Tweet
Here's some interesting information I found while reaserching rudimental drumming. Most musicians who enlisted during the Civil War learned to play "camp duty/Airs" by "rote" rather than learning by reading sheets of music.
Drummers in the Regular Army, pre war:
"Before the war, Regular Army drummers were trained at two military music facilities ("Schools for Practice") at Governor's Island (New York Harbor) & Newport Barracks (Newport, Kentucky). Manuals such as Bruce and Emmett's The drummers' and Fifers' Guide were used to instruct drummers in the techniques of rudimental drumming. Bruce and Emmett's manual contains notated drum rudiments based on a tradition of drum playing which had been passed down by rote.
Drummers who enlisted during the Civil War:
The tradition of learning to play the drum by rote rather than by note was very much alive during the Civil War. Some drummers of volunteer militia units learned their craft in this manner, and they learned it "on the job." Militia drummers were often taught by a drum major who had been trained at one of the "Schools for Practice" or by an experienced drummer who happened to be in their ranks. The rote method worked reasonably well because all field musicians were required to perform the "camp duty" music from memory."
I figured this would be some great information to pass on to those of you who are busting your brains trying to read drum music. Learning the rudiments by rote (memory/practice) is just as authentic as being able to read the music from the book. (Obviously this can only be done with groups of drummers.... :confused_ ) So join a freakin band!! :baring_te
Robert Garofalo & Mark Elrod A Pictorial History of Civil War Era Musical Instruments & Military Bands (Pictorial Histories Publishing Company Charleston, West Virginia 1985) p. 35,36
Drummers in the Regular Army, pre war:
"Before the war, Regular Army drummers were trained at two military music facilities ("Schools for Practice") at Governor's Island (New York Harbor) & Newport Barracks (Newport, Kentucky). Manuals such as Bruce and Emmett's The drummers' and Fifers' Guide were used to instruct drummers in the techniques of rudimental drumming. Bruce and Emmett's manual contains notated drum rudiments based on a tradition of drum playing which had been passed down by rote.
Drummers who enlisted during the Civil War:
The tradition of learning to play the drum by rote rather than by note was very much alive during the Civil War. Some drummers of volunteer militia units learned their craft in this manner, and they learned it "on the job." Militia drummers were often taught by a drum major who had been trained at one of the "Schools for Practice" or by an experienced drummer who happened to be in their ranks. The rote method worked reasonably well because all field musicians were required to perform the "camp duty" music from memory."
I figured this would be some great information to pass on to those of you who are busting your brains trying to read drum music. Learning the rudiments by rote (memory/practice) is just as authentic as being able to read the music from the book. (Obviously this can only be done with groups of drummers.... :confused_ ) So join a freakin band!! :baring_te
Robert Garofalo & Mark Elrod A Pictorial History of Civil War Era Musical Instruments & Military Bands (Pictorial Histories Publishing Company Charleston, West Virginia 1985) p. 35,36
Comment