Part 1: What I need to know

Last year, I stood on the football field in front of hundreds of people doing what I enjoy most: playing music. Our marching band show was entitled United: The Sounds of America, and it was my job to play Taps as a trumpet solo. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to play. At the time, I couldn’t really tell you why; the part was not technically difficult, but there was something about playing Taps that threw me for a loop. Even weeks after our final performance, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something significant. Why was Taps such an important piece that was instantly recognized every time I played it? It was this question that initially led me on this hunt for answers, but I didn’t want to learn only about Taps. I wanted to learn about the history behind our military’s musicians. What made military music so special? What kind of person was did it take to play this music? This project gave me the wonderful opportunity to satisfy my curiosity and answer my question: What does it take to become a military musician?

Part 2: What I know or assume

As a trumpet player, I knew that my principal instrument had roots in military history. I knew the basic evolution of my instrument throughout the years had been largely accredited to necessity of militaries in battle. Really, the only thing I knew about the musicians themselves was that they often died playing music in the middle of battle. I had several family members who were in the military, but none of them were musicians, so they could offer their opinions on the matter, but they couldn’t given any specific information. Other than what I had gleaned from my band classes over the years (which wasn’t much) and the personal research (which also wasn’t much), I didn’t really know much about military music at all. I knew that military musicians were considered “the best of the best”, which I can now personally attest because I heard the Army Band Brass Quintet play this past year and they were phenomenal. I also knew that music was a highly traditional practice in the military, and it was used for everything from drills to funerals. I had no idea what made it so special or significant.

Part 3: The search

My first stop was on the US military websites. Every branch has a page dealing with their music traditions, and they all give great insight into what kind of training and skills that are required. This was a great starting point, but this only gave me a rundown of prerequisites. I also realized that these websites used these pages as recruitment points, and they might not reflect the complete truth. I wanted insider information from someone that had firsthand experience.

I was lucky enough to know the band directors at Riverside Military Academy, which is just down the road. They had an abundance of information on anything I could imagine needing. I spoke with several of the cadets there, and I got their opinions on why they joined the band and what it meant to them. It surprised me when I got a multitude of answers that I hadn’t thought I’d hear. Some said they joined band because they like playing music, while others just simply pointed to a banner on the wall that read “As the band goes, so goes the Corps”. When I asked about their experiences in Riverside’s band, their answers seemed pretty typical of any regular high school band. There were some differences to my own experiences, but I ultimately decided that their experiences weren’t exactly what I was looking for.

Because of this, I went out searching for the “real deal”. I did some research on the different bands of each US military branch, and I found one person from each branch to send my interview questions to. It was surprisingly difficult to find their contact information, but I was pleasantly surprised that when I did, most of them responded within a day at most. Their responses were exactly what I was looking for. They all provided their own insights and experiences into how they came to do what they do. There was no sugar coating on their answers; they shared with me their struggles and trials they went through, as well as their love for what they do. One thing they all emphasized to me was that they are “a soldier first, and a musician second”. Their interviews made me realize just what kind of person it takes to become a musician in the military. They have heart, not only for music and their country, but for people in general.

Part 4: What I discovered

The first thing I discovered was that becoming a musician in the military is not easy. The truth is, they are soldiers. Most still go through all the training a normal soldier does, and they still must meet periodic fitness requirements. I figured that being “the best of the best” musicians earned them a little leeway, but it actually the exact opposite. They work for the positions they have, and many of them take great pride in what they do.

The opportunities the U.S. military provides through the arts is vast and far reaching. The musical traditions and practices are deeply rooted in America's history, and they certainly aren't going away any time soon. It takes an incredibly dedicated and talented person to provide the heartbeat of America. These servicemembers have served our country, all the while doing what they love.