Figure 1.--

School marching bands are most associated with America. Both high schools and junior high schools in America almost always have uniformed marching bands. We are not positive yet about the chronology here, but it appears to be associated with the Civil War and the large number of boys and youth that served as musicians. Another factor may have been the immense popularity of march music as popularized by John Philip Souza. Perhaps an even more important was the immense popularity of inter-collegiate sports, especially football in the late 19th century. These developments occurred at about the same time as the expansion of the American public school sydtem. Many high schools were founded after the Civil War just as inter-collegiate sports were becoming popular activiies. Thus by the early 20th century the idea of inter-scholastic sports and marching bnds had become well established in high schools throughout America. We notice bands after the turn of the century. They proably existed in the late-19th century, but so far we have only found images of 20th century bands.

Popularity

School marching bands are most associated with America. Both high schools and junior high schools in America almost always have uniformed marching bands.

Chronology

We are not positive yet about the chronology here, but it appears to be associated with the Civil War and the large number of boys and youth that served as musicians. A reader writes, "Most marching bands (school bands in general) in the United States begin just after the American Civil War with the return of a vast number of military musicians to the civilian life. The became the cadre of band directors for many many years and marching band was predominantly based on their practices for many years after the war." [Duncan] As the Civil War musicians were quite young, their experiences contibued to influence school music programs for several decades. Another factor may have been the immense popularity of march music as popularized by John Philip Souza. Perhaps an even more important was the immense popularity of inter-collegaite sports, especially football in the late 19th century. These developments occurred at about the same time as the expansion of the American public school sydtem. Many high schools were founded after the Civil War just as inter-collegiate sports were becoming popular activiies. Thus by the early 20th century the idea of inter-scholastic sports and marching bnds had become well established in high schools throughout America. We notice bands after the turn of the century. They proably existed in the late-19th century, but so far we have only found images of 20th century bands.

Civil War Musicians

Most of the really young boys entered the Federal and Confederate Armies as musicians. One source estimates that were places for 40,000 muscians in the Federal Army alone. Many of the younger boys served as drummers and fifers. There were many more drummers than fifers. These instruments were best suited for younger boys. While much attention is given to drummers, perhaps because they were often the youngest boys, there were also many bugglers. Large numbers of bugglers were also required as the buggle was important in communicating orders in the heat of battle in the years before modern communication. The buggle could often be heard when voice commands were impossible. With the buggle, lung power was essential, making it suitable for slightly older boys or youths. Some younger boys, however, also served as bugglers. One source writes, "There are numerous tales of buglers too small to climb into saddles unaided, who rode into pistol-and-saber battles with their regiments. Most famous of these on the Union side was Johnny Clem, who became drummer to the 22nd Michigan at eleven, and was soon a mounted orderly on the staff of General George H. Thomas, with the "rank" of lance sergeant." Another noted drummer boy was Robert Henry Hendershot who became known as 'the Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock.' He was a drummer boy for the Eighth Michigan.

Collegiate Sports

The University of Illinois had one of the first Marching at halftime of a football game bands, but they basically did “sets” or pictures on the field scattering between sets with no real drill involved. [Duncan]

Marching Music

Public Education

Other Institutions

We see marching bands being organized at other stte institutions for children in the early 20th century. Thus included prphanages and refomatories. One of the earliest schools we have found is the Boys' Industrial School, we think in the 1900s. This appears to have been a development for boys only.

Sources

Casavant. A.R. Casavant has done some work in the history of American bands, but we have not yet accessed his work.

Duncan, Stephen F. Director of Fine Arts, Galveston, ISD, E-Mail message, May 12, 2008.

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Created: 5:29 PM 5/12/2008
Last updated: 5:29 PM 5/12/2008