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University Daily Kansan
Arts/Entertainment
.
Thursday, April 17, 1986
Job demands physical strength, but perfection rewards diligence
Shauna Norfleet/KANSAN
KU bands select new drum majors
Stark practices goose stepping across the Memorial
rum majors Jim Stark, Overland Park junior, Woodward, incoming Overland Park freshman, and Mike Wetter, Topeka sophomore, work together to synchronize their directing. They were chosen last week to be drum majors for next year's KU Marching Band.
By Grant W. Butler
Staff writer
Wetter, who has a year of experience as a KU drum major, shows Woodward the proper angle for his baton.
"This is the most demanding activity I've ever been involved in," Mike Wetter, Teopka sophomore, said recently. "You wouldn't believe how tiring it is. You're ready to go to bed by 1:20 (p.m.)."
Their job appears to be one of grace and precision from the noseb�ed seats of the student operasection seat in the stadium, but the reality of being on the floor backs and needs to be build up physical strength.
Shauna NorfleeuKANSAN
Wetter recently was chosen, along with Jim Stark, Overland Park junior, and Carl Woodward, inoverland Overland Park freshman, to be part of the Marching Band. Both Wetter and Stark are returning drum majors.
The three were chosen on April 8 by a committee of KU band faculty and graduate students after two weeks of study in which 10 people participated.
The committee was looking for three people who would be compatible. Wetter said.
"They were concerned about getting the best combination of three," he said. "They want people who match in height, basic build and similar styles in marching and directing. They want people who will work well together and work well with the band."
But Stark said the fact he and Wetter were drum majors this year did not assure that they would be chosen again.
The selection committee chose the drum majors on the basis of how they would represent the University of Kansas, said Bob Foster, director of
"We think these three young men represent the highest ideals and standards for a college drum major." Foster said. "They have an intense desire to be drum majors, and is reflected in everything they do."
The selection of Woodward as a drum major was only the third time in 17 years that an incoming freshman had been chosen, Foster said. He was the only incoming freshman to try out this year.
Woodward said that while a high school drum major at Shawnee Mission West in Overland Park, he had been inspired by performances of the band's song "Foster," he discussed with Foster the possibility of being a KU drum major.
"I visited the campus and talked to Mr. Foster, and he suggested that I shouldn't try out because it's difficult for a freshman to get it." Woodward said. "But I decided to go for it and give it my best shot."
During the two weeks of clinics, Woodward said, he practiced in the evenings to polish up his directing technique and to build up his skills. He was not a clinic, he would practice on his own for as many as four hours.
"I wanted it really bad," he said.
"I wanted it really bad," he said. A lot of attention has been focused on him by his high school's newspaper and television station since his selection last week, Woodward said.
"They're making a big deal about it, and I guess it is," he said.
Preparation for this year's march season should be easier than last year, Stark said, because he and Wetter would be better prepared for the physical demands of the job. That means it easier to train Woodward.
"Mike and I have a year's experience, so our goal is to train Carl the best way we can," Stark said.
"He's got a lot to learn, not just about this job, but about the band in general."
Knowing from experience how physically demanding be a drum major is will help the three prepare for next season. Stark said
"The physical endurance was difficult," Star, said. "We didn't train hard enough because the other drummer had been injured for years and he took it for granted."
By the time the band plays the Star Spangled Banner and the alma mater at football games, Stark said, his
"It probably won't go away until I've stopped doing this for about a year," he said.
arms are tired because they have been in the air for more than 10 minutes as he has directed the oregame show.
Stark said he has had back problems since the end of the football season, which he attributed to the way dribbled their backs during performance.
wetter said he would be better prepared physically next year because he planned to do some
weight training.
But Stark said the muscles used in directing were unique.
"The best thing you can do to prepare for it is to do it," he said. "It's a unique set of muscles that you really can't hit any other way."
the three drum majors will work individually every day to prepare for next season, Foster said. They also learn the basics and are primarily to develop unity in their styles.
Despite the pitfalls caused by bad weather and sore muscles, Stark said, being a drum major brings
satisfaction, which makes all work worthwhile.
"It may sound weird, but I like the work and discipline it takes to do the job well," Stark said. "To perform and get out there and do your show the best that you can — be able to handle all of the challenges as crowd going nuts because you did such a good job — that's where the reward is."
"It has to do with the glory of the whole thing. In its context it's pretty glorious."
Snapshots
Visiting Artists will perform free concerts
An organist and a flute and harpsichord du will perform free concerts in Lawrence in the next week. The concerts are part of the KU Visiting Artists Series and sponsored by the department of music and dance.
Stetano Incencelli, professor of organ at the Music Conservatory of "Argo Bito" in Parma, Italy, and lecturer at the Academy of Italian Music in Pistiaio will perform at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont St.
regational China or South Asia. Innocenti has performed in concert in Italy, Austria, France, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Brazil and the Netherlands.
For his performance in Lawrence, Innocenti will perform works by Frescobadi, Merula, Scarlatti, Pasquini, Taglietti, Zipoli, Gherardeschi, Valeri and Vivaldi.
Valeri and Viviane.
Duo Courante, a flute and harpsichord duo in residence at the University of Arkansas, will perform a free concert at 8 p.m. Monday in Swarthout Becital Hall in Murphy Hall.
The duo is composed of Leonard Garrison, assistant professor of flute and music theory at Arkansas, and Claire Detels, assistant professor of music history and harpsichord at Arkansas.
Soprano to visit Lawrence for residency
As a gesture of public thanks, the Swarthout Society is sponsoring a free performance by an internationally known soprano April 24.
Nikki Li Hartlief, the soprano, will be at the University of Kansai Monday through Thursday in an Affiliate Artist residency. The residency includes informal performance and discussion sessions throughout the Lawrence and University communities.
music history and performance. For its KU performance, the duo will perform baroque works, Bach, Blavatet and Frescobaldi, played on original instruments, in addition to works by Muczynski, Holland, Koscar and Tull.
it is the Swarthout Society's way of saying thank you for the community's support of the KU Concert and Chamber Music Series, according to Jackie Davis, director of the series.
A final concert will be performed at 8 p.m. April 24 in the First Christian Church, 10th and Kentucky streets.
Church, tour and funder of Hartliep, winner of the San Francisco Opera Merola Grand Finals and the 1984 recipient of the San Francisco Opera's Adler Fellowship, has been an Affiliate Artist since 1964. She studied at the University of Alcora and received her bachelor of music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1981.
Musicians spend summer with Disney
By Monique O'Donnell
James Baur, Harper junior who plays the tuba,
will perform with both the Disneyland concert and
marching band at Anheim, Calif. Dave Cooper,
Leavenworth senior, who played lead tremolo,
would play World Band in at Disneyworld she
is the assistant band director at Walt Disney World in
Orlando, Fla.
Start with a couple of young students summer means slaving over a job for a few dollars. But two KU students will spend their summer trolling with Pluto, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and thousands of tourists.
baker and Cooper auditioned and interviewed at Park College, Mo., in January, along with eight other KU students. After three weeks, the students finally were notified of their acceptance.
"I was go:ting, pretty nervous," Baker said
when he told the woman he had already found
out they didn't make it.
Baker said it was a great honor to be among the 50 students started from 1,000 who auditioned nationally for the positions. He said playing in the show helped him experience as well as an asset to his resume.
"Then this Federal Express guy came with the letter. I was so excited. I called my mom at work and she just wramed."
Baker auditioned last year and was disappointed about not being chosen then. This year he wasn't counting on being selected and already had begun planning a trip to Europe.
Cooper said he had really enjoyed playing for the DisneyWorld Banc last summer and had wanted to work there again. He went to Park College with her and she was in for an interview because he auditioned "14" year.
"It was a . . . it working there last year," Cooper said. "That's why I wanted to go back. It beats painting houses as a summer job."
Cooper said he I'ked the atmosphere and the people working at DisneyWorld. But most of all he enjoyed being paid for playing music. After he
graduates in spring 1987, he wants to work for the Disney organization if it will hire him.
Baker is looking forward to his first summer in Disneyland but he's also a little frightened.
"I'm kind of scared," Baker said. "I won't know anybody there. And I'm worried that my playing is not on the same level as that of other students.
"I'm not that self-confident about my playing. I don't think I'm as good as people say I am."
Part of the reason Baker was selected, according to the acceptance letter that he received from the organization, was because he looked good. And the Disney organization prefers he stays that way. no extra pounds, clear skin and a good haircut. Baker is six foot, three inches, weighs 170 pounds and fulfills the image of the "all-American college kid." according to the letter.
Jay Jackson, Burlington, N.C., graduate student, who played in the DisneyWorld Band in 1974, said, "The jury gets a good physical look at the show. The audience is backed up by a number of character references."
"They prefer to look at it as business. You are performing and in a sense you are on stage. I've never lost the fondness for the program and I've been back many times."
He said the Disney organization expected high quality performances from every employee. Although it spells out details about appearance, the organization does not have a militaristic outlook on
Cooper said the jurors looked for personality and talent in the candidates. Once candidates are selected, the standards of physical appearance are defined and the candidates want their jobs, to comply.
Baker has played the tuba in marching bands since he was 12 years old. This year at KU he is vice president of bands and performs with the Marching Jayhawks, Symphonic Bass Band and the Jazz Ensemble I, Trombone Chair, Brass Band and Men's Basketball Band.
Baker said that when he auditioned, he played his prepared solo as well as some musical scores that the two jurors had given him to test his sight reading. The audition lasted about ten minutes.
Both Baker and Cooper have to work for their travel expenses, but once they start work they will be paid about $200 to $300 a week. The Disney company provides housing and transportation costs during the work period from June 6 through August 23, and the students pay for their food.
The work load isn't exactly light and the students have to work hard for the pleasure of being in the world's largest fantasy-amusement centers. Baker has to perform six shows a day Tuesday through Saturday. Cooper will be conducting rehearsals, helping with choreography and working as a band photographer.
Baker said he was told the band would wander through the park during performances. The music, he said, would range from marching songs to Disney movie theme songs.
Jackson said all of the friendships he had made 12 summers ago in Disney World had evaporated. He had lost touch with everyone including his four roommates. When he came to KU, he coincidentally was reunited with one of his former roommates McCurdy, KU assistant professor of music-jazz.
"It was sort of funny that we had been roommates and not kept in touch, and then I came to KU where Dr. McCurdy is teaching," he said.
McCurdy said playing for the Disney organization had been a tremendous learning experience.
"It's an incredible experience for undergraduates," McCurdy said. "You get good on the job training and you make lots of contacts.
Baker said, "I think playing with the Disney bands is the goal of every college student serious about playting. For me it's been a goal for a long time."