Garter Band snaps and swings
By Colette Doudin
Of the Emerald
As the University’s women’s
volleyball team takes a timeout,
the Green Garter Band springs
into its version of the Lennon
McCartney tune, “Back In The
U.S.S.R.,” — complete with an
extended drum solo and a left
and right swaying of in
struments, their metallic sur
faces shining in the glare of Mac
Court.
As the timeout ends, so does
the music, and the band
members ready themselves to
strike up the tune again during
the game’s next break.
The Green Garter Band is a
student-run, mini pep-band,
composed entirely of University
Marching Band members. The
group’s student director,
trumpet player Mark Wees,
describes the group as a “travel
ing PR unit” for the University,
the athletic department and the
Marching Band.
The Green Garter Band also
caters to people who want to
hire a marching band, but just
don’t have the room. Marching
Band Director Steve Paul says
that he often refers band music
requests from the community to
the Green Garter Band.
The band’s performance abili
ty, energy and compact size
have proven effective at a varie
ty of engagements, ranging
from volleyball games to
tailgate parties to loggers' con
ventions — even a pizza
parlor’s grand opening.
In one recent instance, the
band was featured in a Lane
Transit District television com
mercial. LTD had originally
wanted the entire marching
band, but realized it would be
too large.
The band is composed of one
player each on the clarinet, alto
and tenor saxophones, the
French horn, tuba and drums.
In addition, there are three
trumpet and two trombone
players.
The music selections are
chosen in keeping with the
band’s aim of playing “any
style of music known to man,”
says trumpet player Dave
Chart rey.
The tunes performed tend to
be upbeat, and are selected to
keep audience excitement high,
whether the crowd members be
rock fans (Earth, Wind and
Fire’s “In The Stone”), the
young-at-heart (“The Muppet
Show Theme”), lovers of big
band (“In The Mood”), or even
those with a sentiment for Euro
pean music (“The Can-Can”).
Visual as well as musical
entertainment is integrated into
the Green Garter’s performance.
as the players rehears*
choreographic moves with theii
instruments.
But choreography isn’t con
fined to moments during «
song. The entire band frequent
ly rises from their seats during
volleyball games for a quicl
spin in the stands when on*
team loses the serve.
Certain bits of choreograph)
originate at isolated events the
band finds amusing. Saxophone
player Kathleen Downey ex
plains that once when a
volleyball referee made a call
with a move the band had nevei
seen before, they thought the
motion was hilarious and have
adopted it with their othei
choreography.
Majoring in music is not re
quired to join the band, bul
displaying proficient musical
ability in an audition for Wees
and Paul is a must. The
members are supported by a
scholarship, which is given for
additional time and dedication
outside the Marching Band.
Green Garter Band members
stress that participation in the
group, and not money, is their
priority.
The band was originally the
forerunner of today’s University
Marching Band. Chartrey says.
About 10 years ago the large
Marching Band w'as replaced by
PEACE Special Work
CORPS ^or People
Peace Corps volunteers are
people pretty much like you. Peo
ple with commitment and skills who
have assessed their lives and decided
they want to be of service to others
in a troubled world.
The problems our volunteers
deal with overseas aren’t new. Such
as the cycle of poverty that traps one
generation after another because
they’re too busy holding on to get
ahead. The debilitating effects of
malnutrition, disease, and inade
quate shelter. Education and skills
that are lacking, and the means to
get them too.
Y our college training qualifies
you to handle more of these prob
lems than you might think. Such as
teaching nutrition and health prac
tices; designing and building bridges
and irrigation systems; working on
reforestation and fisheries pro
grams; introducing better agricul
tural techniques; advising small
businesses and establishing coopera
tives; or teaching math and science
at the secondary level
The number of jobs to do is
nearly as great as the number of vol
unteers who have served since 1961:
Nearly 90,000. More volunteers are
being chosen now for two-year
assignments beginning in the next
3-12 months in Africa, Asia, Latin
America, and the Pacific.
Our representatives will be
pleased to discuss the opportunities
with you.
The Toughest
Job You’D
Ever Love
INFORMATION BOOTH:
Tues.-Wed. Oct. 23-24
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; E.M.U Lobby
INTERVIEWS:
Nov. 5-7, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Career Planning & Placement Office, Hendricks Hall
Sign up in advance for your interview at Placement Office & bring com
pleted application to the interview.
J
V.
Photo by Stavm Wall
Members of the all-student Green Garter Band add their mini
pep version of music not only to women‘s volleyball games, but
to restaurant openings and commercials as well.
a small group of brass players
and electric-guitar players. And
because everyone in the new
group would wear green
garters, they called themselves
the Green Garter Band.
When the band switched its
attire from green garters to
green visors, the name became
the Green Garden Band. Mean
while, the large Marching Band
seen at the University today was
brought back.
Last year the Athletic Depart
ment requested .a band for
volleyball games, and Chartrey
organized a small pep band,
which took up the original,
garter-inspired name. The ban'’
i
began as a quartet and gradually
expanded.
Trumpet player Bill Kester
says the Green Garter Band,
unlike the Marching Band,
“can change styles like crazy ”.
“ FJerformance is a big
reward,” Wees says. He also en
joys getting to know the other
band members and seeing
things others might not see,
such as alumni functions and
volleyball games.
“The rewards of Green Garter .
Band are getting out and play
ing for people, being entertain
ing, crazy people having a good
time together, and having that
rub off on the audience,'‘ he • '
adds. . . ‘ .
Weekend dance workshop
stresses rock ’h’ roll style
By Kristen Bolin
Of the K me raid
Lifting, sliding and special
acrobatic exercises are in store
for anyone attending the “Rock
’n’ Roll Dance Workshop” on
campus this weekend.
The special seven-hour ses
sion will be taught by West Ger
man exchange students Norbert
Vogele and Evelyn Langer.
Vogele. vice champion of the
1984 Swiss International rock
’n’ roll dance championships,
has taught more than 3,000 peo
ple this partner-dancing style.
He says it is similar to swing
dancing so popular in the
United States during the 1950s,
when musical artists like Bill
Haley and Chuck Berry were the
rage,
“It’s a big success in all of
Europe.” says Vogele, who
adds that there are rock ’n’ roll
I
clubs In Switzerland, France,
Austria. Italy and Germany..
The workshop, is geared
toward people of all ages, and
acrobatic maneuvers are ap
proached withcautibn.
. “It isn't dangerous," Vogele
says. “We start with the easy
things and work toward the
more difficult moves."
He claims only two minor in
juries in all of his teachings,
and he says that was because his
students “didn’t do what 1 told
them to do.”
The rock 'n' roll dance
workshop will be held Saturday
from 10 a.m. to 12 p..m. and
again from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. •
Sunday it will go from 1 p.m.
to 4 p.m. Registration is at the
S.H.A.P.E. office in Room 181
Esslinger Hall.
The fee is $15 per person and
$25 per couple.
“. .1
THE SANTIAM PASS
AND
WILLAMETTE SKI PATROLS
PRESENT
SKI SWAP '84
YOUR BEST BET TO BUY & SELL
EQUIPMENT FOR THE COMING
SKI SEASON!
25 cents Admission Donation • 10 cents Consignment Fee
20% Commission Fee
• No sales during consignment
• No lace boots
• Mount loose bindings on block
LANE COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS
Thurs, Oct. 25th Consignment Only: 9am to 9pm
Fri, Oct. 26th Consignment: 9am to 6pm sales:
6pm to 9pm
Sat, Oct. 27th Sales: 9am to 6pm
Sun, Oct. 28th Pick Up Unsold Equipment: 9 am
to 7pm ■■■■■