Marching with the Fifes and Drums
BY MARY-JUSTINE LANYON
March 22, 2007

With fife flourishes and energetic drumrolls, the members of the junior and senior corps of the Mountain Fifes and Drums brought their 200 guests to their feet. The standing ovation concluded the corps’ fund-raiser, held last Sunday at Lake Arrowhead Country Club.

The musicians are on their way to Jamestown, Va., where they will lead the parade on May 12 in honor of the colony’s founding 400 years ago. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is the honorary chairperson of the event and Queen Elizabeth II will be in attendance.

Director Kevin Garland said both corps will be going to Jamestown. “We’re sending 50 musicians, about 30 siblings and 30 to 40 parents. A total of about 120 people will be representing the mountain communities.”

At Sunday’s event, the fifes and drums corps marched up the 10th fairway of the country club. As they appeared over the rise, more than one spectator gasped at the sight. One attendee said he was transported back in time, especially since these young musicians are the same age as the original fifers and drummers.

Once inside the clubhouse, the junior corps took their places near the fireplace, while the senior corps fifers went up into the balcony and the drummers stood on the stairs.

The first piece—Road to Boston Medley—was played by the junior corps. Later in the program, the senior corps played the Round Dance Medley.

Origin of the Corps

Garland told the gathering he had grown up in Williamsburg, Va., where he was a member of the fifes and drums corps. After moving to California, marrying and having children, his dream was to start a fifes and drums corps.

“The problem was I could only play the drum,” Garland said. “Little did I know that Cindy Olson, who plays the fife, lived right here. One day she was at church and noticed the drummer in the band was holding his sticks in the traditional 18th century way.”

That drummer was Garland. The two got in touch and started Mountain Fifes and Drums. The first week, Garland noted, they had 25 students show up. “Now,” he said, “we have 60 students in the corps with a waiting list.”

The corps is open to all mountain children who have graduated from fourth grade—usually at about age 10. “We expect them,” Garland said, “to stay in the corps until they graduate from high school.”

The students join as recruits. There is no audition and they do not have to have any musical experience. Once they memorize six pieces, the students become recruits first class. They get their blue uniforms and can serve in the color guard.

When they memorize another six pieces, the students are promoted to private and can march as musicians. Twelve more pieces and they become fifers or drummers.

Yet another 12 and they earn the rank of junior corps corporal, a position that carries more responsibility. These students earn the right to wear a green cockade on their hats.

The next step is to pass the corporal chamber. The students must meet with directors Garland and Olson and be able to play all their music perfectly. “Should they make a mistake,” Garland said, “they have to be able to pick the piece up and continue.”

Once through this step, the students move from the junior corps and became senior corps corporals. They receive a new uniform, which has been white. The senior corps is getting new red uniforms, which they will have prior to their trip to Jamestown.

Another 12 pieces and the musicians become sergeants and receive a red cockade.

After memorizing 12 more pieces and writing an original composition, the students become fife or drum sergeants and receive a blue cockade.

The final rank is sergeant major, which requires memorization of 91 pieces of music. Current Sergeant Major Casey Ochs is in charge of the entire corps. He was sporting a sample of the new red uniform on Sunday.

“Music,” said Garland, “is both the motivation and the reward.”

Donations

In addition to the money raised by ticket sales and the silent auction, Mountain Fifes and Drums also received several donations at Sunday’s event.

The Sons of the American Revolution, Riverside Chapter, gave Garland and Olson two checks totaling $1,000. They also read a proclamation recognizing Mountain Fifes and Drums as an organization to be considered for outstanding service to the community and upholding ideas established by the founding fathers.

In presenting a check for $2,500, Carol Callaghan, president of Arrowhead Arts Association, challenged other organzations to match their gift.

“The Arrowhead Arts Association was our first contributor,” Olson told the crowd. “They helped us purchase our first drums and are very special to us.”

Bill Alexander from American Legion Rim of the World Post 360 said the post was happy to present the corps with a first check for $500. “We consider you our personal band,” he said, “as you lead us in the Blue Jay parade.”

The final donation came from FedEx, who pledged to sponsor the shipment of all the instruments to and from Jamestown. Garland estimated the value of this sponsorship at $7,000.

Yankee Doodle

As the junior and senior corps prepared to play a final number—Old Into New or Yankee Doodle—Garland told the story behind the song, which he said was the most popular song in the 18th century. It was written by British soldiers, he explained, to make fun of the American soldiers.

“Every verse,” Garland said, “makes fun of General Washington and the Continental Army.”

So how did it become a rallying cry for American independence? When General Washington beat Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, the British soldiers, as a last act of defiance, refused to look at the Continental Army. The American drum major told his fifes and drums to play Yankee Doodle, causing the British soldiers to turn and face the music—and the victors.

To date, the corps has raised $18,000 towards the Jamestown trip. Anyone wishing to donate to Mountain Fifes and Drums may send a check to P.O. Box 22, Twin Peaks 92391.

Used with permission.