Danielle Schroeder Dr.

Erin Devlin HIST 386 October 17, 2013 Podcast Script Danielle Schroeder (DS): Today, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire boasts one of the most enviable music programs in the state. [It offers] an outstanding undergraduate education for aspiring musicians and music educators and also serve[s] as a primary cultural resource for western Wisconsin.1 As a community that invests greatly in its performing arts culture, Eau Claire can take pride in UWECs musical atmosphere and the history of its development. My name is Danielle Schroeder, a public history student at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In this broadcast segment, we will be hearing from UWEC alumni from the 1940s to the 1960s who took part in instrumental music during their time in college. By listening to their memories, we will learn about how Eau Claires instrumental music program has evolved throughout the years and what experiences it has given to its students. Today UW-Eau Claire is the home of three concert bands, a symphony orchestra, an awardwinning jazz band, 2 and a wildly popular 300-member marching band.3 But music on campus didnt always have the glowing reputation it does today. Lets hear what Dorothy Carpenter (DC), a 1942 graduate, has to say about her experience in the band during her time at the Eau Claire State Teachers College: DC: Terrible band, it was awful. I, but I was very spoiled because when I was in high school I had a marvelous conductor. And our teacher was, he was so good and then we went down there and this guy was a nothing. I mean it was really poor. And so the band wasnt very much.4 DS: Mrs. Dorothy Carpenter reveals that the band and music programs on campus were quite underdeveloped during the 30s and 40s. At this time, instrumental music groups at the Teachers College included only a band and an orchestraneither had more than 50 members.5 In fact, it wasnt until 1949 before the college even started offering an undergraduate degree in
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"Music and Theatre Arts ." University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. http://www.uwec.edu/Mus-The/index.htm (accessed October 17, 2013). 2 Music and Theatre Arts ." University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. http://www.uwec.edu/Mus-The/index.htm (accessed October 17, 2013). 3 "News Releases: Blugold Marching Band looks for sponsors as ranks swell to 300." University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. http://www.uwec.edu/newsreleases/11/may/0519FoundationBMBcampaign.htm (accessed October 17, 2013). 4 Carpenter, Dorothy (Class of 1942), interview by Kristina Boucher, UWEC Alumni Centennial Oral History Project, Podcast Audio, October 17, 2012. [26:35-26:55]. 5 1945 Periscope. Eau Claire, WI: Eau Claire State Teachers College, 1945.

music.6 But by the 50s and 60s, music at the University really started to grow. The size of the orchestra had nearly doubled since the forties, and in 1961, jazz entered the scene with the first University Dance Band.7 But lets take a step back and learn about some of the faculty who helped build the music department. First we will hear from Richard Hazelton (RH) of the Class of 1958 speak about his band director, Robert Gantner: RH: and actually when it comes down, right down to it, Bob Gantner, of Gantner Hall fame was the teacher who taught me how to read music, and he was my trumpet teacher in College, for the years that I had him, and that was his major instrument. JEREMY KINGSBURY: Did he, do you mean you didnt know how to read music until you went to college? Or you took lessons with him when you were younger? RH: No I took lessons with him when I was younger.8 DS: At another point in the interview, Mr. Hazelton reflects on how he was influenced by his mentor: RH: I found myself patterning things that I did in teaching with my high school band director, and with Mr. Gantner and Mr. Johnson and they were very, these people were very important in my life, and probably made me the person I am today, which nobody wants to be [laughter]. Im too good!9 DS: And next we hear from Bob Lightfoot (BL) of the Class of 1961, who recalls the quirks of his well-liked orchestra director, Walter May. BL: He taught theory, and I took some piano lessons from him. All our theory assignments, by the way, I cant demonstrate it here on the carpet, but you know, wed write these little rinkydink things, we [laughter] had to write out, and uh hed be playing these and hed take off on what you wrote, hed turn in like to ato a uhBach invention or something. You know, hed de-de-de-de and then on the other hand, it would be what you wrote, but notI mean, it would be based on three or four notes that you wrote, and thisyou got to thinking, [laughter] this is what Ithis is what I could have written. But when hed hit something, hed be sitting at the piano to play these, and when youd be something that you didntthat didnt strike with him, hed shuffle his feet like this [squeaking noise] [laughter] on the floor. It was kind of gritty down

Historical Note on Archival Finding Aid. Guide to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Department of Music Records, 1965-1979. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Special Collections & Archives. 7 1961 Periscope. Eau Claire, WI: Wisconsin State University at Eau Claire, 1961. 8 Hazelton, Richard (Class of 1958), interview by Jeremy Kingsbury, UWEC Alumni Centennial Oral History Project, Podcast Audio, September 16, 2013. [1:03:07-1:03:33]. 9 Hazelton, Richard [1:44:13-1:44:47]

there, and it wasyou always hated that when he do that because you knew you did something wrong. 10 DS: As Richard Hazelton points out in his segment, Robert Gantner lends his name to the Gantner Concert Hall in the Haas Fine Arts Center. This is a tribute to his contributions not only to the music department and to students like Richard Hazelton, but to the university as a whole. Though we do not see such recognition for Walter May, we at least have Lightfoots fond remembrance of a talented faculty member. In talking about the nature of some of his assignments, Bob Lightfoot has also given us an idea on what life as a music student was like. Lets learn more about this music student life in the 1960s. Next, Elizabeth Janice Kneer (EJK) of the Class of 64 talks about her experience as a music major. Zach J. Fure (ZJF): What organizations did you participate in during your time here? EJK: Obviously the music ones, the-the band and-and orchestra, choir. Um, and, um, other than that, well of course pep-band and my senior year I directed pep for um, basketball games and such. Um, I was in an honorary a fraternity type thing um, for education. Umthat was about it. I had all I could do to participate in those because my day, I had comprehensive major, so most of my credits were in music as it was and my day would start at eight in the morning and I would be lucky to have-get through my classes and all that was required of me and be done by five every day and then, besides that, orchestra was on Tuesday nights so it-there was no-there was not any extra-there was no extra time anywhere. Every-every minute was filled. Um, which is fun, I liked it- I enjoyed it, but it wasnt like I could have a part time job and go to college, like a lot of kids did at that time.11 DS: Kneers experience in the music department was rather typical. Music at Eau Claire kept its students on their feet with its ever increasing performance opportunities and its rigorous course work. But dedication to music never goes unrewarded. Students who have gone through the music program at Eau Claire have gained invaluable and deeply personal experiences. Let us hear once again from both Janice Kneer and Bob Lightfoot as they relate some profound memories from their days as music students. EJK: A, my favorite memory would be related to my major, which is music and the participation in the orchestra band and choir, and the um comradeship between the students that were participating ZJF: Ummis there anything that you can go in depth to about that? Like, are there any examples?
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Lightfoot, Bob (Class of 1961), interview by Danielle Schroeder. UWEC Alumni Centennial Oral History Project, Podcast Audio, September 24, 2013. [47:15-48:07] 11 Kneer, Elizabeth [15:44-17:04]

EJK: Recitals, performances, umm, we became quite a close entity becau-and being in-in the music department is not that large, so we all knew each other very, very well. Um, so that would probably be one of my favorite memory a-when Im relating it to education. If Im relating it to personal . um, personal things, it would be meeting my husband and, and aand spending time with himBut if Im talking educationally I would say that it would have to do with the program itself and-and the fun we had together. BL: Coming from my little town I grew up inprobably the first reallyyoull laugh when I say this, but the first really music, lets say ah, thrilling musically experiences I had playing and singing were in the University groups. Um, where youwhere you just knew the it was sounding special. Ah to me, anyway. [laughter] With my untrained ears probably at the time. But um, I remember early on in choir as a freshmen that singing andand just realizingit just kind of getting atingle in your spine overoh man, that ever so good [laughter], you know, just on aon a chord or somethingsomething, not, not like Im talking about the whole rehearsal, or even the whole song, just maybe ah Im limiting it to that measure, or that note really sounded great12 DS: Janice Kneer and Bob Lightfoot have just offered us a glimpse into what it was like to be a part of something that has grown to be a vital piece of culture for the Eau Claire community. Lets conclude with one last thought from Bob Lightfoot that offers a bridge to the music program and campus that we know today. BL: You know, when I was in school, I remember talking to Robert Gantneror maybe he was talking to mebut about the, aboutabout thinking about someday building a music building. And it was going to be across the river. You know, unheard of. And sometime they might even have something up on top of the hill. I mean those werentbut you know, that was nothing I had to really think about, but I remember the mention of that. I dont know when that music building was built over there. But after I was out of school, I know it was after 61 at least. Um, and uh therethere was athere was a boom, I think about the time that I left school, I think it really started expanding in the sixties probably.13 DS: Bob Lightfoot was correct in observing there was a boom in student population after his graduation. Between 1960 and 1970, enrollment at the university more than quadrupled.14 Instrumental music continued to grow as well with a significant development being the

12 13

Lightfoot, Bob [32:35-33:16] Lightfoot, Bob [57:31-58:13] 14 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, "University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: A Brief History." Accessed October 27, 2013. http://www.uwec.edu/Library/archives/upload/Brief-History-UWEC.pdf.

construction of the Haas Fine Arts Center in 1970, the first campus building across the Chippewa River.15 In this broadcast, we have seen how instrumental music at Eau Claire has evolved from being nothing-of-note to being a highly reputable academic program. We also got a chance to meet some of the faculty and students who influenced and were influenced by the music department during the critical years of its growth. The department has since become a source of pride for the Eau Claire community and for northwest Wisconsin. Once again, this is Danielle Schroeder, and I am happy to share with you some of the history of instrumental music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Statement of Purpose I selected the above interviews for my podcast because they will give the audience an idea of what the music department was like during the crucial years of its growth. Dorothy Carpenters comment in the beginning of the broadcast indicates that in the 1940s, music on campus left much to be desired. This is a great contrast to what the music department was like in the 1960s, when it really began to grow. I included Richard Hazeltons comments on Robert Gantner and Bob Lightfoots memories of Walter May because I wanted the audience to learn about some influential people in history of the music department. These particular interview segments show us just how valuable oral histories can be: Robert Gantner was a well-known influence in the music department, and he was honored by having a concert hall named after him. To my knowledge, no such thing has been done for Walter May, whom Lightfoot describes as a genius. Had Lightfoot not shared these thoughts with, we would be missing information on an individual who influenced music students in the 1960s. I continue on with further interview segments from Lightfoot and Kneer, both who give us an idea of what a music students life was like. These segments are significant because the audience gets to see what music students go through as they become a part of campussand the communitysmusic culture. I concluded with Bob Lightfoots hint about campus expansion to bring the conversation back to the presentto the music program we know today.

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"When Did Our Professors Become Buildings?." University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. http://www.uwec.edu/Library/archives/exhibits/buildings/haas.htm (accessed October 27, 2013).