“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 http://www.stripes.com/war-excerpt-about-staff-sgt-salvatore-giunta-s-actions-1.117774 (Now a Staff Sergeant, Salvatore Giunta is to soon be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.)

The movements and intricacies of musical performance do not exactly mirror the life and death decisions that SPC Giunta performed with his team but the repetitive training and achievement needed to excel in battle and stage is similar.

When I read stories, I try to put myself in someone else’s position. That usually puts me in a place where I try to equate my background as musician into a variety of domains. It doesn’t always work but it definitely rules my initial point of reference.

In music, I think of passing phrases among sections, trusting that an entrance will be there to keep the flow of the piece going. I think of being in perfect tune with other instruments and knowing when I have to adjust my own pitch tendencies to adapt to the greater sound. I think of what I have to do with my articulation to compensate or enhance a mood jointly with my team…I think of what kind of work and effort it takes to be united in effort and focused on a common goal. I think of movements to stand and smile, spotlights to enhance the mood, staging of equipment for maximum esthetics and balance. I think of costumes and segueways for each selection. Furthermore, I am reminded that I have to spend time safely getting to and from a job and the time it takes to set up for each show. Wow, the checks can be mind boggling for a simple series of shows...especially, when something unexpected happens.

Anyway, I am amazed when I read a heroic story like the one of SPC Giunta and his Men. Consequently, I feel humbled about the musicians I serve with everyday.

Currently, many of my Army band colleagues are serving in harm’s way performing and executing duties in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Among them is my fellow blogger and mentor Colonel Thomas Palmatier and the Army Field Band's "Volunteers", plus other great bands like the 101^st Airborne Division Band, 1^st Infantry Division Band, and the 3^rd Infantry Division Band. I am impressed with how they prepared for the stage and prepared for war with the same sense of  “choreography”. Their success depends on the ability to adapt to a variety of demands and circumstances. 

 We all aren’t called on to act on our training like SPC Giunta or serve with music in an “extreme” way like my Army Band colleagues but I am always proud to  call myself  a member of the Army team. 

Until next time...Arctic Warrior, Arctic Tough

CW2 Jeff Price