With her hands on the wooden batons and her feet on the pedals, Tin-shi Tam counts down the seconds until noon when her music will be heard across campus and much of Ames.

Tam, an assistant professor of music, plays the bells of the Campanile at noon on weekdays. “I usually play for 20 minutes,” Tam said.

Tam has played the Campanile bells for three years. She is the fifth person to play the bells of arguably ISU’s most famous landmark.

Tam tries to play a variety of music everyday. She said she attempts to incorporate her music with the different campus events and holidays.

“… for International Week I have picked out a collection of folk songs,” Tam said.

Tam also takes requests, but certain selections may not be feasible to be played on the bells. “If they can get the music, then I would be glad to look at it,” Tam said.

Tam learned to play the bells during her college years at the University of Michigan. She now teaches Iowa State students how to play the bells.

She said the university offers courses so students can get involved with the Campanile bells. “This semester, I have five students,” Tam said.

The students practice in Music Hall on a keyboard. Tam said the students don’t usually play in the Campanile until they reach some level of expertise. “Students will come up and play when they are ready,” she said.

When her students do make it to the Campanile, Tam said they do not play during the noon hour. The music department holds a number of student-played concerts during the weekends or in the evenings.

Tam participates in many concerts throughout the year. During the spring of 1997, a Carillon Composition Competition will take place at the Campanile. The purpose of the competition is to encourage the writing of original carillon compositions by young composers.

Tam encourages students to take part in the competition. “We welcome anyone to enter,” she said.

After Thanksgiving, the Campanile will be decorated for Christmas and carols will be played at noon. The Campanile will be open to students to watch or even sing with Tam and her students.

“We welcome all students to come up during the noon hour,” she said.