Howard Williams (interview); Creator: Williams, Howard ; Interviewer(s): Jean Bird and Jen Marzucca; Interview location: White Hall room #219; Running time: 60 min., Aug 30, 1992

Coverage: 1965-1992
Topics discussed : (side B): Glen Miller Band; thrill of a lifetime and fulfilled a lot of music aspirations for him; got to do a lot of things while being in the band; treated like royalty everywhere they went; Poland; went there while he was in the Glen Miller Band; at the time (1957), everything was in terrible conditions; meet w/ a warm reception at Warsaw; played there for a week and then traveled around Poland for a week; Joining the Glen Miller Band; by time he joined the band, Miller had died (while in WW II); Ray McKinley was his drum and continued Miller's music; Miller had organized it in CT originally; Qualifications for joining a band; depends on what the band is looking for; he played the trombone and were looking for someone who could lead; he had been playing in a local band in Pennsylvania; McKinley liked what he heard and asked him to join; joined the band, took leave of absence from job, and went on tour; Goals; they hard to achieve, but should never been given up on; Music of the Glen Miller Band; used some of the original works of Glen Miller and Ray McKinley; also used new works; "My Prayer"; was a solo done by Miller on original record; he later played same song on later record (both sounded the same); always asked to play the song; Ed Sullivan Show; wild experience because the Clyde Beanie Circus was on same show; smell and noise of animals made things wild; played "Chattanooga Choo Choo"; Background; graduated from Mansfield Teacher's College in 1950 (Mansfield, Pa); went into service after graduation for four years; taught in Wilkesbury schools; got opportunity to Mountain Top (outside Wilkesbury) to start a program from scratch and took it; no program w/ little equipment; didn't have instruments in beginning, so he asked everybody in community to donate any instruments they had; eventually had a band and had hired teachers (did it all in beginning); Beginning at WestConn; a former classmate of his at Mansfield was chair at Western; called him up to ask him if he wanted to come to Western; came up for interview and meet Dr. Haas; Dr. Haas; when he meet her, first question was what he thought of Lawrence Welk; addressed him as "Howie" when she first meet him; got along really well w/ her and enjoyed working w/ her; Changes in music department; small department at first, it increased but decreased again; Jazz ensembles he was in charge of; a lot of Ives Festivals (Fine Arts Festival); by late 1970s, music became less popular and business took charge; teacher salaries later rose to become respectable; stricter qualifications to become a music teacher; Liberals Arts degree; becoming more popular; popular w/ those who wish to have private teaching/tutoring; Cuts to program; budget cuts has an effect on programs; makes things difficult; don't hire someone to replace someone who retires (music supervisors); Student qualifications (to play at Ives Auditorium); the department makes the decision as who gets in; during height in early 1970s, had more than enough students where they were able to hold auditions; way to separate those who can and those who can't; students needs to pass qualification to get into the program; Teacher; student relationship; best feature of the music department; students keep him young; more students, so less opportunity to know all of them; First WestConn class; Experiences w/ students; many pranks and jokes were played by students and faculty; Challenges by the students; during 1960s, some student demonstrations; Basic music courses; course taught to non; music students; one of the students he had never had any exposure to music, so he had to adjust rules for him (had him sang "My Country Tis of Thee" in tune); blind students are easy to work w/ as their hearing is great (most difficult thing is the sheet music) (side A): WXCI; too much of one kind of music; "music snobbery"; there should be more diversification; Types of music; diversification is necessary to have deeper appreciation; Station involvement; used to help w/ the Jazz program on the station in beginning; hasn't been involved in years; Location of the music department; first came, it was located in Berkshire; moved to White Hall in 1968 (only by half); it was Danbury Junior High School in 1968 still and had to share it them; Car on stage; in Berkshire Hall, a door in back; at time, a faculty member owned a small car that ended up on the stage; Harry Connick, Jr.; gaining more respect in the industry; enjoys him; is on top of the world and a great actor; Introduction of the Bachelor of Music degree; wasn't instituted until 1970; reason was because it was primarily a teacher's college in beginning; became more diversified in programs offered at the college; Reflection on time at WestConn enjoyed most aspects of his time at WestConn; enjoyed working in the school; loved the students and faculty members; hated the politics; well respected institution and proud to be associated w/ it