Dedication Page
This page is dedicated to Band Directors, both current and past, for without their instruction and dedication to music education, this band would not exist.
_____________________________________________________________
Personal Dedication
This is dedicated to Mr. James O. Hissom, affectionately known as "Sir".
Sir was my band director from the 5th through 12th grades in the North College Hill school system in Cincinnati, Ohio. Early on in my music career, because of his patience, I was able on occasion to blurt out a few offensive licks on my instrument. My assumption was that he must have had some hope that one day this rancid din might someday bear some assemblance to music.
As my school years progressed I learned how to actually read music and to play through a piece and get at least half of the notes right. Additionally, and this was a major advancement for me, my arms had finally become long enough so I could open my trombone spit valve without using my foot!
I learned much from Sir: how to read music, when to play loud and when to play soft, how to breathe correctly, when and how to put oil on my slide, and all the other mechanics necessary to get a series of benign sounds out of approximately nine feet of bent innocuous brass tubing.
The most important thing I learned from Sir, by way of his contagious enthusiasm, was the love of music. Music is a quality of life determinant. My quality of life is exuberant because I play and love music. You, Sir, taught me this!
Thank You.
Affectionately
Keith Williams
