Dr. Pat McCoy is searching for the right notes to finish his melody.

Well, actually, the long-time Ohio University Southern Activity Band director is looking for new band members to help the 7-year-old group create those notes during the winter and spring quarters.

Membership is open to any OUS student or community member who owns or has access to a band instrument, has junior high or high school band experience, and has acceptable music reading and musicianship skills.

"What someone is going to get out of this is the enjoyment of making music and making music with a group committed to do the same," McCoy said of the band that performs a variety of musical styles including marches, jazz, swing, blues, ragtime tunes, transcriptions of classicals and more. "We are a group that likes to play music that sounds good and that is challenging."

McCoy would like to find musicians who can play the traditional band instruments: Flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, trumpet, French horn and the tuba.

Last quarter, the band consisted of 12 to 16 musicians McCoy would like to see that number increase to 20 or 30, if they are the right people.

"We are not a big band. We are fairly diverse in the instrumentation," he said. "We had virtually all of (the band) instruments."

Ironton resident Dave Robinson always had a passion for music and the trumpet. But after graduating from high school, military service and raising a family took center stage - until last year.

"I put down the trumpet for 35 years," said Robinson, a community member who just wanted to get involved in something. "I decided last year that if I was ever going to do it again, it was now or never."

Robinson would encourage any musicians to participate in the band that provides tremendous personal enjoyment and entertainment within the community.

"Like a lot of other things, you don't realize how much you miss something until you get back into it," he said. "We have had a ball. It is all for fun."

The band averages two to three performances per quarter on and off campus. Last quarter, they group showed off their talents at a variety of concerns and both the Ironton and Ashland parades. McCoy already has at least two dates circled on his calendar later this winter and spring.

The band rehearses in the OUS Campus and Community building on the corner of Ninth Street and Bob Lutz Way every

from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. and on Tuesdays and every other Thursday at the same time. Rehearsals begin today but it is not too late to sign up.

Participating in the band is entirely free unless students or citizens want to receive a college credit for participation. For more information, call McCoy at (740) 533-4541.