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University Daily Kansan Fridav, November 10. 1961
Prof. Wiley Started With Almost Nothing
Russell Wiley, professor of band and orchestra, came here in the fall of 1934 from Phillips University, Enid, Okla., and immediately began building, from almost nothing, an efficient band and music department.
Prof. Wiley, who will be directing the KU marching band on the field at halftime of tomorrow's Homecoming football game with Kansas State, received his bachelor of music and arts degree from Phillips and also taught there for five years.
At that time, the country was in the depth of the depression, but Prof. Wiley and his men got their 90 uniforms and instruments.
WHEN PROF. WILEY ARRIVED on campus he assumed charge of the band, a group of 90 men. The group was badly in need of uniforms and instruments so they started a campaign to raise money for the needed equipment.
After the equipment problem had been settled, the band met with another conflict. This time it was an impossible practice schedule allowing for rehearsal only Wednesday night, which was party night at that time, and Saturday afternoon, which always was considered free.
2. "It will impair their health", and
3. "It just won't work."
1. "You can't get the men out";
AFTER MUCH consideration,
Prof. Wiley suggested 7 a.m. five
days a week. Attempts were made
to discourage him since the general
opinion was:
But it did work. There were many days when the band boasted a perfect attendance. The marching band met on the field for practice almost
Catches Up
NEW YORK — (UPI) — A woman in Montgomery, Ala., dropped in the mail this month a return postcard that was part of a Fairbanks, Morse & Co. mailing advertisement that had been sent out in-1929.
The postcard, requesting literature on home water systems, bore an old Chicago address but was quickly forwarded to pump and hydraulic division headquarters in Kansas City. She was sent 1961 literature.
before daylight and the concert band met in Hoch Auditorium.
In addition to his responsibility with the bands. Prof. Wiley was required to teach private lessons for all instruments. In his own words, "We were starting from the ground to build a program of music education."
GRADUALLY THE department expanded and private teachers were engaged for the various instrument training. Now, in 1961, the department of music has a private teacher
for every band instrument used Prof. Wiley has felt that this was necessary in building better bands
The KU band, as we know it today, has no season. It works all nine months from convocation in September to commencement in May. The rigid schedule which the marching and concert bands undergo also includes the football and basketball season, two annual campus concerts, and a spring tour covering the principal towns of Kansas.
A varsity band has been established for those students not a part of the concert band. According to Prof. Wiley, this gives all students who have had experience a chance to continue their music through college.
IN A RECENT INTERVIEW, Prof. Wiley made the comment, "I love to build. I particularly love to build something if it can be of benefit to others, always a service to others."
Prof. Wiley was responsible for starting the first band program at
Phillips University and also the TriState Music Festival in Enid, Okla.
Besides building the band program at KU to its present status, he is also known for the Mid-Western Music and Art Camp founded in 1935. This camp has grown into an institution of national repute. In 1961, there were seven divisions in the camp, including music, art, theater, speech, science, and mathematics. It is hoped that two more divisions, engineering and journalism, can be added in 1962.
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