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To The Brotherhood
Solid Gold Sound'' Celebrates UCLA's Golden Anniversary
by Steve Watanabe
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It is perhaps fitting that on UCLA's 50th anniversary "The Solid Gold Sound" of the UCLA band is at its very best. It is certainly the largest band in the school's fifty year history. In 1929, a southern branch of the University of California was founded here in Los Angeles. In its 50 years here, UCLA has grown considerably both in size and prestige. The fifty year history of UCLA has also seen the growth of one of the finest band programs.
The golden anniversary celebration began in late spring. With many dignitaries on hand, the band participated in the flag raising ceremony of the golden year flag. Activities resumed in the fall with a special evening outdoor presentation of UCLA's fifty year history integrated with a spectacular light show. The band was present to perform at the presentation. This was all followed up by a fireworks display. The band also took part in a 50 year "monster piano extravaganza". Twelve pianos were set up on the Royce Hall stage and forty of the nation's finest pianists were here to perform. The band joined the pianists in the finale, marching on stage playing "Stars and Stripes Forever".
The highlight of our summer was an appearance at the annual nationwide Chili Cook-off which was held on Santa Catalina Island, a resort island located off the southern California coast. We not only enjoyed the festivities, but we were able to sample some of the fine chili. Mmmm.
Our band camp concluded in late September. We have over 120 new band members, which means we are now 300 strong. 306 to be exact. This is by far the largest band in our school's history. The popularity of the band has increased tremendously due to its frequent appearances on and off-campus. The band is also the main catalyst in drumming up school spirit. The biggest challenge of operating a band this large is getting it to play and perform smoothly. Because of the fine leadetship of Director Kelly and Assistant Director Brian Goforth this year's band can live up to the name of "The Solid Gold Sound".
A huge band means more work for Psi and Epsilon Kappa Chapters. We are off to a fine start and are attempting to make this year the best year for our chapters and the entire band program. We began our band camp activities by providing each member of the band with name plates. This served the purpose of getting the band members and band staff acquainted. We also held our annual KK'IJFTBL band barbecue, which was a great success. Everyone was quite satisfied. Believe me, it isn't easy to feed three hundred hungry band members! Other activities for this year include many special gigs. We often perform for clubs and parties of celebrities. This is not only an easy way to earn money, but a good way to represent the UCLA band as a whole. Both Psi and Epsilon Kappa are in the process of forming pledge classes and enthusiasm is contagious. By being enthusiastic in serving the band we are able to attract many candidates. This is evidenced by the considerable growth of our chapter memberships in the past few years.
Public appearances for the UCLA band include its annual trip to the San Francisco Bay. There it will perform at both the UCLA-Stanford game and at a San Francisco 49' ers football.game. This will be followed by an appearance at a Los Angeles Ram game. There is no other appearance, however, that would satisfy "The Solid Gold Sound" than a trip to the Rose Bowl on Tanuary 1. It would be most fitting for UCLA's golden year.
KK'I!r • TBL • KK'I!r • TBL • KK'I!r • TBL • KK'I!r • TBL • KK'I!r • TBL • KK'I!r • TBL •
To the Brotherhood • • •
by Dr. David L. Oakley KK'I!r National Vice-President
We have recently _ concluded a very satisfying national convention. The house is in order and the fraternity is solvent in fiscal and operational matters and seems unified in its goals. The Vice President is charged with expansion. Not only does this mean new chapters, but it means trying to re-colonize at schools where the chapters have gone defunct. It means a great deal of work for a lot of persons who must be dedicated to the purposes of Kappa Kappa Psi and who can visualize beyond tradition to new roles that the Fratetnity can assume. One of these new roles, that of alumni chapters, began to crystalize into a workable form at the past convention. At UCLA we began to ask the definition of a band and at Georgia Tech we asked what an active is. In short whom does Kappa Kappa Psi serve and to what end?
It was my pleasure as your SecretaryTreasurer to see the indebtedness disappear under the skillful national office management of Tom Sirridge. Now as the Vice-President, whose concern is expansion, I would like to see the reactivation of inactive chapters and the development of new chapters. But first we've got to do a little market research. We must understand the factors that seem to accompany strong chapters and try to identify the factors that seem to be associated with weak chapters. Accordingly, I began with a questionnaire -which was sent to your chapter with the Newsnotes from National. It will be very important to the expansion program if we can get as much data as possible. Please, Brother Chapter President, make sure you return your form. It is a measuring device that can be most helpful in guiding me, the dis· trier governors, and each of you when we come to the task of understanding the potential a school may have for a chap· ter of Kappa Kappa Psi.
To each of you I wish a most produc· rive and enjoyable biennium.
Fraternally, Dr. David L. Oakley National Vice-President,
Kappa Kappa Psi
Edited by Wanda F. McElrath (Epsilon Xi), TB2:
Before we get into full detail about the band movement, allow us to get a closer look at the man of whom our topic is centered. Who is Dr. Yoder? Dr. Paul Yoder has been a member of Kappa Kappa Psi since his student days at the University of North Dakota and is now an honorary member of three other chapters. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa national scholastic society and Phi Beta Mu, National Bandmasters fraternity. He is an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, the Women Band Directors National Association and the Japanese Band Directors Association ..
In addition, Dr. Yoder has been a composer and arranger of band music for the past forty years. His first visit ro Troy State was in 1947 when he directed the Spring Music Festival developed by G. A. Stephenson, who was head of the Music Department at that time. He returned several times to the campus for this festival. Beginning in 1971, he became a part-time member of the Music Faculty in Troy at the invitation of Dr. John Long and has visited the campus at least once each quarter since then.
For the past several years, he has traveled extensively and visited bands in Europe and in the Far East. He is an honorary member of the Japanese Band Directors Association and one of the Vice-Presidents of the International Band Organization known as CIS PM (Conference International of Societies of Popular Music), primarily concerned with amateur band music in all of the member nations.
Dr. Yoder is now a permanent resident of Troy. Since his appointment to the staff of Troy State University, he has composed two numbers especially for the University - "Hope For The Common Man", dedicated to Governor George C. Wallace and "It's the Trojans", a fight song written for the famous "Sound of the South" Marching Band.
"THE BAND MOVEMENT Q. Dr. Yoder, in your opinion, in what ways has the band movement and/ or Dr. Paul Yoder working at his desk.
(Photo: Courtesy of Wanda F. McElrath.)
performing difficult compositions which are being written by "what we call" a serious composer. These men and women have become interested in writing for the band, for they know their work will be performed and published. It is not just the idea of being published which is attractive, but the fact that audiences will hear it is the most important factor. Q. How has the "Sound of the South" developed since your residence in
Troy?" A. Allow yourselves to bear out the points previously discussed. I first came to Troy State shortly after
World War II (1949) . Mr. Gilbert
Stephenson was head of the music department and director of bands at
Troy State. He made a very good beginning in the choir and the band.
Since then, and with the coming of
Dr. John M. Long, the band really became a nationally known organization. The first development of the band came through the work of the marching band and the name of the "Sound of the South". Troy Band became a recognized organization known for the quality of the music performance and the dynamic presentation of half time shows. The marching band at any university is a group which is seen and heard by the most number of people. The true development of the musical aspect of the bands come through the concert band performance. Dr. John Long has brought together an expert faculty of teachers in all areas of
curriculum changed since the beginning of your career to now? A. In the 1930's, the origin of the school band movement began. There weren't as many good bands at that time; however, there were excellent individual bands. Contest served as strong motivation. Illinois, Hobart,
Indiana, and the Chicago schools gained fame through state and nationa! contest. Presently, there are many high school bands which would be the equal of the above.
There are several reasons for the band improvement: 1.) The principal type of training now available for bands serve as an excellent reason. Many universities have excellent four or five year courses in the preparation for a band director. 2. ) The development of the Women Band Director movement has helped tremendously. In earlier days, most of the bands were all male. This probably originated from military concepts involving the "Newsboys" and the Boy Scouts. In the 1930's, many girls came into the band as players. This created a great advance to the quality of playing. It offered more players in a given school the right to compete. The girls challenged the boys and improved the general standards. 3.) There is much greater interest among the best composers and arrangers in writing music than it was yesterday. Band directors and players are now dpable of
music with the result having the performing groups in both instrumental and choral music maintain a very high standard. In the case of the band, there is a very "keen" spirit exhibited among the players which is shown in the full attendance at countless rehearsals, both at showtime and outside of it. Under Dr. Long's leadership, the band has become one of the greatest traditions of this University in this respect. Both Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi have played a very important part in developing the spirit of the band and the quality of their performance. There are temptations in current college band programs to over-emphasize some particular phase of the program. Sometimes it is the stage bands which seem to be the most important element. In other schools, the current trend toward "corps style" marching performances has become the most important element.
In ocher schools, great emphasis is given to the playing of contemporary compositions. All of these elements are important in a college band program but at Troy, Dr. Long has cried to combine these various aspects of band music into the most valuable of program for the training and experience of students. Most of the instrumental music majors at TSU are tra1mng to become band directors; however, a number of graduates have established themselves in a professional field, in such areas as radio, TV, popular bands, combos, and professional performers.
Indeed, we at Troy State are proud of the fact that we have such a dynamic individual like Dr. Yoder who has extended endless contributions to both Troy and the nation. Organizations such as Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma are very fortunate to have such an individual on their list of both members and honorary members. Dr. Yoder has spent a lifetime "Building Better Bands".
KK'lr • TB1: • KK'lr • • KK'li' • • KK'lr • TB1: • KK'li' • • KK'li' • •
West Texas State Univ. Canyon
No "Time Outs" For Xi Chapter
24 - 32 - 58 - Hut! - and the "SOUND of West Texas" is off and running toward another great season. The Pre-game show started on August 24 with a week of summer band. The schedule was hectic, since our first half·time was at the Southern Illinois game, only rwo short days after classes started. Xi Chapter gave a salad supper for all the women of the band after one of the pre-school rehearsals. It was a great way to start associating new names with new faces.
The 1st quarter was kicked off with a rush party to which everyone wore their favorite hat. All kinds of hats were on display - everything from thimble-sized hats and over-turned salad bowls to hardhats and Dr. Garner's crewcut. We are pleased to have 12 pledges - a large class for the fall semester.
The W. T. music library really had a work-out last semester, so Tau Beta spent the 2nd quarter getting it back in shape. After a major overhaul, it's looking good and ready to go again.
At half-time Xi Chapter, along with the "Sound", got the ball and marched 21 miles to Amarillo. The march-a-chon received enthusiastic support from people in the surrounding area. September 15 was declared by the mayors of Canyon and Amarillo to be West Texas State Band Day. Thanks to local radio and newspaper coverage, our half-time show was a success. One hundred ninety-six members of the band participated in the march. The money raised was used to buy video-tape equipment for the band and to supplement funds for the trip to Houston on September 27 where we played the University of Houston at the Astrodome.
As the ball rolled into play for the 2nd half, Tau Beta was still on top of things. Three scholarships were given to women of the band on September 8, Band Parems' Day. We were pleased to have as our guest, District VI Advisor, Carol Blain. The day was enjoyed by everyone and we were honored that our parents and Ms. Blain were able to share the occasion with us.
We are looking forward to a spectacular fourth quarter. This fall a car was donated to Xi Chapter. A 1979 Chevrolet Citation - white with maroon interior - is sure to score the winning run. A ticket - a chance to win the free use of the car for one year - is given in return for a $2.00 donation. Ticket sales are up and going even better than expected. All the money will go into the Band Fund which in turn will go to help the W.T.S.U. Band buy new uniforms. The Car Project will become an annual one for Xi Chapter.
Tau Beta Sigma is enthusiastic, excited, and working hard to make this season the yet for the "SOUND of West Texas .
Bohumil Maliovsliy The G·uiding Spirit
While going through some files during the summer, we at Alpha ran across an article which we thought may be of interest to you. This article, written in 1940, is about the life of a great man Bohumil Makovsky. As the Guiding Spirit of Kappa Kappa Psi and Director and Head of the Music Department at Oklahoma State University (then the Oklahoma A.&M. College) "Bah" was loved and admired by many students. An anonymous student wrote this biography to rekindle the affection and respect for "Bah" in 1940; we now offer it to you for the same purpose.
LIFE HISTORY OF BOHUMIL MAKOVSKY Director and Head of the Music Department School of Arts and Sciences Oklahoma A. and M. College
Bah Makovsky was born in Frantisky, Bohemia, sixty-one years ago. Bah's life was one of continual toil. His father died just before he was born, and it was necessary for Bah to work hard as a youngster helping his mother spin flax. His mother died when he was twelve years of age. He had never known what play meant, for most of his life had been devoted to regular work including pulling a plow, the method by which the 14-acre farm was tilled.
Young Bah did find some time for study. And this time was devoted to the study of music under his uncle. His first instrument was the clarinet. "I suppose I selected the clarinet because I was so fond of my uncle. You see, he played that instrument." As Bah began to master music, he would gather with other youngsters of the village and deliver juvenile concerts for those who might care to listen. Through these years the love of music was being instilled in his soul, and the foundation was being formed upon which he later built the career of a great musician and a great man.
Only a quirk of fate set Bah off in the direction of a musical career. At the age of 17 he came to the United States with money sent him by his sister, who lived at Clarkson, Nebraska. In this city he took the first job he could find - with a cigar maker. But the love of music was uppermost in his mind. One day, much to Boh' s surprise, a traveling wagon show came along looking for a musician. A short time later he was made leader of the band, a position he held for the number of years he toured.
Four years before Oklahoma became a state - in 1902 - Oklahoma City's popular Delmar Gardens needed a band. Makovsky applied for the position of organizing and directing the band and was accepted. Here in Oklahoma he saw the rugged frontier America, the kind he had studied about in his native Frantisky. It was real, the people were real, and opportunity beckoned strongly.
It was only a short time until Bohumil Makovsky was playing a leading role in the development of band music, in the Territory of Oklahoma. He was a member of the faculty of the old Music and Art Institute of Oklahoma City. Added to this, he visited Yukon, Shawnee, Prague and Woodward at regular intervals to organize bands in those towns. These are to recount but a few of the many early efforts of the young man who came to the United States as a penniless tmmtgrant.
In 1915 an enterpnsmg small school at Stillwater sought Makovsky' s service. It seemed that the president of Oklahoma A. and M. College at that time- J. W. Cantwell - deemed it not only desirable but necessary that music, as well as science, should be part of a well-rounded education in developing an agricultural and mechanical life. So Boh was summoned.
Boh had thought his duties were to consist only of teaching music. When he arrived on the campus his dreams were (Continued on Page 14)
