The founding members of the Alpha chapter were: Rosemary Wright, Frances Martin, Ebba Jensen, Mary Belle Reece, Margaret Stanffer, Bernice Friend, and Maribeth Crist.

Wava Banes, along with two of her classmates (Emily SoRelle and Ruth La Nell Williams), took the idea to director D. O. Wiley of the Texas Technological College Band.

Much like the Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma's purpose at Tech was to serve as an honorary service and leadership recognition society, but was designed especially to provide the important additional social, educational, and other positive experiences needed by women in the band.

During these initial meetings of 1939–40, the women elected officers and began work on sorority crests and jewelry.

The first officers of the organization were: president, Wava Banes; vice-president, Emily SoRelle; secretary, Lillian Horner; treasurer, Nita Furr; reporter, Barbara Griggs; and faculty sponsor, D. O. Wiley.

With World War II in progress, it was unsure as to when the National Chapter would hold their next convention where the issue could be brought to debate.

Rather than postponing action on the women's request indefinitely, the women at Texas Tech approached A. Frank Martin, Grand Executive Secretary of Kappa Kappa Psi, in January 1946 to assist in forming their national organization, just as the National Fraternity had done in 1919.

When applying for a national charter, D. O. Wiley and the girls at Texas Tech again turned to A. Frank Martin and offered to turn over their work and the name Tau Beta Sigma to the women's band sorority at Oklahoma A&M, known as Kappa Psi, to submit the articles of incorporation in Oklahoma.

Each organization possesses a distinct mission and, as a result, fulfills a unique and vital role in the musical environment of a college campus" and "A member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia or Sigma Alpha Iota can hold simultaneous membership in Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma, subject to his/her own interests and the eligibility requirements of the other organizations.

Each year, five simple actions related to the National Programs are presented, which each chapter can undertake to "earn" parts of the Tau Beta Sigma flag (stripes and lyre pieces).

The program aims to promote women's voices in the music field by offering them a platform to share their experiences.

It was launched in 1997 during the district convention season, and notable speakers in recent years have included performer Cora Coleman-Dunham, composer Julie Giroux, and Captain Michelle Rakers, the assistant director of "The President's Own" Marine Band.

This program was begun to add to the wind repertoire under the direction of Grand President Hugh McMillen, and is the longest-running commissioning project in the United States.

[13][14] A number of these commissioned compositions have garnered national acclaim, including Robert Russell Bennett's Symphonic Songs for Band[15] and Karel Husa's Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra.