not a very clear idea of the role of in the Fraternity. Scattered ideas about are presented by examples, but it seems that the exact purpose of music in the brotherhood is unclear. Is it purely a tool to be used, or a simple prerequisite to inclusion and participation in the chapter? Is it simply the beneficiary of service and brotherhood? Is it one of the goals that we strive toward? I believe that a discussion on the could only strengthen the goals, ideals and purpose of each brother. The role of starts with . As put in the article in the Spring Edition of the 2012 Podium, " Ψ: ", musicianship is not a universally understood or agreed upon skill. Author Rod Whiteman defines musicianship generally as the This functional definition makes defining the role of music in the fraternity a more manageable task.
The second purpose of KKΨ gives one example of the role of musicianship in the chapter. Outstanding musicians should be if they should choose that role. Indeed, musicianship plays a big role in the selection of prospective members, and is certainly in consideration throughout the education process. However, this purpose seems to gained before prospective members ever enter the chapter.
The fourth purpose of KKΨ also addresses the place of music and musicianship in the chapter, but only very generally and briefly. I interpret as a goal for both the Ψ, as well as the chapter It is the responsibility of the chapter to use the musicianship of those in and out of the chapter to , By doing this, we are able to embrace and , for only music that is performed with the intent of the highest level of musicianship can for the college or university band program. Finally, the role of
Ψ
contains a few statements that factor into the discussion about the in KKΨ.
First off, service is a servant and a tool to
inherent in the college or university
band program. In this sense,
. This is an
important role, and I feel as if it is the clearest role of music to the Theta Chapter. Time and time again, I hear brothers talking about "
, or being able to
.
However, I do not think this is the only role that music and musicianship plays in our chapter. Music also acts to
within the chapter. In this way, music continues to but even more in the
This is, without
doubt, the greatest reason that I personally play music. Playing music with another person or people
of those playing, whether or not they
are in the brotherhood. Finally, the creed states, This statement, to me, feels like a very personal belief, which we must treat with care and humility. As the patron art of KKΨ, music is the art that we, as an organization, have agreed to hold above all others. However, there are other arts that other people and groups hold dear, and it is my belief that we Over my years as an active member, I have grown as a member of KKΨ, and I have grown as a musician. As a member of KKΨ,
Music has
always been a huge part of my life. I hope that, by thinking about the interaction of music and the brotherhood, we can
Non-music majors in Kappa Kappa Psi
Nathanial Patlovich, Iota Class Being a member of Kappa Kappa Psi as a non-music major is certainly an adventure, but by no means is it a bad one. It provides me a way to serve the band program that I love and cherish while at the same time pursuing a major that is intellectually stimulating to me. I love that I am able to be actively engaged with the music program at OSU while not majoring in music. I believe that music is about broadening ones horizons, and that is exactly what I’m doing. I am studying mechanical engineering and at the same time, working with some of the most talented musicians I’ve ever met. I am honored to be a part of this distinguished organization and to be working with all of these wonderful people. I cannot imagine a world without musical expression, and I believe that KKPsi is a very important part of providing quality music and musicians to the world in which we live.
Andrea Hollopeter, Theta Class Having started out as a Music Major and ending up in Anthropology, I know what its like to be involved in Kappa Kappa Psi from both sides of the fence. During my time as a music major, my life almost completely revolved around music. I would wake up, attend my music classes, practice for a few hours a day, go to my one nonmusic class, sleep, and repeat. Kappa Kappa Psi felt like another way to enhance my undergraduate career as a musician: an outlet to give back to something I was already so heavily involved in. For a while, I really enjoyed my schedule. However, after a few months I started to feel weighed down by my music-intensive schedule. I realized that although I love music, perhaps I don't love it enough to make it my life. Towards the end of Spring Term of my freshman year, I took the plunge and switched out of Music and into Anthropology. Despite my change in major, I still participate in Marching Band, perform in ensembles, and participate in activities led by Kappa Kappa Psi. Music has become less of a chore and more of a beloved hobby. Being involved in Kappa Kappa Psi gives me the opportunity to still be apart a part of a program I love, and allows me to give back to something so dear to me.
Non-music majors in Kappa Kappa Psi
If there is anything I’ve learned from being in band for 8 years, it’s that a musician is not limited by his or her knowledge of music. Sure, a musician can certainly improve with knowledge of music theory, but just because one is ignorant of the circle of fifths does not mean they contribute less to their ensemble. Let me give you an example. My nephew, Jace, who is actually nine months older than I am, picked up a guitar in the summer of 2012. I really did not expect him to hold on to it very long, considering he was diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school. He was not one to stick with any sort of hobby for longer than a couple of months. Furthermore, he could not read music. He had never learned, and he was not getting lessons for guitar, so instead he improvised, learning tabs and chords and then backtracking to learn how to understand the 5 lines and 4 spaces. Nearly everyone, myself included, put down the idea of Jace as a musician as a pipe dream. Fast forward to summer 2014. Jace, now part of his own rock band, put on an hour and a half show before his high school graduation. And it rocked. When Jace started, I had already been playing trumpet for 7 years, and I thought I was quite the musician. I knew my circle of fifths, I could sight read to my heart’s desire, and I put myself above my nephew in terms of musicianship. But that concert taught me that I was being a bit too proud. Someone who couldn’t tell the difference between treble and bass clef walked on stage and blew the faces off the audience. I’d like to think that this is what it’s like contributing to Kappa Kappa Psi as a Mechanical Engineer. Some of my brothers can transpose in their heads, compose and arrange their own music, and identify the musical period of a piece just by listening to it. But me? I come to rehearsal, I play my heart out, and I put every ounce of energy I have into improving the band, the music we play, and the image we portray. Brothers like me need not be ashamed of how little they might know about music. It’s not about the knowledge, it’s about the effort. Not to mention that I can bring my own type of knowledge to the table. Every brother has many influences and experiences, and each one is no less applicable to music. Leadership skills, physics and sound mechanics, and visual arts are just the tip of the iceberg. Although “strength of materials” might never be valuable to musical ensembles, I’ll be right here when it is, ready to explain why brass dents so easily. Jedd Courage, Iota Class
Non-music majors in Kappa Kappa Psi
To me, being in Kappa Kappa Psi as a non-music major has given me a new perspective on the benefits of music in life. Before joining the Theta chapter this year, my view on music was that it has always been a welcoming community. I moved schools a lot as a kid, but wherever I went, I always found my place in band. I found friends and instructors that shared the same passion for music. This passion drove us to want to be better musicians, to be a better band, and to want to strive for higher goals. Initially, when I first showed interest in Kappa Kappa Psi, I didn’t know what to exactly expect. The first time I had heard of Kappa Kappa Psi was my sophomore year of high school, when we had volunteer instructors from the Psi chapter for our band camp that summer. They explained to us what they did as a fraternity and their role. With three years left of high school, I wasn’t really paying attention to anything associated to college. Fast forward to freshman year of college: I was like many freshmen, first time on their own and five hundred miles away from home. I didn’t know much about what activities I wanted to get involved in but band was definitely on the top of the list. When I met Dr. Chapman, it was winter of my senior year of high school and he was an adjudicator at a music festival. He told me that some of the students involved in the music ensembles were of different majors other than music. I was psyched because I wanted to continue music in college and participate in ensembles on campus, even as an exercise and sports science major. After getting used to college and trying out new things, I realized that there was definitely more to explore and do. When fall term of sophomore year rolled around, there was an announcement for individuals interested in finding out more about Kappa Kappa Psi. I decided to give it a try. From that first step of being a prospective member to becoming an active member, I was able to learn more about our fraternity and our role in the community. By participating in events in the community as well as with other chapters, I was able to spend time with my fellow brothers. Over the course of this term, I came to realize that it doesn’t matter what your major is as a KKPsi member. If you love music and you want to Majors in Theta Chapter be a part of it as we grow, then KKPsi is the place to be. My brothers here at Theta chapter exemplify the community that I described earlier. I am happy to be a part of this brotherhood and to see where it takes me in the future.
Christine Daquinag, Iota Class
On April 1, 2015, South Albany High School’s music and cafeteria building was burned down by an arsonist. Nearly everything was destroyed in the four alarm fire, including personal and school instruments, sheet music and books, choir robes, music stands, lockers, and chairs. The Theta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi held a trivia night fundraiser on June 3, 2015. The event was free with a recommended donation of at least five dollars. The night consisted of trivia questions about geography, history, music, art., and other topics. Teams of 3-4 members competed. All of the donations were donated to the South Albany High School Music Program.
Theta Chapter would like to thank Joey Ingledue for his enthusiasm and service to the Oregon State Band Program. His contributions are honored by the Cymbal of Enthusiasm Award. One of the cymbals that Joey marched with was engraved for him to keep, and one will remain at OSU as an annual band award for enthusiasm in his name. Thank you, Joey!
Conduct Us Members of the Theta Chapter played at the Corvallis Farmer’s Market for a “Conduct Us” fundraiser. People came to conduct their favorite pep tunes.
Photo by Li Zhenliang
The first ever Benton Hall Crawl was held in Benton Hall. This was a new fundraiser that allowed donors and visitors to walk through Benton Hall to listen to various ensembles. The ensembles that performed were the Percussion Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Clarinet Mafia, Saxophone Quartet, Bassoon Choir, Trombone Choir, Trumpet Choir, and Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble. This event gave visitors a chance to see the music department in action, as well as enjoy complimentary food and drinks. Dr. Chris Chapman put this event together as a fundraiser and event for the Music Department, and hopefully it will become an annual event that helps the Music Program grow.
Theta members played in the Spring Spike volleyball competition
When we arrived at Kathy’s school, we were met with a fairly clean room. Kathy had a small list of things for us to do such as dusting and organizing the instrument room, organizing the solo and ensemble music library, and cleaning and repainting music stands. In the instrument room we definitely encountered some dust, but also some really interesting old recording equipment and some fun percussion instruments. In the solo and ensemble library there was a big pile of donated music to organize. It was really fun to sort through and see some older pieces that would definitely provide the students with some fun but challenging material. While some of us were organizing and dusting inside, others had taken the stands outside to clean up and give a new paint job. All the stands got repainted black and then we painted a white cougar paw on each one with a stencil that someone had made. As more people showed up after playing at the farmer’s market, we found other odd jobs to do. French horns were re-strung, bass drums were tuned, and an old tuba got a little loving care. Though dusting and painting might not be everyone’s favorite type of service, it was clear that Kathy appreciated the work we did. She surprised us all with pizza and soda at the end of the day!
DON JAHNE
JESSICA LIEN
JADE HAILS
President
Vice President
Director of Service
DAVID NEILL
SARAH MASSEY
CHRISTINE DAQUINAG
Treasurer
Corresponding Secretary
Recording Secretary
SHANNON WEBB
KADE GERLACH
SARAH MOORE
Alumni Secretary
Historian
Parliamentarian