The Military Band - Regimental Drum Major Association

CHAPTER 6
FIELD MUSIC
Section I. UNIT
118. General
Field music units (drum and bugle corps) may be
organized in accordance with the provisions of
122. Marching Formation, Movements, Baton
and Mace Signals, and Manual of the
Baton and Mace
AR 220-5.
Where applicable, the provisions of paragraphs
119. Organization 40 through 54 will govern the formations and
The field music unit may be organized by appropriate
commanders as a substitute for the band
when no band is authorized the command. It is
organized to include qualified buglers and percussionsits
who have a primary MOS other than
that of a bandsman. Normally, the bugle section
will be organized in a ratio of four buglers to
each snare drummer. The percussion section normally
will include a bass drummer, cymbal
player, and field snare drummers in the correct
ratio to bugler strength. Since a table of organization
is not provided for organizations of this
type, all field music duties will be performed in
addition to those duties regularly assigned to
component personnel.
movements of the field music unit. Baton or mace
signals and the manual of the baton or mace will
be executed as prescribed in paragraphs 55
through 103.
123. Instrument Placement
No established rule can be prescribed for the
placement of instruments in the field music unit
since such placement is dependent on the size of
and the groups within the unit. The provisions of
paragraph 43 may be used as a guide. Figure 53
shows one possible formation.
124. Manual of the Bugle
The manual of the bugle consists of four positions,
executed as follows:
120. Equipment
Nonexpendable items of equipment for field
music units are contained in Department of the
Army Supply Bulletin No. 700-20, Adopted Items
of Material and Army Reportable Items. Expendable
equipment and supplies for field music units
are contained in Department of the Army Supply
Bulletin No. 700-50, Expendable Items.
121. Training
under the left arm, bell f ront, elbow and forizontally
under the left arm, bell front, elbow and forearm
b. Ready Instrument. From the position of the
carry, the right hand moves across the body,
grasps the upper tubing of the bugle, and carries
it in an upward circular motion to the right,
bringing the bell of the bugle to rest against the
right hip, tubing horizontally extended to the
Despite the fact that personnel composing the
field music unit should have been trained previously,
commanders will find it necessary to allocate
time for the conduct of unit training in order
to weld performers individual into an effective
to weld individual performers into an effective
ma.Appropriate commarching
and playing unit. Appropriate commanders
should select a noncommissioned officer
who, though not a bandsman, is well qualified in
all phases of field music operation to conduct this
training.
right ((2), fig. 54).
c. Prepare to Play. The right arm is fully ex-
tended to a 450 ang to the right, bell of the
bugle front, inscribing two clockwise circular mo-
tions, before bringing the mouthpiece of the
tions, before bringing the mouthpiece of the
bugle to the embouchure in playing position ((3),
d. Inspection. From the position of ready in-
strument, the bugle is brought halfway across the
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