EXCHANGE: Illinois Wesleyan professor leaving on high note

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - When Roger Garrett came to teach music at Illinois Wesleyan University at age 28, he was only five years older than his oldest student.

That was 31 years ago.

Now, as he moves toward retirement, the assistant professor of music is looking back on a career in which many students have followed in his musical footsteps - just as he followed in his parents' footsteps.

And he is leaving behind something tangible: a double CD of music by the IWU Symphonic Winds, formerly the IWU Concert Band, which he conducted.

Others have organized a special concert or series of concerts before retirement.

'œI decided I wanted to create a record that would be in the library and be around after I leave,'ť said Garrett.

He got support for his idea from Victoria Folse, who was acting director of the School of Music when the project was launched.

Calling the body of work 'œimpressive,'ť Folse said it 'œshowcases the rich musical history of Illinois Wesleyan University's Concert Band and Symphonic Winds.'ť

The double CD, 'œ30 Years, A Retrospective: The IWU Symphonic Winds,'ť includes 21 selections. It is available for $14 at the IWU Bookstore and is being promoted through the university's online alumni newsletter and its quarterly magazine.

But it contains more than music.

There also is a 24-page booklet.

'œThe booklet has a history of the program. It has pictures going way back,'ť he said.

Folse said, 'œIn addition to expanding Professor Garrett's scholarly and artistic contributions, this CD positions the School of Music for improved alumni relations and student recruitment.'ť

Folse, director and professor of IWU's School of Nursing, said, 'œThe CD itself and the accompanying narrative will serve as an audio and written textbook for other band conductors and music educators at the high school and collegiate level.'ť

Although he has passed the baton as conductor to Brad Regier as conductor of the Symphonic Winds, Garrett still teaches the 'œFundamentals of Conducting'ť class.

During a recent session in a rehearsal room in Presser Hall, he worked one on one with each student as they conducted their fellow students in a short piece.

'œIt's really important to be thinking ahead,'ť he told one student. 'œI'm going to look at the person who is most important a full measure ahead of time,'ť then point the baton when their key part begins.

He advised another not to move around too much as she conducted, but acknowledged, 'œIt's the dancer in you'ť that made her want to move.

Instead, he told her to focus on moving the baton with her wrist and fingers.

'œIt's like a golfer putting a ball; keep you head and body mostly still,'ť he said.

Garrett's father was a high school band director in Portland, Ore., who performed horn with the Oregon Symphony. His mother was a music teacher.

His first teaching job was at a Longview, Wash., high school. He also was performing with the Oregon Symphony.

After getting a check for $1,000 for eight performances with the symphony and a $930 check for a full month of teaching, Garrett said he wondered if he was in the right profession.

But there are other rewards.

'œSeeing students do really well is exciting,'ť said Garrett, discussing the highlights of his time at IWU.

He stays in contact with many of his former students who have become teachers and 'œI sometimes go and work with their students.'ť

___

Source: The (Bloomington) Pantagraph, https://bit.ly/2WsXPba

___

Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com