Music Notes
By W. E. HARVIE Greencastle-Antrim School District Music Department

Editor's note: Mrs. Winifred "Toby" Harvie retired following the end of this school year after 40 years with the Greencastle- Antrim School District. For a number of years Mrs. Harvie has written a column on the music department for the Echo Pilot. We thank her for her years of service to the school district and the newspaper.

No matter how you look at it, this will be my final column. I would like to thank all those who extended to me the opportunity to serve my community as a teacher and a reporter. I have always found it easy to talk about the music in our community. We are a center for people who love music. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to count myself as one of those music lovers.

Music is not just one style that everyone is supposed to admire. Music has many styles and standards. Not everyone is going to like all styles. Each of us has to make choices in music and in life. We have to choose what way we will follow. I firmly believe that music is something everyone can appreciate in their own way. We can listen, perform, or help those who do perform. The choice is ours.

My heritage of music started years ago with Alta Ruth Martin, my elementary music teacher. Our heritage continued in 1955 when along came Mr. Richard Besecker, who refined the band and choral programs. Mr. Bowman gave students a different style of music to experience. Next was Mr. Daugherty, who brought a different style to the music department. Then it was my turn to work in the high school. I appreciate the opportunity to follow in the same room where my music teacher, Mr. Besecker, once taught. Our students have excelled in County, Districts, Regionals, All-State, and finally All-Eastern.

In the future, I hope that the next teacher will remember the past, strive for the best for the students today and look to the future with a high degree of excellence.

Thanks to the Echo Pilot management, both current and past, for allowing me the privilege to write a column for your readers. Specially, I would like to thank my readers for taking time to read my column.