Greetings Brothers,
Our Month of Musicianship is almost here, and I cannot wait to see how you will collaborate and celebrate one of our Fraternity’s primary initiatives! One of the ways that we, as Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi, are connected is through our love of music. Music is our universal language, and our Fraternity is connected by a set of ideals and values that extends throughout all of our membership. Perhaps the most prominent of these ideals, are the five purposes of Kappa Kappa Psi.
This November, I challenge all of us…active, associate, conditional, honorary, life, and alumni brothers, to find and implement creative and supportive ways to advocate for our greatest art and reconnect the Month of Musicianship to our purposes.
(1) To promote the existence and welfare of the college and university bands and to cultivate at large a wholesome respect for their activities and achievements.
• Find musical activities that promote your college band program. This could be an information display table on your college band and their upcoming activities in the student union; display a history of your band program (including prominent performances and accolades) in your school and/or local paper.
• Volunteer to usher at a university concert (band or otherwise), or help supplement a section for a college concert band by sitting in on your instrument.
• Reach out to support local schools and build bridges of recruitment into your alma mater.
(2) To honor outstanding bandmembers through privilege of membership extended as a reward for technical achievement and appreciation for the best in music.
• Host a music recital and invite your most outstanding bandsmen to perform with your Chapter brothers.
• Set up a lab band for conducting students to practice conducting.
(3) To stimulate campus leadership and promulgate an uncompromising respect through the medium of the college band for gracious conduct, good taste and unswerving loyalty.
• Invite other campus students and leaders to celebrate Month of Musicianship with your Chapter.
• Work with your band director and put on a “Conduct-Us” event. This involves having non-band members to conduct a university band in public performance in order to promote and advocate for leadership and music education.
(4) To foster a close relationship between college bands and promote a high average of attainment by the performance of good music and selection of worthwhile projects.
• Promote music off campus by performing good and worthwhile musical projects.
• Take a small combo to a nursing home; elementary school; or preschool.
• Provide master classes at an area middle school or high school. Make sure you get the director’s permission.
• Join a community band in your area (or start your own)!
(5) To provide a pleasant and helpful social experience for all engaged in college band work and to cooperate with other musical organizations in any manner consistent with the purposes of the institution at which chapters are located.
• The Month of Musicianship is important, yes. But, it’s also important to have fun!
• Host a karaoke night in your band room; perhaps with a live combo providing the music.
• If applicable, work with other organizations on your campus…like our wonderful Sisters in Tau Beta Sigma, or our other musical relatives (i.e. Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota).
While this list has many ideas to implement, there are countless other ways that our brotherhood can celebrate and bring the love of bands and music to others. As always, we encourage you to take photos and post them to your Chapter’s social media and other platforms. Also, submit them to our online PODIUM at podium@kkytbs.org so that we can post them the Kappa Kappa Psi social media outlets as well.
Finally, be sure to use the OFFICIAL hashtag #MusicCharmsNovember, created by the Month of Musicianship Hashtag Contest Winner, Emily Durie, from the Nu chapter at the University of Michigan. Congratulations Emily!
Good luck y’all, and keep striving!
Nicholas Bratcher, Ed.D.
National Vice President for Programs
Kappa Kappa Psi