Director Looks To Restore Band To Former Glory

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – The high school band has a new director who wants to bring the band back to its former glory.

Incoming Director Keith Morgan told band boosters, band members and supporters that with their help, “we’re going to bring back the good ol’ days.”

Morgan said he well remembered the WVHS Band from his days in the Booneville High School Band. “I was thankful in high school that we didn’t compete against Water Valley. They would have killed us every time.”

The new director was introduced at a meet-and-greet Monday night, May 23, at the Band Hall. Dr. Glenn Kitchen, Principal of Water Valley High School, said that Morgan comes to Water Valley from the Pontotoc City School System where he spent three years as an assistant band director. “Prior to that he was with our old rival over in Calhoun County, the Bruce Trojans, but we won’t hold that against him.”

Kitchen added that Morgan graduated in 1997 from Booneville High School, which is well known for its band program. After high school, he attended Northeast Mississippi Community College and then Ole Miss where he got both his undergraduate and masters degrees.

Morgan told the group of band boosters that one of the questions people ask him is why is he leaving Pontotoc to come here. “Well, I know the history of this band program,” he said, adding that he remembered seeing the 120-member strong WVHS band march at contests and was very impressed.

“I’m not going to promise you that we’ll get up to 120 members,” he said. “But, I easily think we can increase the numbers and I can tell you that things are already going in that direction.”

Morgan explained that he tested 83 fifth graders at Davidson Elementary School and 67 of them are interested in being in beginner band. “I would have been happy with 30.”

Family Comes First

There is another reason for coming to Water Valley, Morgan said, pointing to his four-year-old daughter, Lora Brooke. The drive to work has been taking 45 minutes each way and he was missing out on an hour-and-a-half every day with his child. “Family comes first,” he said.

That concept will also be incorporated into his band program. “One thing you are going to see about this program is we are going to become a family.”

“I can’t believe how much the community is ready to get behind this band,” he continued. “That’s one way I know there is going to be success the first year. And, very little of it is going to have to do with me.”

Morgan emphasized that change is coming. “We’re going to get through it and we’re going to have fun doing it. People ask me ‘what are we going to do this fall?’ We are going to work. We are going to march and play.”

Leading the band will be new drum major Ashley Isaacs, a junior at WVHS and daughter of Mary Isaacs of Water Valley.

The new director said he had heard that some in the band were concerned about marching on the field. He said they shouldn’t worry. “Anything I am going to ask them to do out on the field, I am going to teach them how to do. I’m going to make sure they are prepared.

“If there is a home football game, we are going to be there,” said Morgan. We are going to bring back the fight song, referring to the popular tune, ‘Down the Field.’ “I have already gotten the music from Mr. Crow. I’m arranging it so we can play it. The original ‘Down the Field’ fight song will be heard on Friday nights.”

“During fourth quarter I am going to wear their lips out. They may not ever bring their horn down from their face during the fourth quarter. It helps keep them out of trouble and builds up their chops.”

Away Games

As far as traveling to away games, that’s going to depend on money, he said. “We’ll at least make it to one away game. I would love to make it to more than that if we can.”

Morgan won’t choose a game based on how close it is. “In my mind the division games are the important ones, because that determines playoffs. We need to be there supporting them as much as we can.”

After the new director finished his talk, he took questions about the program. One of the questions was about band camp. He answered that the color guard and percussion camp would be July 18-21. The full band would come in on Friday, July 22 and again July 25-28.

He also noted that volunteers are being sought to help with various aspects of the program including working the concession stand, helping with publicity and photos, building props for shows, and fund raising.

Morgan said that he would like for the band to be on top. “I like trophies…I like winning…I like coming in first, but I don’t want that to be what we are all about. I want kids who are learning music, but who are also learning life lessons.”

“My job is to educate them for when they walk out these doors. I want them to have a deep appreciation for music. I want them to have learned something.”