Show loom W A MW L n A N M XZ X Z EL M 1 UR ca 1 7 by FRANK J WEBER sand band leader united states army lately of the st louis symphony orchestra SAM has determined to make life in every one of his bands in the united states army as pleasant and profitable as if 19 humanly possible hereafter according to an announcement by maj gen 3 P C 11 harris arris the adjutant general of the army a man may enlist to study music who has hall had no DO musical training whatsoever army trained bandsmen bandsman bands men find so many opportunities in civil life today that the regiments reg ments have great difficulty in keeping their men once they hale hae become finished musicians and have had bad their temperament pe well ordered and disciplined by their army experience A tremendous de demand and exists for their services in factories and industrial plants N n here easy jobs at good pay are waiting for army musicians there they I 1 1 fire are immediately assigned to the band now flow an all important part in welfare work among large corporations today the army will take any man and teach him the instrument to which beeh he Is best adapted or the one which ile he may desire the young fellow who yearns to learn march music and jazz will be sent to the seventh recruit depot band columbus barracks ohio where preparations are now being made to train two hundred musicians tor for the army under my direction 1 I may say that here the road to a finished musical education lies ile open to any man with musical training talent I 1 temperament or aspiration for the finished musician there Is the probable opportunity that he will be able some time to organize and conduct his own band the goal that beckons every bandsman who has the truly musical spirit to those men whose training Is incomplete or whose main quality Is musical talent and a desire to develop lt ft the army holds out inducements that cannot be approached in civil life these men may be accepted for enlistment in any fighting branch of the amy firmy they desire they come to the 11 ho columbus lumbus ol umbus recruit depot for enlistment and here they are immediately tested as to their musical ability or capacity to receive instruction af pf A all ii it if the recruit has sufficient training he Is immediately reported for assignment to an army band where his instruction st continues in the hugher grades of music if he Is found in sufficiently schooled tor for immediate assignment sign ment but has a musical temperament susceptible of training he be will be placed with the recruit depot band for instruction in either case he receives regular systematic training as an instrumentalist and la in band routine and gains musical experience such as Is difficult to obtain in any organization outside the army the educational feature Is not confined ed to our recruit depot bands but Is con in all army bands to men with special qualifications who can pass the required examination an added inducement Is held out a two year course at the united states army music school any bandsman in a his second enlistment may become a candidate tor for the free scholarship at the institute of 1 musical art of new york city this i i fi r institution supervises the instruction at the united states army ausle school the director of the institute examines the candidates tor for enrollment and selects five or six men for the scholarships others who display marked ability but who fall a little below the passing mark are permitted to remain and take the one year assistant band leader course at the school the course of training for recruits has been adopted after a thorough study of tile the best methods found in foreign armies the most practical features have been taken from every available source and combined into an american system which has already achieved valuable results A word about pay the army musician has no anxiety about his food good wholesome holesome strength giving food there Is no worry about clothes quarters heat or light there is no apprehension As aa to sickness or doctors bills he has besides these many advantages a healthy environment cheerful companionship and the opportunity to broaden his point of view by b y association with many different diffene D t t types y pe 1 of men lie ile Is assured of ample time tima to practice ample time for leisure nor Is there any deduction of pay while he be Is on furlough all musicians receive more money than privates as well as other privileges and they are eligible to all the noncommissioned grades from musician third class to band leader in conclusion I 1 can safely say that as builders of morale and as maintainers of the fighting spirit which bich made american troops invincible dur ing the great war the bands of f th the united states army demonstrated their value beyond all question |