THE EIGHTH NOTE
BROTHERHOOD, SISTERHOOD, MUSICIANSHIP, SERVICE, LEADERSHIP
2017 SOUTHEAST DISTRICT CONVENTION
A PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTHEAST DISTRICT OF KAPPA KAPPA PSI & TAU BETA SIGMA
Table of Contents Brotherhood................................................................................................................................... 5
Our Practice Room for Life........................................................................................................... 6
On Brotherhood.......................................................................................................................... 7
Sisterhood....................................................................................................................................... 9
The Importance of Fellowship...................................................................................................... 10
On Sisterhood............................................................................................................................ 12
Musicianship................................................................................................................................. 15
Musicianship in Alpha Eta............................................................................................................ 16
Spotlight: Chapters in Action............................................................................................... 17 Leadership...................................................................................................................................... 22
Music Binds Us, One to Another.................................................................................................... 23
Faceing the Strife........................................................................................................................ 24
At the Same Time....................................................................................................................... 25 Alumni Spotlight.......................................................................................................................... 26
Embodying the 8 & the 5 in Life, Career...................................................................................... 27
Service.............................................................................................................................................. 29
Engaging with the Community through Service............................................................................ 30
The Illustrious Iota Zeta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma..................................................................... 31
Letters from your District VPSP, Isaac Ray Norris, and VPP Evan Schlameuss Hello, SED! Welcome to the new and improved The Eighth Note, your district magazine. Within these pages you will find several articles covering everything from service to musicianship. It has been such a privilege to work on this publication with the committee and my fellow advisor, Evan Schlameuss. The Eighth Note Committee has put in some hard work! They gathered the majority of the stories here, editing, researching, and so much more - all for you to learn about the experiences from within your district. Now, read on! MLITB, Isaac Ray Norris Tau Beta Sigma, Eta Beta, University of North Alabama 2016 - 2017 SED Vice President of Special Projects / Webmaster Life Member #3295 Brothers and Sisters of SED, The Eighth Note Committee has been hard been hard at work over the past few months and has created the awesome publication you’re holding. You’ll find articles representing the brand image of Kappa Kappa Psi and everything in between. I would like to express my gratitude to The Eighth Note Committee for gathering submissions and compiling the articles, the Brothers who took the time to meaningfully express KKPsi through literature, and to Isaac Ray Norris, who brought invaluable knowledge and experience to The Eighth Note. But don’t take my word for it, turn the page and check out this fantastic publication! Evan Schlameuss Kappa Kappa Psi, Kappa Zeta, Wake Forest University 2016-2017 SED Vice President of Programs
The 2016 - 2017 Eighth Note Committee
Ryan Smith, Epsilon, Kappa Kappa Psi
Olivia Vega, Alpha Eta, Kappa Kappa Psi
Lee McPhatter,Iota Zeta, Kappa Kappa Psi
Caleb Morris, Epsilon Alpha, Tau Beta Sigma
Hunter Burchfield, Theta Lambda, Tau Beta Sigma
Jasmine Myers, Beta Xi, Tau Beta Sigma
Contributors Grace Garrat, Kappa Kappa Psi, Gamma Nu Alexandra Prince, Kappa Kappa Psi, Alpha Eta Courtney Spillman, Kappa Kappa Psi, Alpha Eta
Courtney Cramer & Karina Tamayo, Tau Beta Sigma, Beta Xi Olivia Stewart-Costa, Tau Beta Sigma, Theta Lambda Brandi Burke, Tau Beta Sigma, Theta Upsilon Tucker Bedingfield, Tau Beta Sigma, Iota Psi Jasmine Nelson, Tau Beta Sigma, Theta Zeta Jada Weathers & Megan Laney, Tau Beta Sigma, Iota Lambda Tau Beta Sigma, Iota Zeta
BROTHERHOOD “The opportunity for brotherhood presents itself every time you meet a human being.” - Jane Wyman 5
Our Practice Room for Life
Grace Garrat, Kappa Kappa Psi, Gamma Nu
The practice room - a place where we, as musicians, are allowed to succeed, fail, and try again in order to achieve the high standards that we set for ourselves. Most importantly, we can play a piece for the first time brash and without attention to technical skill, and there is no one there to judge or scold us. We simply realize the mistake, pick back up, and reattempt with a better approach. Is this not what our experience as a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi allows us? Kappa Kappa Psi gives young undergraduates the opportunity to be as creative as they want, and implement our ideas with little to no consequences if things do not go as planned. While a strong chapter will, of course, see more successes than failures, we often cannot know what the best approach is without a little trial and error. Most Brothers do not arrive into this fraternity with the knowledge of how to design a successful fundraiser. We do not automatically know the ins and outs of what makes a good service project. I found it beyond difficult to stand up in front of my chapter and present a workshop for the first time.
“Kappa Kappa Psi is life’s practice room.”
6
When the cupcake fundraiser or the instrument cleaning service project or the recital does not go as planned, your brothers are there to help you assess what went wrong, build you back up, and plan better for next time. The étude does not need to be scrapped, that small phrase just needs some work. When you are visibly nervous by publicly speaking in front of the chapter, the brotherhood is not there to knock you down and rob you of the opportunity to improve your communication skills, but instead be a non-judgmental support system which encourages you to continue to speak up and share your perspective. Let’s face it: the real world does not afford us enough of these chances to practice. The building is not designed correctly, and the architecture collapses. Numbers are miscalculated, the company fails and is never heard from again. After interviewing for a job and not getting the offer, the employer likely will not approach you and tell you what you could do better. However, you can count on your Brothers to go up to you after a lengthy officer election and give you the constructive criticism you need to make you a better you, the Brothers of Gamma Nu sure can. Don’t be afraid to try something new and fail. Weekly meetings, chapter projects, leadership skills- they all take practice to get just right. Kappa Kappa Psi thankfully gives us this opportunity to practice in preparation for applying these skills “in the real world.”
On Brotherhood
Alexandra Prince, Kappa Kappa Psi, Alpha Eta “What does brotherhood mean to you?” This question is not only one that we at Alpha Eta ask each candidate, but also one we continually ask ourselves. As a new brother, this question means a lot to me. Through my experiences and decisions as a newly initiated brother, I am setting the definition that will ultimately guide my journey through this organization. The answers that I’ve developed to this question are abounding, and I’m beginning to find that our motto not only allows for but also encourages a fluid definition of brotherhood.
Brotherhood is selflessness. Similar to how service is reliant upon the selflessness of those completing it, brotherhood is dependent on the selflessness of those within it. I know that at any time, any one of my brothers would drop whatever he/she was doing to be there for me. One of my brothers is a particular example of this selflessness. I called him one night at about midnight to talk with him about my emotions. I was met with a “Come downstairs. I’ll be at your door by the time you get there.” He was not exaggerating. Several weeks later he told me that he had left an essay due the next morning sitting on his desk when he saw my name on his phone. He was immediately willing to sacrifice his paper for something that I didn’t even have to ask for. At that moment, I decided that this was brotherhood. I knew that to call myself a good brother, I had to be willing to drop absolutely anything to help brothers in need. This trait is probably the most important trait for everything we value as a brotherhood. Leadership requires a leader to value the needs of the group above their own. Musicianship requires a recognition that others are sometimes more important to the piece and the melody. Service is sacrificing your resources to give to another and make their lives easier. Brotherhood is fighting. It is not always easy to love your brothers. You and your brothers will butt heads, you will have disagreements, and you will fight. All this means is that you all are so passionate about your beliefs, about the organization, and about each other. Each member of the organization will likely have a problem with someone else at some point, and to me, the fact that we fight, we, argue, and we push our beliefs is simply an example of how opposed we are to spreading apart. We fight because we don’t want a brother to disagree with us, we want to unite with each other because we each love each other so much. No brother wants another to be left behind, so we passionately argue for our beliefs in an attempt to have the entire membership come to a consensus. This passionate argument also displays the love and dedication we have for the ideals of the brotherhood. I know it is hard to see fights this way, but I view them as a prime example of brotherhood. We fight for our ideals, we fight for our opinions, and we fight for our brothers. Brotherhood is acceptance. Though we sincerely desire to agree with every brother at every point in time on every issue, it is impossible to expect from the fraternity. The most important thing that we must recognize as brothers is that we will not always agree. Our only guarantee as brothers is that we respect music, leadership, and service. That says nothing about our religious, political, or moral beliefs. 7
It is not only important but also necessary to accept our brothers despite the ways in which they fundamentally differ from us. The brotherhood teaches us a phenomenally important skill: One does not need to have much in common with you for you to work well with and get along well with them. One of my line brothers has vastly different values from me, and we always vote on opposite sides of the spectrum. He feels strongly in opposition to a lot of my ideals, but that doesn’t matter at all. I love him unswervingly because of our shared ability to overlook differences and accept each other despite them. I know that my chapter has incredible variance in almost every personal aspect of life and yet there is not a single one of them that I do not love with my whole heart. They are passionate about music and serving others and developing life skills through music. I know that this is enough to bond together and work cohesively. I love my brothers not for what they believe, but for who they are. Brotherhood is respect. Being a new brother is absolutely terrifying. Being a new brother that has received an officer position is even more terrifying. The respect of my brothers is incredibly important to my success, not only as a brother but as a person. When I ran my first committee meeting, I was scared to death. I was worried that as a woman, new brother, and freshman, I couldn’t possibly be respected by these male, established upperclassmen. I could not have been more wrong. Everyone was helpful and put themselves forward in an attempt to help me. No brother was rude or spoke down to me and, in general, that was a theme throughout the chapter. There is no distinction between new and old brothers, no distinction between upper and lower classmen, no distinction between men and women, and no distinction of race. I’m beyond honored to be a member of a brotherhood in which no one is subject to prejudice. Each brother makes an active attempt to show respect to all those in the bond. In a good bond, there is no condescension; there is only understanding. We have developed the unique ability to explain concepts and opinions without degrading others, and that is a key element of our organization. Brotherhood is compromise. In a close relationship with both respect and acceptance, brotherhood is dependent upon compromise-filled relationships. We, as individuals, cannot enter into a group as large and diverse as ours and expect everything to go our way. There is a unique dynamic with any group of strong-willed people all aiming for the same goals. It’s genuinely tough to balance standing up for what you believe in and understanding others’ ideas. There’s a point where a brother must realize that someone else is trying to do the same thing, and at a certain point in discussions, a petty detail will not ultimately affect the result of the debate. I think that not only Robert’s Rules but also the environment we have fostered as a brotherhood aid in minimizing these insignificant debacles. Because we have all gone through the candidate process in order to be able to work for the bands, we are more willing to recognize that our aims are the same. We are much more willing to compromise and recognize the value in other brothers’ ideas. We work together well, which results in the maximum amount of service for the bands. Brotherhood is love. My personal favorite aspect of brotherhood is the bond we develop with each other and the deep love we foster. Not to say that I do not adore service, musicianship, or leadership, but I think all of those things could be conducted and grown as an individual without the organization. I 8
believe that what makes this brotherhood a brotherhood is the love we have for each other. All the sacrifice for, service to, compromise with, and friendships with our brothers are what make up our love. We show the affections we have for each other through our development of the definition of brotherhood. We display our love by serving the bands, by doing what we guaranteed our brothers we would do upon initiation. We love through our values, our service, and our music. We open up about our incredibly emotional experiences by sharing our music with each other. I know more about my brothers than a few members of my biological family, and I am sure they know more about me than most anyone else in my life. Some use musical expression to show their love. Some use their dedication to service to demonstrate their love. Some lead to display their love. Some simply speak to show their love, and, though each brother expresses it in his or her own way, every brother feels it. I know that I have not been a brother for a long time. In fact, I can barely distinguish myself from a candidate. However, in my brief, but rich, experience as a brother, and my even shorter experience as an officer, I have at least learned that all these attributes make up brotherhood. Brotherhood is always striving for the highest. - AEA.
SISTERHOOD “With my sisters, I am best.� 9
The Importance of Fellowship
Courtney Cramer & Karina Tamayo, Tau Beta Sigma, Beta Xi
Transitioning to college life can be scary. You may be moving to another state or attending a university where you know no one. You just want to find a place where you belong, so you join your university’s’ marching band or concert band. Still, you would like to belong to an even closer knit group of friends and you find- Tau Beta Sigma. From the beginning of recruitment, the love found within the sisterhood is evident. Many of us have discovered our home away from home in the fellowship we find in Tau Beta Sigma. The importance of fellowship may sometimes be overlooked, but its role in our sorority is crucial as stated in the Fifth Purpose.
day with anything you need, whether it is a study buddy or a shoulder to cry on. None of us would be able to make it through our college careers without one another. Our sisters become our support system, from the start of your candidate semester well into your semesters as an active sister. The friendships you make in the sisterhood can offer you some of the greatest memories you will make in college. Fellowship is the aspect of our sorority that continually makes our organization feel like home as well as allowing us to operate smoothly. Fellowship creates the foundation of trust, both found in your chapter’s executive board and your fellow “To provide a meaningful sisters. Knowing each other well enough allows us to have confidence and worthwhile social in the decisions of our sisters and experience for all engaged work through problems that may in collegiate band work, arise. Having love and respect of one another can help us survive and to cooperate with other tough chapters without creating hard musical organizations and feelings. Fellowship aids us in making societies in every manner decisions that will better the group rather than just thinking from an consistent with our mutual individual viewpoint. It is important to purposes and those of continue building fellowship between sisters along with improving the other the institution at which aspects of Tau Beta Sigma. chapters are located.” Presently, the Beta Xi chapter at Sisterhood is knowing that you can the University of Florida exemplifies come to your sisters at the end of the the Fifth Purpose of Tau Beta Sigma 10
by having a committee managed by devoted members of the organization who truly believe in the importance of fellowship. Within the Fellowship Committee, which has been coined as the “Fun Committee” here at Beta Xi, the main focal point has to do with just that- fun! Here the committee is focused on coordinating events for the continuing growth and development of our bond as sisters, as well as strengthening our relations with other musical organizations such as Kappa Kappa Psi and Sigma Alpha Iota. The larger events that are held by the fellowship committee that involve these other music organizations at the University of Florida have been a great deal of social importance in order to strengthen and retain our bond. Recently there have been large scale events such as the Holiday Getty, where there was an ugly sweater competition between brothers and sisters, as well as a secret santa gift exchange. There was also a Valentine’s Day Social where brothers and sisters were able to partake in a bake-off, go on a casual date together and post a cute photo of it, and participate in games such as speed dating. Along with that, we create shirts for these events as to retain the wonderful memories made and showcase them! In continuation to the events held with other musical organizations, we strongly encourage sisters to attend events in which we are invited to. Recently, the sisters of
SAI treated brothers and sisters to a pleasant day of fun and games at a local park. In regards to our personal development with sisters, fellowship takes on the duty of planning fellowship events for the betterment of the bond within the sisterhood. Some examples of this are small social events that are held in a sister’s home or space on campus. Events done in the past have consisted of letter making nights, where the more craft savvy sisters take time to assist and teach other sisters how to make letters for shirts, frockets, use a sewing machine, how to hand stitch fabric, and so on. These become not just bonding moments, but also act as a great education experience for sisters who really want to improve on their crafting! Along with these casual nights, there are also open movie nights and game nights where sisters make a potluck out of it, because what’s better than friends, than friends with food. All of these events give us opportunities to bond and create that worthwhile social experience in which we state within our purposes. After all, friends are the bacon bits in the salad bowl of life!
11
On Sisterhood...
Olivia Stewart-Costa, Tau Beta Sigma, Theta Lambda
When I think about Tau Beta Sigma, the first thing that comes to my mind is the sisterhood. Coming into college, I knew that I wanted to be a sister of TBS. I had friends from high school who were older than me join at a different college than I am attending who told me all about the organization. After hearing what TBS was about and the values it stands for, I knew it would be an organization I would want to be involved with during my time in college. Fast-forward three years to fall 2014 where I finally became a sister. I made so many new friends while going through the MC process and learned more about music, my university, and myself. Most importantly, I learned how to be there for these people I was finally able to call my sisters. In the years since I crossed and became a sister, I’ve met so many people all over the nation. I not only get to call these people my friends, but my sisters and I think that is just the coolest thing ever. TBS has given me a purpose in college that is not directly tied to my major. It gives me the opportunity to promote music through band with other people who love it just as much as I do. From the time I started college to now, I don’t think I would be the same person as I am without the home that 12
Tau Beta Sigma has provided. In this home, I’ve found a family that helps me achieve my goals. They help me stay cheerful, even in the face of great trial. My sisters have helped me develop leadership skills and shown me that music and sisterhood don’t stop when you graduate. Music is around for life.
“I truly believe because of the sisterhood Tau Beta Sigma has provided that I will always have ‘Fortitude and courage to see an ideal, to seize upon in and follow it wherever it may lead in Tau Beta Sigma,’ and in life.”
Much Love in the Band Brandi Burke, Tau Beta Sigma, Theta Upsilon
As my marching band filled four years of college begins to come to an end, I often find myself reflecting on my college experience. Taking it back to freshman year when I first decided to join the marching band and remembering the thousands of butterflies that filled my stomach as I entered the building I would consider my home for the next four years. Winston-Salem State University’s Red Sea of Sound Marching Band has allowed me to grow in more ways than I could have ever imagined, and I have even seen growth within the band program as well. Not only has this marching band allowed me to develop into a young woman, but it has also given me the opportunity to experience a world full of dedication, pride, and many memories. The band opened my door to the land of Tau Beta Sigma on April 15, 2015, and since that very day, I have never looked back. Becoming a member of TBS gave me the confidence boost and drive that I needed, but most importantly it taught me the true definition of sisterhood and brotherhood. That may seem a little clichÊ to say because that is the sole purpose of a fraternity or sorority, but trust me when I say that it is the furthest thing from that. Apart from the rest of the band, the Theta Upsilon Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma and the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi have become my family. After joining this organization, I immediately found out that our bond was unbreakable. I have never in my life
been able to depend on so many people and know that I have a support system no matter what. Of course just like any other brother/sister relationship there are disagreements and fall outs, but at the end of the day we always seem to find our way back to peace. Both chapters know that the love we have acquired for one another is something that cannot be replaced, but the rest of the world may not be aware. Just recently, we lost one of our most beloved brothers of the Kappa lambda Chapter, Marveo Stofford. He was a Spring 2010 initiate into Kappa Kappa Psi and marched snare drum for the Red Sea of Sound. Although Marveo’s passing opened our eyes to see how much of an impact he made on so many individuals in just his short 27 years of life, it also opened my eyes to see just how strong the love between the two chapters really is. The amount of support and comforting that took place between the time we heard about his death until after the funeral, was indescribable. It was then that I realized that, MLITB, is not a just a greeting or farewell we say to one another in a letter or an email, but a feeling that should make us all warm inside every time we fellowship with one another.
13
Sisterhood Is...
Tucker Bedingfield, Tau Beta Sigma, Iota Psi
I knew I wanted to rush a sorority in college.There are so many choices, it’s hard to know which one is going to be right for you. I knew little about what Tau Beta Sigma was, only that a lot of people in the marching band were involved with it. I knew little about a sisterhood when I went to interest week. I knew little about sisterhood through First Degree. But what I didn’t realize was how much I was actually learning about sisterhood on a daily basis. What I have learned about sisterhood is this: Sisterhood is acceptance, regardless of your flaws. Sisterhood is frustration, because not everyone will always get along. Sisterhood is fun, because no one can top when Tau Beta Sigma is together. Sisterhood is meaningful, especially turtles and pineapples. Sisterhood is compassion, a big heart. Sisterhood is the numbers 5 & 8, no longer just numbers but a way of life. Sisterhood is generosity, a love for helping others. Sisterhood is dependability, you know you always have a shoulder to lean on. Sisterhood is honesty, because your sisters have your back through it all. Sisterhood is perseverance, pushing through it all for the greater good. Sisterhood is music, what ties us all together. Sisterhood is diversity, we all come for the same purpose though. Sisterhood is a bond, one we all share with love. Sisterhood is Tau Beta Sigma, and Iota Psi is home to me.
When you undergo a big transition in your life, it’s hard to know which way to go and where you can call home. I can’t claim to know everything about Tau Beta Sigma, I can only tell you that I’ve been in it for almost two semesters, and I’ve been lucky to find my home with Tau Beta Sigma. In this short time, Tau Beta Sigma and my fellow sisters have already shown me so much. They have inspired me to be the best I can possibly be, and they continue to inspire me each and every day. Everyone brings something else to the table that makes up the family that we are, and we love each other. Life wouldn’t be the same without Tau Beta Sigma, and that’s what Sisterhood is.
14
MUSICIANSHIP
“Like family, we are tied to each other. This is what all good musicians understand.” – Billy Joel 15
Musicianship in Alpha Eta
Madelyn Corcoran, Kappa Kappa Psi, Alpha Eta
The last several semesters have seen exciting musical developments for Alpha Eta. With a new committee, more public performances, and a refreshed enthusiasm for our art, brothers have been bringing our chapter to new heights and making it such a joy for me to serve as Music Director. As early as three semesters ago, Alpha Eta did not have a music committee. Constitutionally, our chapter’s Choirmaster (as the position was known then) could assemble an ad hoc committee to help him with his duties if needed. In my first active semester, our Choirmaster, Keenan Lind, did just that and formed our first Music Committee. I was one of the first to sign up and was appointed as co-chair. Throughout the semester, we reminded our brothers of music’s importance within our fraternity affairs, constantly pushing for a sort of musical Renaissance within our chapter. To get the ball rolling, we added the Music Committee to our Constitution as an official secondary committee and decided it was time for its chair to undergo a few changes as well. Keenan’s impact was so much more than his job title could relay. He organized recitals, gave workshops, and just generally wanted us all to understand why music is so important for us. He assembled our chapter with those of Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha, and Sigma Alpha Iota to put on joint recital full of sonorous fellowship and lots of love. This type of passion exceeded the archaic title of Choirmaster, so the position was renamed Music Director. As of Spring 2017, I’ve had the honor of wearing the new title. 16
Beyond the changes in our Constitution, I wanted the brotherhood itself to grow musically. Now that I was “in charge,” I pushed for this for a while, and finally realized that I couldn’t force anyone to love anything - no one can! I wanted brothers to get excited about performing and listening to music as opposed to feeling obligated to do either. The committee and I started to relax and just do what I already like to do: be excited about music. I publish weekly “Music Monday” messages for the chapter, outlining upcoming concerts and recitals, acknowledging brothers’ musical achievements from the past week, and providing some musical enrichment. The Music Committee provides a fantastic role model, its members auditioning for higher-ranked ensembles, joining choir, and participating in any performance opportunities that arise. And it worked. It seemed that the less I tried to force anything to happen, the more it happened naturally. Alpha Eta has brothers in our school’s top bands, learning new instruments, and enjoying making music a part of their lives. These days, we meet once a week in front of a beautiful clock tower to sing our school’s alma mater and to celebrate our art and our brotherhood as musicians of Florida. It brings me such joy and such humility to see people’s pure excitement for one of music’s most vulnerable expressions: singing together. It’s accessible, it’s lowstress, and it’s good fun – as music should be.
SPOTLIGHT CHAPTERS IN ACTION
17
18
19
20
21
LEADERSHIP
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” - John C. Maxwell
22
Music Binds Us, One to Another
Courtney Spillman, Kappa Kappa Psi, Alpha Eta
Over the course of the past few years, Kappa Psi, I sought to increase my the Alpha Eta Chapter of Kappa Kappa contact with the sisters of Sigma Alpha Psi at the University of Florida has Iota. I attended recruitment events with made a concerted effort to strengthen hopes of becoming a sister in the future ties among the University of Florida as a direct result of my overwhelmingly chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau positive experience. Furthermore, for the Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha, and Sigma first time in my chapter’s recent history, Alpha Iota. All four organizations have my brother Kadeen Lyttle received a bid sought to increase the prominence from Sigma Alpha Iota and is currently and appreciation of music nationwide. on the road to sisterhood. During the 2016-2017 school year, the “Being part of both organizations kind four chapters have organized various of feels like a marriage, where you take social and musical events to bring us two families and bridge them, and it’s together as brothers and sisters.
truly amazing,” Lyttle shared with me.
This past December, the Music Directors “I accepted my bid because I want to be from the four chapters collaborated to as deeply immersed in the love of music, host a Winter “Fab 4” Recital — the first service, and brotherhood/sisterhood as I in more than ten years. Small ensembles can.” performing in the recital were required
Alpha Eta’s strong relationship
to have participation from at least two with other musical organizations truly different chapters to encourage cross- brightens my experience as a brother organization unity. Some featured acts and musician at the University of included a jazz combo with vocalists Florida. I urge other chapters to reach performing “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” out to the other musical organizations at an original composition written by my their schools. Creating this environment Kappa Kappa Psi big brother, and a of unity can only help us achieve our rendition of University of Florida’s Alma purposes as brothers and sisters. Mater sung by more than 100 individuals. This spring, as a brother of Kappa
23
Facing the Strife
Ben Simon, Tau Beta Sigma, Epsilon Theta In 1908, a group of 14 engineering students at a small trade school in Atlanta, united by a love of music and football, founded a band. They did not have a music degree, school of music, or even so much as a professional director, but nonetheless the members of the Georgia Tech Band were dedicated to the art. And so it was for the next 108 years; as the Band grew into a 400-member collection of concert, athletic, percussion, and jazz ensembles, there was never a single music major among them. It became a part of the Band’s identity – in a school that is 80% STEM majors, the only people crazy enough to spend their time and energy on music are those who truly love it. A seismic shift was marked when, in the spring of 2016, Georgia Tech was approved by the Regents for an undergraduate music major, a B.S. in Music Technology. And last fall, for the first time ever, music majors took the field with the Yellow Jacket Marching Band. The Music Tech program has been around for a few years, offering an undergraduate minor, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, and building funky marimbaplaying robots. The marching band has even taken part, with synthesizers and samplers integrated into the pit percussion by our director Chris Moore. But now, with a curriculum and a cadre of undergrads, the music program at Tech has become much more than an artistic outlet for engineering students, and with the new territory comes growing pains. Although Tech is known for its boundless capacity for innovation, our midtown Atlanta campus is very much bounded. Space is at a premium around here, and there is already too little of it to go around. Unsurprisingly, the previously tiny School of Music wasn’t high on the facilities priority list. While the science and engineering departments get gleaming new palaces of steel and glass, we have the J. Allen Couch building. Couch, as in the thing you sit on. A two-story brick OSHA hazard located on 24
the western fringe of campus, Couch is actually a Depression-era elementary school. The Institute bought the place in the 70’s and gave it to the music department, and despite many threats we have not yet burned it down for the insurance money. Running a collegiate music program out of a converted elementary school isn’t what you call an ideal situation, but the Georgia Tech Band has rarely been associated with ideal situations. Lacking a significant music school for most of our history, the Band has been perennially short of all manner of resources. We have survived for more than a century on the skill and dedication of our members, and especially the student leadership. For this reason, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma have long been integral to our band program. The Iota chapter of KKΨ was chartered here in 1924, and the Epsilon Theta chapter of TBΣ later followed in 1973. Service and fundraising by both organizations have sustained the Band over the years, and our members have formed the core of the leadership team for decades. Being a big part of the Music Department, Iota and Epsilon Theta had the privilege of a room in the Couch building for chapter use since at least the 1980’s. The Chapter Room, as it was known, was a space that seemed to carry the continuity of the brother- and sisterhood; the closets were stocked with supplies for service and rituals, and the walls were covered by years of memorabilia and awards. For as long as anyone could remember, the chapters had held nearly every committee meeting, gathering, and ritual in that room, surrounded by the accumulated memories of generations of brothers and sisters before. In the summer of 2016, the Couch building was renovated in preparation for use as the anchor of the music technology program in the fall. Every available room would now be seeing use as classroom space, and with little fanfare it
was announced that the Chapter Room could no longer be used exclusively for jurisdiction committee meetings and ice cream socials. Iota and Epsilon Theta could retain use of the closets, but the walls would be painted white and cleared of our mementos, the ragged old sofas replaced by synthesizers and speakers. Initially, the loss of the Chapter Room created several logistical problems. Although rituals and meetings can still be held there, the Music Tech students – and their expensive, immobile equipment – have first priority. We now meet wherever enough space is available, which often means staking out open practice rooms. Of greater worry to myself, as the Historian of Epsilon Theta, was the chapters’ memorabilia; surely, I thought, the sisters would feel less connected to our history if it was no longer hung on the walls. Instead, the process of removing and sorting the room’s contents created greater engagement with history! With the items now out of sight, I have begun bringing one item “from the vault” to each chapter meeting for viewing. Lately, our chapters’ challenges have echoed Georgia Tech’s motto, Progress and Service. The Music Tech degree was born out of years of work and development by the School of Music faculty, many of whom are honorary members of our chapters. Taking a long view, it is also the result of decades of service by KKΨ and TBΣ which ensured that music could survive in our technology-centric Institute. For years, the Music Department scraped along in secondhand buildings with minimal funding, anchored primarily to the Band. The idea of an undergraduate studying music at a place like Georgia Tech was once beyond fantasy, and it took a century to become even a faint possibility. Wherever the future leads the Georgia Tech Band, KKΨ and TBΣ will continue to grow and change with it, finding new and creative ways to serve. We always have.
At The Same Time
Jasmine Nelson, Tau Beta Sigma, Theta Zeta
At the end of last school year I was nominated and elected to serve as chapter president for my chapter of Tau Beta Sigma. I’d never had this type of position before but I was excited and eager to get things going. Also, This past summer I went through a series of workshops, interviews, and applications to be the trumpet section leader. I figured that since I had become chapter president my chances at being selected for section leader were slim. Until one day I saw my name on the list as section leader and it hit me that I would have two major positions...at the same time. Being chapter president and section leader at the same time can definitely get hectic and stressful at times. Just about every day goes from conducting a sectional to conducting a meeting. Nonetheless I quickly grasped the concept of each and even used some of the values of Tau Beta Sigma to help guide me. By remembering the eight essential factors and five qualities to happiness each day of this journey has become easier to manage and get through. “Cheerfulness at all times and under all circumstances, even in the face of great trial.” This factor constantly plays a role in handling both positions. A lot of people do not see the behind the scenes of having a leadership position, especially in the Blue and Gold Marching Machine. Having these two major positions challenge me every day whether it be public speaking, or having to represent such large groups. I was very unsure how I would overcome these fears, but the thought of knowing that I had so many people who were looking at me every day to do the right thing pushed me to work hard and do my best. Tau Beta Sigma continues to guide me each day as I continue the journey of holding these positions. With the help of my sisters I feel that my leadership skills have tremendously improved and both my section and chapter have have become even better. Many thought that it would not be possible to uphold being section leader and president at the same time. I am glad to say that I am a living example that it most definitely is possible. I will continue to allow Tau Beta Sigma to guide me as I close out my duties at the end of the school year and hope that I have inspired bandsmen and women to always go for what you want.
25
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Growing and engaging beyond the bandroom. 26
Embodying the 8 & the 5 in Life, Career K a t i e M i l l e r, Ta u B e t a S i g m a , E p s i l o n X i
Kylie McGlincy is an exemplary Alumna of the Epsilon Xi chapter at Troy University. Immediately after graduating, she secured a job as Director of Bands at Brantley School in Brantley, Alabama. Her sixth grade beginning band consists of 30 students and her concert band consists of 30 students. Not only is she a band director, she has also hosted the Crenshaw County Honor Band during her first year of teaching! Kylie is a fantastic example of how a career should be achieved through hard work and the adoption of the five qualities of Tau Beta Sigma. Anyone that has helped out with an honor band knows the amount of work that goes into the logistics of the event. Kylie did a great job of making sure everything ran smoothly and every student had a fulfilling and productive time! “As a first year teacher, I expected to be overwhelmed hosting an honor band, but I quickly realized that my time as a Music Librarian, Graduate Assistant, and TBS sisters taught me everything I needed to know,” Kylie said. “Working at Troy’s SEUS Honor Band for six years in each of these positions made hosting the Crenshaw County Honor Band a breeze!” Kylie talked to me about being a band director and how TBS helped her get to where she is now. “Being a teacher and possessing the five qualities should go hand-in-hand,” Kylie said. “This year, the most important quality for me has been the fifth one: Cultivation and maintenance of your emotional poise under all conditions.” “The fifth quality has taught me how to handle day-to-day stress and take it in stride while performing my job to the best of my ability.” Kylie encourages her students to incorporate the five qualities of Tau Beta Sigma into their
daily lives. During her time at Troy University, she was the Music Director of Epsilon Xi and a Graduate Assistant for our bands. Tau Beta Sigma has provided Kylie with fantastic opportunity to become well versed in every area of music. “If I’m ever thrown into a situation where I have to conduct a choir, then I will be ready!” Kylie said. She added her time as a GA was a “valuable experience” and her experiences equipped her “for all of the unexpected situations and problems that may arise as a band director.” Kylie also has advice for TBS sisters that will be educators in the future. She advises us to “pay attention in your instrumental methods classes,” because they will provide extra skill, especially when teaching beginning band students. “I wish I had paid more attention!” Kylie said. “Learn a second instrument, or a third,” Kylie said, “Preferably in a different instrument family than your primary instrument.” Tau Beta Sigma ideals are the key to success – following our qualities will lead to a successful and fulfilling career. “The five qualities are expected of members of TBS, but they also contribute to being a well-rounded person in any field,” Kylie said. “As a band director, you have to earn the respect of your students, you have to earn their trust, and you must be able to work well with other people, be it your colleagues, staff, or administration.” Epsilon Xi at Troy University is extremely proud of our wonderful Alumna Kylie McGlincy. Not only did her actions during her time at Troy represent TBS well, Kylie continues to uphold the values of TBS while building her career. Keep up the good work, Kylie! 27
SOUTHEAST DISTRICT SOCIAL MEDIA Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi Southeast District
@SED_KKPsi
@sed_kkpsi
Tau Beta Sigma
28
Tau Beta Sigma Southeast District
@sedtbscouncil
SERVICE
“The miracle is this: the more we share, the more we have.”
- Leonard Nimoy 29
Engaging with the Community through Music
Jada Weathers and Megan Laney, Tau Beta Sigma, Iota Lambda
The following article is an interview performed by Megan Laney, VPSP of the Iota Lambda Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, asking sister Jada Weathers, chair of Social and Sisterhood, about their chapter’s involvement with a local program, Communiversity. Q: What is Communiversity? Communiversity is a community program run through the Stone Center for students from kindergarten through 5th grade, and it is hosted by the University United Methodist Church. At this program, they can come and do homework and participate in educational programs that focus on various topics such as step, culinary arts, theater, astronomy, and sciences. Q: What inspired you to bring our school’s chapters of TBΣ and KKΨ into the program? What inspired me to bring both the Iota Lambda chapter of Tau Beta Sigma and the Mu Eta chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi into this was I noticed a disconnect with arts and how the students weren’t necessarily getting any type of musical needs met with the current educational programs in existence. I felt that we could bridge this gap. Q: How is the chapters’ program set up? Is there a sort of lesson plan? The program is set up to adapt and meet the needs of the scholars and their interests. Even though there is an outline for what we will do for that particular day (for example, introducing and playing instruments or doing Zumba), the interests of the students vary day by day. So it is crucial for us to learn how to adapt to the needs of the students. Q: What are your goals for the program— community involvement, teaching children? 30
The goals of the program are to build an interest in music and the arts overall. I want the children to feel comfortable with learning new things and taking an active interest in learning the basics of music so when they reach the appropriate age, they can talk about it and think about pursuing an interest in that area. Q: Why is this program important—to the kids, to the chapters, to you? This program is important to me because it opens the dialogue for something new the scholars can get involved with. It is important to the chapters because it allows us to do service that aligns with our values while also making a different in small children’s lives. It is also important to me because I want the children to see what else the world has to offer besides sports and being academically smart. Q: Is this a program other chapters could/ should emulate? Do you have any advice for others on how to become involved in this way? Yes, I truly believe it is something other chapters should look into getting involved with. This is a great way that chapters can serve their community while continuously expanding knowledge about music and inspiring others to participate in band. Q: Is there anything else you would like to say about the program? I honestly love this program and I cannot wait to see my scholars again soon. I truly believe that we are making a difference in these children’s lives and they will benefit from this in the future.
The Illustrious Iota Zeta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma The Illustrious Iota Zeta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, located at Savannah State University, are currently participating in the ongoing and rewarding event, Focus on Five. The Focus on Five events provided by the South East District provide new challenges on a monthly basis that prove to be rewarding in, but not limited to; service, leadership, musicianship and earning different stripes on the Tau Beta Sigma flag as well as pieces of the lyre. As members of the beautiful organization of Tau Beta Sigma, we hold true to this day that services never sleeps. As many in our chapter are new initiates, we strive to bring nothing less than the upmost service to our band program, The Powerhouse of the South Marching Band, local schools in the Savannah area, as well as serving and meeting the needs of our community in Savannah, Georgia. During the marching band season, the city of Savannah can become rather hot and humid. Knowing it takes a significant amount of hydration to run a field show more than five times, the ladies of Iota Zeta took on the challenge to donate water to local high schools in the city of Savannah, Georgia as one of the events of Focus on Five. We donated 3 cases of 24 water bottles to Windsor Forest High School as well Alfred E. Beach High School. The warm and heartfelt gesture of bringing water to the high schools stirred great excitement and cheer amongst them. The ladies of Iota Zeta plan to continue to bring water to these high schools to show our love and appreciation for their talent that they provide for the school as well as their love for music and visual arts. We hope to continue to encourage them to excel in their musicianship and showmanship on and off the field. On September 17, 2016, the ladies of the Iota Zeta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, the men of the Lambda Upsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, and members of the Powerhouse of the South Marching Band, participated in a food and clothes drive for the homeless in the city of Savannah, Georgia in partnership with the members of Trinity Refreshing Fire Church. Members of the band program as well ITB donated well over 300 clothing items as well as significant amount of cases of water to be distributed to the less fortunate while members of
the church provided nutritious food. The event kicked off at 9:46 a.m. and continued into the late evening. As leaders in the community of Savannah, the most rewarding experience to have is to see another individual experience pure happiness and joy because of the services that have been provided. Though it was not a Focus on Five event, giving a helping hand and having generosity of mind, heart, and hand is rewarding in itself. The Illustrious ladies of Iota Zeta are deeply rooted and involved in the community of Savannah, Georgia. In the month of October, which happens to be Music in service month, the ladies of Iota Zeta and the men of the Lambda Upsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, combined to perform live music at the Buckingham South Nursing Home in Savannah along with enlisted members of the Powerhouse of the South Marching Band. The elderly gathered in the entertainment room as the band played popular songs such as, “Candy”, “Do What You Wanna”, and “24K Magic.” Such lively music brought a smile to happy listening faces as they requested an encore. The nursing home has requested that the band play again in and we have hopes to return as well. Also, in the months of September and October, Hurricane Matthew struck the area of Savannah leaving many without electricity and damaged homes and goods. Seeing there was a need, the ladies of Iota Zeta and the men on Lambda Upsilon went to Savannah Classical Academy and helped serve food and snacks to elementary students in need. As an academy that focuses on education as well as the arts, the students shared their aspirations and goals as we shared ours. We encouraged them to continue their pursuit in their dreams as well continue in music education. Being members of Tau Beta Sigma is truly an honor. There is no greater reward than serving our band and our community in any form possible. We greatly appreciate each sister, brother, and band member that is ready to help serve with the simple reward of a smile. The Iota Zeta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma consistently displays all Eight Essential Factors, but our favorites remain; factor number 6, generosity of mind, heart, and hand, and factor number 7, tolerance, tempered with kindness and a consideration for the needs of others.
31
HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR NATIONAL CONVENTION 2017? IT’S NOT TOO LATE! FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK OUT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION WEBSITE WWW.NATCON.KKYTBSONLINE.COM