“All the world is a stage.” Through the past few weeks I have compared some of the similarities with Army and musical training. One thing that struck me this week was the staging of a performance and the staging of battle…the choreography. I came to this after reading the excerpt from the War by Sebastian Junger describing the actions of former Specialist Salvatore Giunta posted in the Stars and Stripes...read more

• Post Comment

Music has been called the Universal Language. Every culture has music and I have seen it bridge peoples and foster communication more quickly then words. Memories are evoked. Images are conjured up. Emotions are stirred. It is like the music gives a listener a healthy way to engage and share with those in the audience. Music can be a tangible way to connect where social norms might prohibit the connection. You might wonder how a trained musician survives in the Army. You might...read more

• Post Comment

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usarak/page3/ I just wanted to post something quick to redirect you to Army Alaska's flickr page. The 9th Army Band just got back from a trip to Anchorage where we performed on Fort Richardson and in Palmer, AK for the State Fair. Mary Ralls, our Community Relations expert took some nice pictures of our performances. This link isn't limited to the 9th Army Band. It is an excellent link to explore some of the fantastic...read more

• 1 Comment

All musicians have to be team players to succeed. You have to listen and mold your talent to those around you. “Hot dogging” or selfishness is not a trait that will get you hired for a gig or keep you employed for long. You can tell a real professional as you listen to how they match articulation, phrasing, dynamics as they become one with their mates. Their isn’t very much more satisfying than doing a job where everyone is synced up. The blend is perfect, the pitch is...read more

• Post Comment

This past week my former colleague and First Sergeant Steve Mohacey retired from the Army and renewed his career as a music educator in San Antonio. He has meant a lot to me in my development as a Soldier and Musician but even more as a person. He grew up in San Antonio and graduated from UT-Austin, and started his musical career doing gigs in San Antonio and Austin, TX. He then spent time playing for Disneyland in CA, SeaWorld in San Antonio, and teaching school in the Austin area....read more

• Post Comment

As the school year starts, many of my friends and former classmates are preparing for battle…in the classroom. My music teacher/band director friends have some very similar experiences to me this time of year. They are looking to what’s ahead and planning to achieve objective goals that they want to meet to benefit their students, schools, and communities. I really enjoy reading of their trials and success on facebook. They get me motivated to serve more. That sounds like...read more

• 1 Comment

Hello everyone, I am Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Price. I currently serve you as the Commander of your 9th Army "Arctic Warrior" Band in Ft. Wainwright, AK. We are the "coolest" band on the planet in one of the truly special locations in the world, Alaska. We are a truly musically excellent organization and have the same unique Arctic Light Infantry skill set of all Army Alaska Soldiers. We stand ready to serve in any manner we are called. As I start a...read more

• Post Comment