Alvin Level couldn’t contain it anymore.
It was the middle of band camp and his Mighty Marching Thorobreds Band had finally nailed a selection they had been rehearsing all day.
“Now that is college!” Level yelled.
As the new band director at Kentucky State University, Level, who previously worked with high school students, was eager to make an impression and transition to working at the collegiate level—particularly at KSU.
“I have sent several students here to KSU and I am familiar with the music department and staff,” he said. “It has always been a dream of mine to be the head director of a college band program.”
That dream came true when he was named KSU’s band director over the summer.
Level joined KSU after a stint as the performing arts and band director for the River Rouge (Mich.) School District. Level, who studied the saxophone, also served as the performing arts director and director of bands for the Inkster (Mich.) Performing Arts Academy.
A sound plan for students
Level’s goal, he says, is to get the band program on the national level of positive recognition.
“I want the country speaking about our program in the same manner as they speak about the Ohio State and Southern University band programs,” he said. “In addition to our national notoriety that our band will eventually receive, more importantly, I want to increase the number of students that participate in university band to become alumni and college graduates of KSU. We must increase the percentage of students who graduate that participate in this program.”
Level and his team have implemented a plan to help make that happen. The 65 students making up the band and the auxiliary are required to attend mandatory study sessions everyday just before their daily rehearsals.
Level says it can be a challenge for students to take a full load of classes and participate in the marching band—with both taking up a large portion of their day.
“There isn't much social time available for the students during band season. That is why I feel that it is up to the band director to establish the ‘family feel’ for the program so that we all can hold each other accountable,” he said.
That, too, is college.
‘Expect some exciting shows’
The rehearsals and study sessions are important elements of the program, but ask the band members or their director, and they’ll tell you it’s more than that. The band plays a bigger role in the college experience at an HBCU.
“The college marching band is the glue for the university,” Level said. “It supports most athletic events and promotes school spirit. The marching band is also the visible program that may spark a person’s interest to see what other ensembles the music department may have to offer.”
Part of that visibility happened this weekend when KSU played on their largest stage this year: Lucas Oil Stadium for the Circle City Classic. Another will come at homecoming.
“The students have really bought into my concepts and the way that I teach,” Level said. “I think that they enjoy what we do. I think that our shows will be both musical and entertaining.”
