What are the benefits of membership?
We believe that “it is an honor to be selected to serve” our bands, our School of Music, our University, and the cause of band music in the nation’s colleges and universities. Kappa Kappa Psi teaches members, through the membership education process and our ritual, how to live a life of service and worthwhile endeavors while also encouraging a spirit of brotherhood and camaraderie.
There is a great deal of programming for members to develop professionally, musically, and fraternally. There is a great deal of district and national programming aimed at improving members, such as yearly leadership conferences, membership education retreats, and conventions within the North Central District (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana). Programming provides professional development, goal-setting workshops, and fraternal bonding experiences for members.
National Convention, which takes place every two years in odd-numbered years, brings together hundreds of active and alumni members of Kappa Kappa Psi and its sister sorority, Tau Beta Sigma. Past keynote speakers include Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, T.J. Sullivan of CAMPUSPEAK, and many other distinguished college speakers that are known for their engaging and relevant presentations.
What does Kappa Kappa Psi do?
Kappa Kappa Psi’s activities center around service for the Indiana State University bands. This service has included hemming uniforms and providing apples and water for the Marching Sycamores, setting up and tearing down rehearsal space, and ushering band concerts. More detailed descriptions of these projects can be found in the Service pages.
In addition to the activities above, members may audition to participate in intercollegiate bands at district and national conventions.
The National Intercollegiate Band is a prestigious ensemble that performs under the baton of a celebrated band conductor and has premiered a new work for wind band at each National Convention since 1947. The NIB is the resident ensemble of Kappa Kappa Psi’s Commissioning Program, which began in 1953 and is the longest-running commissioning series for new wind band music in the world.
The North Central District Intercollegiate Band is the only district intercollegiate band currently active in the fraternity. Members who attend conventions may also participate in reading bands, which allow members to read band music with brothers and, by audition, the chance to conduct the band.
Do I have to be a music major to join?
Not at all! We are a band fraternity, and our only requirement is that you are a solid contributor to the bands you are in. Our brothers have majored in communications, political science, business, math education, elementary education, English, women’s studies, and many other majors across all colleges of the university!
What sort of time/financial commitment is expected of members?
Kappa Kappa Psi is reasonable when it comes to time commitment, as we are all students first. The chapter expects prospective members to attend at least four weekly chapter meetings and committee meetings, which usually take an hour to two hours per week. Prospective members also meet weekly with the Vice President of Membership for fraternal education, which generally takes a half hour to an hour.
Active members are expected to attend all chapter meetings and their committee meetings, as well as recruitment events and initiation. None of these expectations should affect academic or musical success if time is managed appropriately. Many members have successfully gone above and beyond the minimum obligations of the brotherhood while simultaneously holding a job and facing a heavy class schedule without letting performance suffer in any area.
In regards to financial commitments, Kappa Kappa Psi is one of the most economical organizations on campus. Prospective members pay a one-time $110 national initiate fee. Active members pay $100 national dues and $50 chapter dues per year.
Who is the campus advisor for the Lambda Lambda chapter?
Dr. Roby George, as Director of Bands, is the faculty sponsor and final authority on the activities and membership of the Lambda Lambda chapter.
Does Kappa Kappa Psi haze?
Absolutely not. Hazing is against Kappa Kappa Psi policy, University policy, and the law—not to mention all our members’ moral codes. Kappa Kappa Psi is a sponsor of HazingPrevention.org, and past National President and current Board of Trustees member Malinda Matney has served on HazingPrevention.org’s Board of Directors since 2009.
Hazing has never and will never be tolerated at any chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. If you feel as though you, a friend, or your son or daughter is being hazed, you can file a report online or by calling National Headquarters at (800) 543-6505 between 9:00am and 6:00pm Eastern time (8:00am–5:00pm Central time). Reports can be made anonymously.
Does Kappa Kappa Psi have parties?
Kappa Kappa Psi does not have a house like many of ISU’s traditional social fraternities at which to host events, and all of our events are dry events regardless. We have a number of social events throughout the year, usually held in the Fine Arts Building or Landini Center for Performing and Fine Arts, but alcohol is not permitted at any event hosted or sponsored by the Lambda Lambda chapter.
To protect the integrity of our fraternity, we do not permit brothers who are of the proper drinking age to consume alcohol while wearing regalia or property of Kappa Kappa Psi, including their membership pin and shirts bearing the fraternity’s letters.