Manual For Drummers, Trumpeters And Fifers - U.s. Marine Corps 1935

MANUAL FOR DRUMMERS, TRUMPETERS, AND FIFERS U. S. MARINE CORPS UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON 1935 HEADQUARTERS, U. S. MARINE CORPS, Washington, D. C., April 15, 1935. The Manual for Drummers, Trumpeters, and Fifers, U. S. Marine Corps, 1935, is approved and herewith published for the information and guidance of the United States Marine Corps. JOHN H, RUSSELL, Major General Commandant. Approved CLAUDE A. SWAN SON, Secretary of the. Nary. in PREFACE The purpose of this manual is to supply a complete instruction and reference book for drummers, trumpeters, and fifers in the United States Marine Corps. Heretofore there has been no official publica tion in the Marine Corps in which the rudiments of music and detailed instruction in drumming and trumpeting were set forth. Neither is there any publication to which a trumpeter can conveniently refer in learning the various calls used in the Marine Corps and Navy. This volume embodies all information of interest to drummers and trumpeters in the Marine Corps. The rudiments of music and exer cises for beginners set forth herein, have been carefully worked out under the direction of the leader of the United States Marine Band. The calls listed are those used in the daily routine of a marine post or on board ship. The marches, sound offs, and inspection pieces selected are those most commonly used in the Marine Corps. An extensive research has been made through the Library of Congress, and a number of old quicksteps and the drum and trumpet parts of band marches written by the late John Philip Sousa, famous leader of the Marine Band, have been found and recorded. As the drum and fife were the official instruments on whichcalls were beaten and marches played for the first 100 years of the Marine Corps, and since fifing has been revived by the Fessenden Fifes of the Fourth Kegiment, a chapter has been devoted to instruction in this inspiring form of music and a number of the old Marine Corps fife and drum pieces have been included. V CONTENTS Page Preface v CHAPTER I. A History of Drummers, Trumpeters, and Fifers in the U. S. Marine Corps j CHAPTER II. Rudiments of Music Definitions 5 Position of notes on the staff Q Ledger notes t5 Position of notes on the scale Q Beats 7 Relative length of notes 7 Dotted notes S Relative length of rests S Dotted rests 9 Up beats 9 Time signature 9 Tempo 10 Key signature 10 Chromatic signs 10 Miscellaneous signs 11 Abbreviation of notes 12 Abbreviation of measures 12 Marks of expression 12 CHAPTER III. Drums and Rudiments of Drumming Types of drums 13 Parts of the drum 13 Drum slings 14 Care of the drum 14 Tucking drum heads 14 The snare drum 15 How to hold the sticks 15 Practicing on pads 16 Rudiments for the snare drum 16 The tenor drum 24 How to hold the sticks 24 Tenor drumming 25 Key to tenor drum, Scotch bass drum, and cymbal music 27 Exercises for the tenor drum 28 The Scotch bass drum 29 How to hold the sticks 29 Scotch bass drumming 31 Key and exercises for the Scotch bass drum 32 The standard bass drum 32 Tucking and tension of bass drum heads 32 Holding the stick 32 Standard bass drumming 32 Exercises for the bass drum 32 CHAPTER IV. The Trumpet and Trumpet Exercises Description of the trumpet 33 Parts of the trumpet 33 Trumpet slings 33 Trumpet banners 34 Care of the trumpet 34 Instruction to beginners 35 Tone, the muscles of expression, and attack 36Purposes of exercises in practice 36, VIII CHAPTER IV. The Trumpet and Trumpet Exercises Continued. Page Practicing the attack 37 Exercises 37 Practicing the slur 38 Exercises 38 Practicing the interval 40 Exercises 40 CHAPTER V. Cymbals and Cymbal Playing Description of the cymbals 43 Care of the cymbals 43 Instruction in cymbal playing 43 CHAPTER VI...