Q. What is SAI?
Founded in 1903 at the University School of Music in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sigma Alpha Iota is an International Women's Music Fraternity. Membership includes undergraduate and graduate students, alumnae, professional musicians, and has grown to over 105,000 members. SAI promotes interaction between those who share a commitment to music. Members of SAI are active in all areas of campus and community music and life, working closely with professionals in the field. Currently, SAI's membership includes 2128 active college chapters and 121 alumnae chapters, with a total of 105,376 initiated members.
Q. What kinds of opportunities are available to SAI members?
Members have the opportunity to apply for scholarships, loans, and awards through SAI Nationals & SAI Philanthropies, Inc. They also have the priviledge of working with distinguished musicians who are practicing their art. SAI also offers an extensive network of contacts in not only music, but also virtually every other field. Beta Eta members are offered an automatic local network of sisters, performance opportunities, and many opportunities to volunteer.
Q. What kinds of activities does Beta Eta Chapter do?
Beta Eta was established in 1949 as the 90th chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. Each year, they sponsor music events in the School of Music such as American Musicale, Faculty Follies, as well as local artists and composers in the community. They regularly volunteer with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Gull Lake Middle School, and of course, around the School of Music. There is a chapter meeting every week, on Thursday evening at 9pm, during which there is a song rehearsal and a business meeting. Beta Eta performs many recitals during the year, some with the Delta Iota chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and every month, we have a musical exchange with Delta Iota, at which there are performances from both chapters. We also have social events, including a fall/harvest event, impromptu get-togethers, and this year, we will be hosting a School of Music formal in the spring semester.
Q. Where have I seen Beta Etas around campus?
Beta Etas are active in many of the performing ensembles around the School of Music, from the Bronco Marching Band to Symphony Orchestra. However, our membership reaches far beyond the School of Music. We include engineering majors, Spanish majors, education majors, and speech pathology majors, just to name a few! You can also find us working at many places around campus, including the Dalton Center computer lab, Miller Auditorium, the bridge at Waldo Library, through the Admissions Department as a Student Ambassador, and off campus at jobs including Home Depot, Coldstone Creamery, Bennigan's, the Michigan Commission for the Blind, substitute teaching in Kalamazoo area schools, teaching religious lessons at Temple B'nai Israel, and of course, teaching music lessons privately or through the Crescendo Academy in downtown Kalamazoo. Beta Etas are everywhere!
Q. Who is eligible for membership in SAI? Do I have to be a music major?
A woman attending WMU who has taken at least one music course (performing ensemble, private lesson, theory - anything with MUS as the course prefix), a cumulative GPA of 2.6, and a love for music is eligible for membership into SAI. It is not a requirement to be a music major. There have been many non music majors who have greatly contributed to the fraternity.
Q. Can freshmen join? What about seniors?
Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors can all join. The Beta Eta chapter only has one initiation per year, in the spring semester. Seniors are advised to join at least one semester before the semester of graduation so they can participate and contribute to the fraternity.
Q. Can I be a member of SAI and another sorority?
SAI members can not be a member of any other music fraternity or sorority. Being a member of any other fraternity or sorority is acceptable. We have members involved in many of the departmental fraternities and sororities at WMU, and have had some in social sororities. It is important, however, to consider how to manage the commitment of being in multiple Greek organizations.
Q. What is the MIT process like?
The MIT process begins with ribboning, and after about a week comes the pinning ceremony, at which one would become an official member-in-training (MIT). After that, there is a series of MIT meetings on Thursday nights. During these meetings, MITs will learn about the history of SAI. There will be quizzes each meeting to prepare for the National Exam that must be taken before initiation into SAI. The MIT will put on a recital where each member-in-training will participate in a solo, duet, and/or ensemble. Along with learning about the history, MITs will get to know the sisters through a variety of social events and become knowledgeable about the Beta Eta Chapter at WMU.
Q. What are the costs of membership?
The Member-in-Training fee, which must be paid at the time of the pinning ceremony, is $50.00, which includes the Manual for Members, the SAI Songbook, and the Centennial Songbook Supplement. The Collegiate Initiation Fee, which must be paid at the time of the National Exam, is $200.00 and includes the National Initiation fee, the fee for the 10k gold regulation badge, semi-crown, and a half-year of national dues. Active dues are $50.00 per semester, which includes $12.50 for national dues and $39.50 for chapter dues.
Q. What are the obligations of membership?
Attendance at weekly chapter meetings and other chapter events, such as rush events and recitals, is required. Conflicts relating to performances or classes are excused. Members must perform once a semester, either at a meeting or at a musical exchange, and must participate in our Music Task Force events, one of which is volunteering with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Instrument Petting Zoo. Other obligations include periodic office cleaning duties, Dalton Center computer lab shifts, and donut shifts. The chapter is very flexible working with members' schedules for all obligations!
Q. What kinds of things does SAI do with music?
Sigma Alpha Iota is, of course, a MUSIC fraternity, so we are very much
rooted in music education and performance. We volunteer at many events within
the community to help spread our love of music to others, whether it be helping
young students to play instruments or singing for the elderly. In addition to
this, we perform as a choir in many formal events, such as recitals,
musicales, and fraternity events. Also, every member of SAI performs within
her specific performance area for her sisters during the course of the
semester. While this is so, every sister, whether primarily an instrumentalist
or vocalist, is an integral part of the SAI choir.
Q. Uh, I don't sing, not even in the shower. I don't think I can do this!
SAI is very committed to preparation and rehearsal for each of our
performances, no matter how small. As many of the sisters are primarily
instrumentalists, we take time working together on all aspects of singing to
improve our individual and ensemble abilities. Many of the girls in our choir
are first-time vocalists. Don't worry; you can do it!
Got a question that's not answered here? Email our VP of Membership, Amanda Presson.
