The Military Band - Regimental Drum Major Association

Section VIII. MANUAL OF INSTRUMENTS
104. General in cadence by executing in reverse those move-
The manual of instruments may be defined as an ments prescribed for the manual of instruments.
orderly military drill which enables bandsmen to
execute essential instrumental positions with mil- 105. Flute and Piccolo
itary precision. Three positions of the manual, a. Carry. The instrument is secured with the
Carry, Ready Instrument, and Prepare to Play, keyed end resting between the forefinger and
are executed in two counts in the cadence estab- thumb of the right hand and held in a vertical
lished by the execution of prescribed bandmaster position with the arm at the side. The lyre is seand
drum major baton signals. No verbal com- cured in the left hand in a vertical position along
mands are prescribed for the manual, but, if con- the left arm ((1), fig. 40).
ditions require such commands, they will be pre- b. Ready Instrument. The lyre is secured bescribed
by the bandmaster. Although Inspection tween the upper part of the left arm and the body
Instrument normally is not accomplished by while the left hand continues to hold the lyre. Inbaton
signals, it is considered a part of the man- strument remains at the carry ((2), fig. 40).
ual of instruments. The positions of the manual c. Prepare to Play. The right hand raises the
are defined in a through e below, instrument to the playing position as the left
a. Carry. The Carry position is the prescribed hand moves to cover the proper keys of the inposition
in which the bandsman secures the in- strument ((3), fig. 40).
strument when he is not playing or executing d. Inspection Instrument. Ready instrument
other phases of the manual of instruments. should be executed, except the instrument should
b. Ready Instrument. The position Ready In- simultaniously be brought to a diagonal position
strument is the first position taken from the posi- in front of the chest, fingers of the right hand
tion Carry when assuming a playing position. holding the keyed end, while the left hand moves
c. Prepare to Play. The position Prepare to over to hold the mouthpiece section ((4), fig. 40).
Play is the second and final position taken in the
sequence Carry to Play. In this position, the in- 106. Oboe, E-Flat and B-Flat Clarinets
strument is placed on the embouchure in readi- a. Carry. The instrument is secured at the bell
ness to play. end, with the fingers of the right hand hooked
d. Inspection Instrument. The inspection posi- into the bell, and held in a vertical position along
tion is that position in which the instrument is the side of the body ((1), fig. 41).
displayed in full view of the inspecting party. b. Ready Instrument. The left hand is moved
(1) This position will be assumed individu- across the body to grasp the instrument, with the
ally by each bandsman as the inspecting party fingers covering the appropriate keys ((2), fig.
approaches. The instrument will be returned to 41).
carry when the last member of the inspecting c. Prepare to Play. The instrument is brought
party has passed the bandsman. to the playing position by the left hand with the
(2) Lyres will remain on the instruments. right simultaneously moving to the correct play-
(3) Music will be placed in pouches when ing position ((3), fig. 41).
the bandsmen are commanded to prepare for d. Inspection Instrument. The upper barrel of
inspection. the instrument is grasped with the fingers of the
(4) No baton or oral commands are given left hand and carried to a position diagonally in
for this movement. If it is desired that inspection front of the chest, right hand retaining its hold
instrument be executed by ranks or by the entire on the bell ((4), fig. 41).
band simultaneously, the oral command,
INSPECTION, MOVE, may be given. When oral 107. Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophones;
commands are given, this movement is executed Alto and Bass Clarinets
in the same manner as is prescribed for the man- a. Carry. The instrument, suspended from the
ual of instruments except, at the command of exe- strap, is secured with the right hand grasping
cution, the position inspection instrument is as- the body between the upper and lower key
sumed instead of the prepare to play position. groups, tilted slightly forward and to the left
e. Return to the Carry. The return to the carry ((1), fig. 42).
position from the prepare to play position upon b. Ready Instrument. The left hand moves
completion of a musical number will be executed across the body and grasps the instrument; the
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