Missouri State University West Plains announces new band program

WEST PLAINS, Mo. (KY3) – New courses are on the way for students in West Plains, Mo., after Missouri State University’s campus there announced it would be adding band.

Note by note, line by line, on their own, some students on the MSU-West Plains campus have continued their love of music, but this fall, they’ll be able to get credit for it.

“Now that it’s coming closer to home, I’m incredibly excited,” Sophomore Morgan Totty explained.

Totty stayed in West Plains for college.

“I went to high school here in West Plains and was part of the music program,” Totty said.

And the new instructor is no stranger to Totty. Rocky Long was the band director at West Plains High School for many years.

“Wonderful instruction. Learned so much from his class,” Totty stated.

Long says the new program will start small, and grow every year.

“We’re going to start with a limited catalog offering. We’re going to do a community/university band,” Long explained.

The school’s chancellor says this is a way students can stay close to home.

“Connect with our region. Connect with our students coming out of high school who wanted to continue to play,” Dr. Dennis Lancaster said.

Students can register for the program now. Totty hopes that the new course at the two-year university will be able to help him grow as a musician.

“As I move forward, hopefully transferring to a bigger college that allows me more availability for their programs as well,” Totty added.

The program will be housed in the former Putnam Student Center.

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