In honor of Veterans Day, an article on military bands:

“Music, Culture, and Society (Or Why You Shouldn’t Cut Military Bands)”

Psychology Today author Kimberly Sena Moore writes, “The intersection of music and military service has a rich history.” Our ilk were especially necessary: “Drummers were also involved, using their beats to help companies march in time for many hours and for long days.”

Moore’s article is in response to a Washington Post article by Walter Pincus titled “Vast number of military bands may not be music to Gates’s ears”. It should come as no surprise in a time of necessary cost-cutting that many who look at limiting the dollars going to the military-industrial complex look first to seemingly unnecessary, ancillary enclaves like military bands. It’s not so different than middle and high schools across the country. Music programs seem to have a permanent spot in queue for the budget guillotine.

Both authors make valid points. Pincus’ article is certainly logical from a cost analysis perspective. (Even I didn’t know there were so many military bands.) Moore’s article is more…uh, psychological, obviously. The last thing I want to do is launch a political screed about so-called “fiscal responsibility” on a drumming blog, so rather than get into the particulars of economics and government spending I’ll just relate my personal experience in this specific area.

I spent four years in the Marine Corps: about 2.5 in the infantry, the remainder in the Commandant’s Own Marine Drum & Bugle Corps. This was in a period of comparatively little conflict in which the US was involved: 1997 to mid-2001.
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