It is one of those things that makes history, but nobody realizes it even happened.  On Friday, December 10, 2010 the Army School of Music graduated its first 10-week course graduates.  What is the significance of this event?  Let me start at the beginning...

60 years ago in 1950, the Army agreed to combine with the Navy School of Music to produce our musicians cooperatively.  The first class graduated in 1951.  For six decades music training was based on a program that was essentially a condensed freshman year of college music theory and performance.  The program varied in length over the years, but for many years was about a six-month program.  During the six months every student received class instruction in theory, harmony and ear training.  They rehearsed in concert and stage bands and received individual instruction for their instrument.  The individual services of Navy, Marines and Army trained the specific tactical or physical standards before and after classes.

What changed?  The Army's requirements to do more tactical and physical training along with requirements to reduce the size of groups.  With the advent of the Global War on Terrorism, Army bands found that their mission of providing music to the troops would no longer primarily include the traditional large bands meant for stage performance.  In fact the troops in the 21st century were not accustomed to listening to Sousa-style concert bands and would prefer the personal audio preference facilitated by iPods.  In order to provide music and entertainment, the Army would have to change up its approach--not throwing out the traditions--but finding ways to provide morale support where and when it was needed.

In order to provide better musical support to the troops, the Army had to first make develop ways of delivering it.  The easiest ways of delivering music to the Soldier in the field is to take the transportation that is provided in a combat zone.  That would be either by land in armored convoys or by air in helicopters.  In either mode there is a restriction on numbers of Soldiers and equipment that can be easily moved.  Though neither of these concepts are new to warfare, the ability to travel in convoy and helicopter in the desert is practical for one major change in history.  That is, that music of today is largely performed by small groups.  To meet the ability to provide music in small groups, the program designed an ability to standardize the small groups from within the larger unit or band.  These standard groups were designated "Music Performance Teams," or "MPTs." 

The next change to the Army music program was to produce a training program that emphasizes small group performance.  There is a very large difference between performing as a large concert or stage ensemble and performing as a small rock, country or R&B group.  Basically, the smaller the group, the more emphasis on the individual musician to be skilled.  To meet this requirement, the standards for auditions into the Army music program were raised.  A new audition format and procedure was also fielded to yield musicians that were capable of improvisation and multiple talents to include singing or other instruments.  The intent is to emphasize the "total musician" rather than the linear concept of, say, "a clarinet player."  Though we still need clarinet players (for example) we emphasize that we want a clarinet player who can be trained to double on another instrument or sing professionally.  We still hire clarinet players, but encourage the musician to continue to grow in multiple abilities--something that is generic to most musicians and something we did not prior emphasize.

The last step in the transformation of the Army musician was what culminated on December 10th.  By shortening the course from six months to 10 weeks, we now recognize that we have some of the best-trained talent entering the program.  We can now train the higher-level musician show techniques and small group performance.  On the evening of December 9th, the class performed on the stage for an audience.  No longer are rehearsals the end product of the training, but the actual performance in front of a live audience is the culminating event.  Emphasis is on performance, entertainment and quick production. 

The culminating events of Army School of Music class 11-001 were an historic event for military music.  However, history was already being made by the thousands of small, popular-oriented groups who have been performing for troops in the areas of conflict for over a century.  It is now in 2010 that the art of small group performance is recognized and developed for the express purpose of delivering morale support to the troops wherever they are.  By doing so, we bring America to them and support them as America as whole supports our troops.