JOHN PHILIP SOUSA - THE MARCH KING
The following story appeared in the 1932 Nor'easter:
"ACCOUNT OF JOHN PHILIP SOUSA'S VISIT TO NORTHEAST, NOV, 16, 1927
Extra quota of John Philip Sousa's attention went to the Northeast high school band today, when a packed
assembly hall begged with applause for encores and was rewarded with two of then played by the students under direction of
the famous band master.
The assembly listened politely while the school band played "Garden Dance," under direction of Walter French,
its director. Then Mr. Sousa led them in the Kansas City standby, "El Capitan" and at its close applause filled the auditorium.
"Shall we play another one?" Mr. Sousa offered.
The band was delighted and the audience thundered its pleasure. "Heads Up" it was and after it was over
came still another, "Man of the Hour." A brief talk to the student body and a little special speech to the band and orchestra
members completed the program.
Mr. Sousa, who is devoting spare time during his engagement with Loew's Midland theater this week to directing
school bands, had special commendation also today for the method of band teaching at Northeast.
He visited a beginning class, which is learning to play with the help of a special machine invented by Charles
Tramill of Kansas City, which combines an indicator rod, moving across the face of sheet music magnified to blackboard size,
with a metronome. As the time is measured, the indicator touched the exact note to be played. Mr. Sousa expressed interest
and approval.
"You're on the right track in this study," he declared. "It is a good system, I think."
Then he told the class of learning the seven clefs and its importance in reading and transposing mjsic,
advised them to "make sure they loved music first and then to work hard at it all the time."
The climax of Mr. Sousa's time with the school bands will be 10:30 o'clock tomorrow, when bands from the
various high schools and Kansas City, Kansas, will assemble at Musician's hall to rehearse en masse.
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I learned to play a cornet at the age of nine. From Grades 5-12 I played in school bands. Mr. Sousa
is one of my music heroes. When I discovered that he had once actually led the NE Band, I was elated. I had actually played
for 3 years in the same school auditorium where the "March King" led my Classmate ancestors. I believe a lot of juvenile deliquency
and crime in this country could be prevented if kids would learn how to carry a musical instrument instead of a gun or knife.
GARRY DASHNER
