_ University Band Appeared Before 150,000 Persons at Grid Games Year of 1926 Was Best Ever Experienced by Musical Organ- ization; Made Four Trips Covering About 2,800 Miles at Average Cost of $12 a a will Broadcast from W. H. A. At the close of a year it is always in order to present a summary of the things done by a person or organiza- tion and to make a statement concern- ing the future. The university R. 0. T. C. band is no exception and here- with it presents its record for the latter part of the year 1925, Undoubtedly 1926, especially during the football season, was one of the best years ever experienced by the band. Making its first public appear- ance at the Wildeat-Maryville game on September 26, the band played at every game of the season, gave 4 number of concerts in the cities visit- ed and appeared before a total of about 150,000 persons. All of this called for hard work both on the part of the director, Sgt, J. J. Kennedy, and the bandsmen and from five to seven hours each week were spent in rehear- sals. In addition to the foregoing about thirty members met in morning rehearsals for a week before the open- ing of the university in September in order that the band would be able io make its appearance at the first game and also on opening days. This had never been done before. ‘Took Four Trips In accompanying the football team on four trips the band carried an av- erage of 46 members, including the director, drum major and _ sponsor. On these trips more than 2,800 miles were covered, which called for x total expenditure of about $2,600, an aver- age of about $12 a member on each trip. In other words, the band has ad- vertised the university, the state and, —— | the city before approximately 150,000 persons in Tlinois, Alabama, West Virginia, and at home, At 'Si2 a member, has the band fulfilled its advertising agent? That's Now as iv the future. Every Mon- day afternoon 34 members of the band are rehearsing concert music for the spring season, which includes a night program to be broadcast from radio station WHAS, two concerts to be played before audiences of Louisville high school students, appearances at basket ball games, the annual spring concert to be given in Woodland Park and possibly a concert to be given be- fore the meeting of the Kentucky Ed- ucational Association in Louisville.) In addition to these appearances, the band hopes to take two or three day concert trip through either eastern or western Kentucky during late spring. Need Uniforms But of course there is a dark side to the question. Here are the diffi- culties which the band has to face. First, there is a lack of trained musi cians, In the second place, the band, must be dependent upon upper class- men who get nothing out of their band work but a little “glory,” a pin) and a lot of hard work. Third, there) is usually a let-down in band morale, at the close of the foot ball season) and, in addition, the student body as| ‘a whole does not take much pride in| the organization. And in the last) place the band members lack neat, distinetive uniforms.