Patsy Hejl
P
atsy D. Hejl is in her second term as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Tau Beta Sigma. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and received a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership from Mississippi State University. A life member of the Beta Gamma Chapter, the chapter has honored Patsy by creating and naming a scholarship for her; the scholarship is given annually to an outstanding freshman woman in the Longhorn Band. Patsy is also a Honorary member the Tau Beta Sigma chapters at the University of Arkansas and the University of Houston. Prior to assuming the office of National President for the 1967-69 biennium, Patsy served on the national council for six years. During her term as president, the Outstanding Service to Music Award was developed and the first award was given at the 1969 convention. She has served as the Beta Gamma sponsor, District Counselor, and had previously served as chair of the Board of Trustees. As a band director in Texas, Iowa, and Mississippi, Patsy has taught at all levels from beginning band to high school band. She has taught and managed drill teams and guard units from junior high to the college level. Choral music assignments included elementary and junior high general music and choir, as well as to church youth choirs and handbells. School administration duties included middle, elementary, and primary schools. Patsy’s elementary school in Angleton,Texas, was rated exemplary by the state of Texas and a Four Star School by Texas Monthly magazine. She is a member of the state principals’ association, has been an district officer and given presentations at the state and district conventions. Patsy and her husband, James, have three adult children, Sandra, Janice, and David. Their children had the unique opportunity to be members of both their mother and father’s bands. Sandra is an alumni of Beta Gamma Chapter (ΤΒΣ) and her husband, John, is an alumni of the Delta Chapter (ΚΚΨ) and they are parents of twins, Benjamin and Matthew. Patsy lives in the Texas Hill Country town of Fredericksburg and recently retired from the education profession. She is enjoying retirement by volunteering in community organizations and projects. Of course, music activities are a big priority in retirement as she is currently serving as president of the Fredericksburg Music Club, is a board member of the Children’s Chorale, and is the chancel pianist at the Presbyterian church. }
Fundamentals by William Johnson Director of Bands California Polytechnic State University
I
t’s only natural for conductors who are also sponsors to be concerned about the direction their chapters are taking. Just like the musical ensembles you conduct, however, the fundamentals must be in place. When that happens, there is little need to worry. Like tone quality, balance, blend, intonation, rhythm, technique, and style, those fundamentals are participation and service. The future of any chapter lies in the type of individual that, after a long journey, finally becomes a brother or a sister. Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma are not for everyone. In fact, they are for a very few. In any society there are the givers and the takers, the people who have a servant’s heart and the ones that are out for themselves. Most university students are, by nature, self-oriented. They are struggling to obtain an education, and they work for themselves most of the time. Only rarely does one find a student who truly believes in service above self and who, while participating in a musical ensemble as a viable musician, has a strong desire to serve that organization with personal time and energy doing the things that most people would not consider doing without a paycheck. This person is a brother or a sister. If not, he/she will soon be, because brothers and sisters recognize brothers and sisters. Some brothers and sisters, however, become so dedicated to the idea of service that their role in the ensemble becomes distorted. This is dangerous. No conductor would ever want a student to sacrifice participation in order to serve. Therefore, it is important that Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma members be seen not only as the people who provide the much needed service to the ensembles, but also the people who are the most dedicated to the art of musical performance and extraordinary examples of musical excellence. Only then will the fundamentals be in place. }
The PODIUM, Spring 2003—5
