By HADLEY WEATHERS
Student Reporter
Alexander “Xan” Perkins grew up in Derby Kansas, where he got his undergraduate degree in music performance at Kansas State University. In the fall of 2017, he got his master’s at the University of Northern Colorado. He and his wife then moved back to Kansas City where he played in a brass band and taught adjunct at William Jewel College. After that he moved to Joplin Missouri where he also taught adjunct. Now he is currently finishing his interdisciplinary doctoral program with Washington State University, where he’ll get his doctorate in interdisciplinary studies, which combines music performance, cultural studies, history and social thought in education.
Q: What sold you on coming to NWOSU?
A: “When I visited in November, everyone was so welcoming. The students here, I think, are very hungry for a rich musical experience that, unfortunately, you know, has been difficult to achieve over the last few years with multiple band directors. I was very impressed at how you all and the students have run themselves since October.
“The story that I heard about you all, in the marching season, being offered to end the season early, and how you all chose not to do that, and you were very adamant that you wanted to finish out the season, and that you would manage yourselves and get that done. That was, I think, the selling point to me, and knowing that, you know the students have an incredible buy in, and a passion for the music program.
“I think the opportunity to really make a difference here at Northwestern is very strong. So that was another pull for me, was just the amount of opportunity I have to work with all the music students and kind of teaching them how to be complete musicians, you know, because other schools can kind of pigeon hole people into, you know, their very, very, small level of expertise, which we’re all trained to do as you know, professional musicians, we have to localize all these different elements of our musicianship.
“But here at Northwestern, I think because we’re a small tight knit group of people, I could see a lot of opportunities here.”
Q: What is one of the first goals you hope to accomplish here?
A: “I think, for the band program, I think it’s really important that we begin to build back what we had. And I think a lot of that starts with organization, and you know, kind of bringing all of the musical ensembles and experiences that are on the fringe back into the band and the music department.
“I think consolidating all of that interest and musical experiences back into the band will help reorganize so that we can take a better step towards a sustainable future, and a future that , you know, we’re able to thrive out here in Alva, Oklahoma. You know, because it’s tough being in rural Oklahoma, competing with folk who don’t want to live in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma, and there’s a real draw for people to go over to the big cities.
“But I think if we can create a culture that feeds of the energy that you all have right now, which is roll up your sleeves, and get the job done. And that sort of like gritty self determination that you all have here. I think if we can use that we can create a better, you know, more welcoming and thriving culture here.
Q: What is your favorite class to teach and why?
A: “I think the class that I’m most excited for and looking forward to teaching is our secondary methods class for music ed majors. I think what’s Interesting about the music ed majors is that they’ve been through three or more band directors, and so they’ve had to learn a lot on their own, and I think that it feels like they’re excited to have somebody who’s able to teach them.
“I’m excited to share my resources and knowledge about music education and what we can do to make music ed continue to grow in a really weird environment. And not meaning physical environment in Alva, I mean just music, the state of music across the country and even the world. It’s starting to change, and that’s really interesting to me.
“I’ve always been kind of geared toward creating educators and creating lifelong learners because I’m a lifelong learner myself. I think the secondary methods class, it’s been rewarding so far, and I’m excited to see where that class will go.”
Q: What is your “superpower”?
A: “My superpower is probably my energy and my ability to fake it when I need to. … I don’t know where I find it, but if I need to be … encouraging, if I need to be … a goofball. There’s always a place that I can always draw from. … So, I’d say that’s probably my superpower.”
Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?
A: “In college, part of my music education was singing in an acapella group at K State. Most people don’t know that. I think a lot of band folks assume that you can’t sing, and it’s just like, its music, like shouldn’t we all sing? It’s everybody’s first instrument. So, yeah, whether you’re capable of singing, like you’re just talking and moving your voice up and down. Everybody’s a musician.”