The Focus On Five campaign was first developed by the 2013-2015 NVPSP Jonathan Markowski in 2014. It was created as a way to guide Chapters toward specific initiatives and activities that fulfill the Mission of the Sorority and its core operations. This biennium we will focus Chapters’ work and efforts, reflect all aspects of the Mission Statement, emphasize band participation as participants and audience members, and connect Chapters to learn from one another. At it’s core, this year’s campaign seeks to answer the question, “How does Tau Beta Sigma make an impact on our band, campus, and greater community?”

Chapters will be recognized for their participation during District Conventions in 2024 and 2025 as well as at National Convention. To create your Chapter’s own visual tracker throughout the year, use these downloadable images.

If you have any questions or concerns about your Chapter’s participation in the Tau Beta Sigma National Programs or the Focus on Five Campaign, please contact the Tau Beta Sigma National Vice President for Special Projects, Katie Dukes (katie@tbsigma.org).

Establishing Participation and Risk Management

The Red Stripe focuses on ensuring that we are established for the year with regard to our Chapter operations documents, awareness of risk management policies, and enrollment in the Focus on Five Campaign. There are three key steps needed to earn the Red Stripe (deadline to complete and submit tasks is October 15, 2024):

• Appoint your Focus on Five Liaison and have them join the Tau Beta Sigma Discord server.
• Submit your Chapter Budget & Constitution to the link in Discord.
• As a Chapter, watch the TBSigma Risk Management Policy Video and complete the “Take a Stand” cards, preferably during National Hazing Prevention Week (September 23-27, 2024). Share a photo of the Chapter’s Take a Stand cards in the Discord server.

Community Engagement

The White Stripe focuses on community development within our Mission Statement. Our community extends from our band program, to our campus, to our greater communities. Tau Beta Sigma’s National Programs were created with the specific aim to support various aspects of the Mission. There are two programs that target our engagement within the community: Crescendo and Coda. There are two steps to earn the White Stripe (deadline to complete and submit tasks is June 1, 2025):

• Host either a Crescendo or Coda event within your community.
• Share photos (if able based on the community partner’s guidelines) and details of the event and answer the questions “How did this event impact our community? What does it mean to our Chapter? How did Tau Beta Sigma make a difference?” in the Discord server.
  • If photos are not allowed, complete the appropriate Participation Form located in the TBSigma National Programs Guide and have it signed by an official from the community partner organization.

*Chapters are not restricted to host only one program as part of their National Programs involvement. However, only one is required to earn the White Stripe.

Promoting Women in Music

The Blue Stripe focuses on the empowerment of women in music within our Mission Statement. The Women in Music Speaker series is the hallmark National Program of Tau Beta Sigma. It was created with the intent of giving women in music a platform to speak and share their experience. It is also an opportunity to connect our members, bands, and greater community to these music professionals and to learn from their story. There are two steps to earn the Blue Stripe (deadline to complete and submit tasks is June 1, 2025):

• Host a Women in Music Speaker Series for your band program, campus, and/or greater community.
• Share photos and details of the event and answer the questions “How did this event impact our community? What does it mean to our Chapter? How did Tau Beta Sigma make a difference?” in the Discord server.

Band Development

The Green Stripe focuses on cultivating leadership in our Chapter and band community. Developing leadership skills within a band program can greatly enhance the overall performance and success of the group. While there is not a current National Program that focuses on this aspect of the Mission, Tau Beta Sigma can enhance leadership within the band program and community through setting examples of positive leadership and facilitating development events for band members (suggested topics below). There are two steps to earn the Green Stripe (deadline to complete and submit tasks is June 1, 2025):

• Host a leadership development event for members of the band program.
• Share photos from the event and answer the questions “How did this event impact our community? What does it mean to our Chapter? How did Tau Beta Sigma make a difference?” in the Discord server.

Suggested topics for the full band include: Effective Communication, Team Building/Collaboration, Goal Setting and Planning, Time Management and Organization, Emotional Intelligence, and Personal Reflection and Growth. Suggested topics for Band Leaders include: Conducting and Leading Rehearsals, Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Decision Making/Problem Solving, and Mentoring/ Coaching.

Members of Tau Beta Sigma are not required to be the primary content presenters/facilitators of the event to earn the Green Stripe. It is encouraged to partner with campus resources including the student activities office, Greek life, or other professional services to bring content expertise and also to connect band members with resources across the campus community. Alumni members in good standing can present with approval from the Director of Bands.

Musicianship

The Black Stripe focuses on musicianship and music appreciation, central foci of our Mission, Vision, and Purposes. One of the most important aspects of serving bands is one’s ability to contribute positively to each rehearsal and performance as a musician, and one of the best ways in which to contribute positively is to be proficient at your instrument. The For Greater Practice Initiative of Tau Beta Sigma was designed to help Chapter members serve their bands by becoming better musicians through the development of good practice habits, especially with regard to the fundamentals of each member’s instrument or auxiliary equipment. There are three steps to earn the Black Stripe (deadline to complete and submit tasks is June 1, 2025):

• For at least three months, at least 50% of all Chapters members individually practice for four hours or more. This can be completed with individual or group rehearsal on primary/secondary instruments (including auxiliary equipment). Practice should be tracked for all members using the For Greater Practice Initiative tracking sheet or another preferred method available through your college/university.
• At the conclusion of the For Greater Practice Initiative tracking, host a mini-recital (either privately as a Chapter or including participation of other band members) to perform selected rehearsed pieces and celebrate one another’s progress.
• Share the completed tracking sheet (or report from school-based tracker), photos/video from the mini-recital and details of the event, and answer the questions “How did this event impact our community? What does it mean to our Chapter? How did Tau Beta Sigma make a difference?” in the Discord server.

The Lyre Pieces are an opportunity to expand the Chapter’s involvement in aspects of the Sorority outside of the primary National Programs and Mission-driven initiatives.

The Left Lyre Piece focuses on musical achievement and recognition of outstanding band members. Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi host the National Intercollegiate Band every biennium prior to the start of National Convention. Tau Beta Sigma offers a number of recognition opportunities to celebrate the musical achievements of our Chapter and band members including participating in the National Intercollegiate Band. There are two steps to earn the Left Lyre Piece (deadline to complete and submit tasks is April 1, 2025):

• Host a recording session for students in the music department to audition for the 2025 National Intercollegiate Band.
• Submit documentation of the event in Discord.*

*The National Intercollegiate Band has a set deadline for the auditions. This recording session must happen with enough time for the participants to receive their recording and submit before the set deadline.

The Center Lyre Piece connects each Chapter to their District-specific projects and initiatives. Review the steps to earn the Center Lyre Piece for each District (deadline to complete and submit tasks is June 1, 2025):

• Midwest: Host a DEIA focused event. Then, attend a District call to share and discuss these events.
• North Central: Host an event focused on Chapter growth as part of the NCD Cadenza Program
• Northeast: Collaborate with another chapter as part of the NED Harmonic Convergence Initiative
• Southeast: Conduct a service project as part of the SED “Service Project Swap” Program
• Southwest: Participate each semester in the District Photo Challenge
• Western: Host an event with Alumni Members of the Chapter to build connections

Detailed information and requirements for each project are listed below.

Midwest District: There are two parts to this year’s Center Lyre Piece. Chapters must host a DEIA focused event, which can be anything from a workshop to a speaker panel. Afterwards, Liaisons will add a slide(s) to a presentation (which will be shared to them by the MWD VPSP at a later date) about their event. It is recommended that this portion be completed in the fall, as the second portion, a District hosted event, will be held in the spring. While only one member of each Chapter is required to attend, it is encouraged that all available members join us. Each Liaison (or Chapter representative) will share their event with the group and we will have some open discussion about the experience and DEIA in general. Chapters should then submit a screenshot of their attendance to the Discord server to confirm completion of the Lyre Piece. Questions can be directed to Midwest District Vice President for Special Projects Reece Watson at mwdvpsp@tbsigma.org. 

North Central District: To earn this year’s Center Lyre Piece, Chapters must hold an event which encourages meaningful Chapter growth. The Cadenza Program is intended to be flexible while also including the necessary requirements for an engaging and effective event. The following event criteria must be met for any Cadenza project: 1) Event lasts at least 30 minutes, 2) Project is not the completion of another Focus on Five Stripe, 3) Project ties to a goal or Vision of the Chapter, 4) Project promotes growth in leadership, musicianship, service, or another skill, 5) At least 75% of Active Chapter members are involved in some aspect of the project from planning to execution,  and 6) Project documentation is completed and submitted on the Discord server. If there are any questions about the Cadenza Program please contact the North Central District Vice President for Special Projects Simon Leonard at ncdvpsp@tbsigma.org and submitted on the Discord server.

Northeast District: For this year’s center lyre piece, chapters will be paired together and tasked to collaborate with each other. As sisters of Tau Beta Sigma “we are committed to fostering connections and creating a meaningful experience for our members, band directors, college communities, and the band world.” The chapter collaboration can be centered around service, healthy competition, music, or a joint newsletter. To earn the center lyre piece, chapters must complete the following steps. 1) Have a one-on-one meeting with the NED VPSP. 2) Be matched with another chapter and host a meeting together. 3) Brainstorm and send your activity idea/proposal to the NED VPSP for approval. 4) Submit to the Focus on Five Discord for formal completion. Questions can be directed to Northeast District VPSP Jaylin Shy at nedvpsp@tbsigma.org.

Southeast District: Chapters will participate in the SED “Chapter Service Swap” Program, collaborating with another SED chapter to exchange service projects. Projects do not need to be perfectly duplicated; you may make them unique to your individual chapters. The goal is to share and inspire new initiatives. Using this spreadsheet and or Discord, chapters will share contact details and project preferences. More detailed guidelines are included in the spreadsheet. Verification for the Lyre Piece requires proof of communication and submitted service project photos on the Discord server. Projects cannot be reused for multiple Focus on Five submissions. For details and examples, visit the Southeast District website under ‘Projects’. If you have any questions, please Contact Siobahan Berrian at sedvpsp@tbsigma.org for any inquiries.

Southwest District: Participate in the SWD 2024-2025 Photo Challenge by submitting at least 2 photos from the year’s challenges. This can be completed by submitting one fall one spring or two fall or two spring photos. These will be used in our district slide show! More information about challenges available through District Vice President for Special Projects Mykaela Johnson at swdvpsp@tbsigma.org.

• Fall: Service in Action and/or Women in Music
• Spring: New Sisters and/or Crescendo project

Western District: Chapters will connect with Alumni members to learn more about their history and network of members by hosting a project/event to promote interaction with Chapter Alumni. Projects/events must incorporate an aspect of the Chapter’s history including discussion of important events and moments or special events. Alumni should have a way to interact with the Chapter through this project/event, a social media post about Alumni is not sufficient for the Lyre Piece.  Questions may be sent to WD VPSP Matthew Councell at wdvpsp@tbsigma.org.

The Right Lyre Piece encourages Chapters to engage with Sorority events. These events are made successful by the presence and interaction of members and Chapters from across the country to learn from one another. To earn the Right Lyre Piece for this year, the Chapter must seat a Delegate at the 2025 National Convention. The convention will be held on July 15-18, 2025 in Lexington, KY. More information about National Convention, including hotel and registration information, can be found on the National Convention website. There is one step to earn the Right Lyre Piece (deadline to complete is July 15, 2025):

• Seat a Chapter Delegate at the 2025 National Convention