Most musicians have dabbled with a wide variety of equipment to try to “perfect” our performance.  Arguments and preferences for equipment switch routinely as we settle in on what we like. I am amazed to look back on my college days and reflect on how much money I wasted on all those mouthpieces, ligatures, and reeds.  Most of us major on minor issues. In the end, we usually go in circles back to where we began.

Fortunately, we all get older and wiser.  I can honestly say I haven’t changed very much in equipment selection in the past 15 years. My focus is on finding “good apple” equipment that anyone could pick up and use. I realized along time ago that I am a professional. Regardless of the musical equipment, I am going to sound like "me". I do have some personal preference, but my focus is different. I need quality, durability, and flexibility in what I select.

This methodology has helped through the years as I replace personal equipment or try something new. I remember updating my personal clarinet. I studied and found out what the best use of my money was and what my colleagues used. I found the “good apple” horn in less then 10 minutes.

I am talking about equipment because I can understand musical equipment and the trend to get the latest and greatest, but I have been impressed recently how the Army fields new equipment. My Military and musical equipment are screened and evaluated to ensure that the mission is successful. It is interesting to see how we balance technology versus a passing fad.

As the bandmaster, I make the final decisions on what should be purchased by my unit to ensure our musical success. It can make for an interesting day when you tell a Soldier that the equipment they “need “ is just fleeting fancy or junk, and a waste of taxpayer money. We don’t currently have a specific “fielding” process on specific makes and models of musical equipment. So, I use my experience and utilize lessons learned from the rest of the Band field to make the best choice. Bandmasters don't take this responsibility lightly.

Consequently, our military equipment is hand selected for us. It’s nice when experts ensure your success with a specific fielding of equipment that prepares us for the conditions I operate in.  I am grateful for the wisdom of whoever makes the choices for me and my Army colleagues.

When I arrived in Alaska, I received the specific equipment that I would use to survive the cold and complete my warrior tasks and drills. It was daunting to carry it out of the issuing facility but it makes more sense to me everyday.

Over the past weeks, I have seen the fruits of the selection process. I have been to the range to qualify on my pistol, completed a 20-K Ruck March, and completed the basics of Arctic survival techniques with our Arctic Light Infantry Training.  Concurrently with all of this, I have completed an intense series of training to get us ready for our musical missions here in Alaska. I have packed up and used over 200 individual pieces of gear over this time. 

The relative ease of each event was helped in great part by equipment. It is amazing that it is so consistently focused on the mission and our safety. Furthermore, it is light, durable, and flexible enough to be used by each member of the Army.

The Army requires more of her equipment.

That is pretty cool.

Until next time…Arctic Warrior, Arctic Tough  

 CW2 Jeff Price