Sigma Alpha Iota

10 Winter 2024 • sai-national.org Fraternity Education Hearing Our Call: Music of the Americas By Sarah Rabin T here are few things more synonymous with being an SAI than hearing those first few lines of the Whistle Song and exclaiming "I hear that call!" But what exactly is that call we hear? As the theme of the 2022 Sigma Alpha Iota National Convention suggested, Music is Our Call! roughout the convention, a major theme was sharing music with our sisters and how we as SAIs can answer that call. Feeling inspired aer the convention, members of the Evanston Alumnae Chapter wanted to continue exploring what it means to answer the call right here in our own American backyard. We wanted to feature the diverse cultures and rich history of music across America that has shaped us as individuals and as a nation. To honor this, we chose "Hearing Our Call: Music of the Americas" as our theme for the 2022-2023 term. Our chapter enjoyed this theme so much, that we chose to extend it into the 2023- 2024 term as well, so we could continue to explore the music of the Americas. Our presentations began in November 2022 when our member Jackie Tilles presented a program on Native American Music. In her program, she discussed the history of Native American Music and how its roots date back to around 8000 BC, although ethnomusicologists didn't start documenting this until the late 1800s. In Native American traditions, singing, dancing, and percussion are not only important aspects of their music but of their culture. Traditional costumes, along with the performance, are used to tell stories and to celebrate special occasions. We also see these used during tribal events such as powwows. Native American Tribes have continued their traditions through the generations and today still perform and rejoice using traditional instruments such as drums and flutes. Jackie owns three such flutes and performed several Native American flute songs for us to close out her presentation. Our next presentation was from member Karen Bippus, who presented on Salsa Music. Not only did she teach us the history of Salsa Music, but also made it interactive and had us Above, the members of the Evanston Alumnae Chapter got up and grooved during Karen Bippus' presentation Above, the members of the Evanston Alumnae Chapter got up and grooved during Karen Bippus' presentation on Salsa music and dance. Below, Stephanie William shares a presentation on American Slave Music. on Salsa music and dance. Below, Stephanie William shares a presentation on American Slave Music.

• Cover