Gleason, Bruce P. "Military Music in the United States: A Historical Examination of

Performance and Training." Music Educators Journal 101.3 (2015): 37. AP Source. Web. 27 Jan. 2016.

This article discusses how the United States military has become “the largest employer of musicians in the United States” (Gleason). It examines in depth the historical origins and roles that music has in the armed forces. Not only does this look at the history behind music in the military, but it also focuses on the methods of training that musicians serving must go through.

“America’s military music musicians are the product of ancient traditions, and they serve in diverse capacities in the armed forces and their local communities” (Gleason).

“To accompany this national spirit... large wind bands were organized, and the work of encouraging and motivating troops with music became an important function of military bands” (Gleason)

“Using military music as a recruiting and promotion tool quickly took hold” (Gleason).

“Bands in the United States developed to the point that by the nineteenth century there was a strong setting for the Civil War to be one of the most musical wars in history, employing tens of thousands of musicians” (Gleason).

The author of this source is Bruce Gleason, a recognized expert in the field of military music history. Gleason played with the 298th U.S. Army Band of the Berlin Brigade and is now a professor at the University of St. Paul in Minnesota. He has done extensive research on the history of military music, and his journals have been published by several well known publishers including Music Educators Journal and Journal of Historical Research in Music Education.

This journal offers a brief outline of where musical military practices originated from, and gives me a starting point for further research in to my topic. It was extremely helpful at offering information on the extensive training of the musicians serving in the military. I will be able to use this throughout my project because it touches on just about everything I will need.

Midgley, Anne (2012) "Call to Arms: Military Musicians in Colonial and Revolutionary

America," Saber and Scroll: Vol. 1: Iss. 2, Article 6.

Military musicians often played a large role during colonial times. Not only was music used to signal and direct troops during wartime, but it was also used to “pack an auditory punch” (Midgley) in order to intimidate the other side. It was said that drum and bugle commands could be heard over the loud noise of battle, and they became critical in military maneuvers and tactics. During Revolutionary War times, drum signals were used for a variety of things, such as signaling an attack, stopping for provisions, and church calls. Drummers and buglers were also used in the recruiting process in order to gain more attention.

“Drummers were often vulnerable in battle, as similar to their unit’s officers; they were instrumental to the effectiveness of the troops to whom they signaled commands. They therefore became targets for the enemy” (Midgley).

“Not all performed nobly… Many more, however, were steadfast in duty and served admirably, as evidenced by their pension records, which attest to the service they performed and the wounds they suffered in the line of duty” (Midgley).

This article was published by the American Public University System and was written as a dissertation in order for Midgley to obtain her Master’s degree. The information in the dissertation is extremely well documented. This source gives me insight into exactly who military musicians were and how they served their country during war times. It gives me great background into the history behind drummers and buglers in colonial America.