Cumming, Georgia. (October 29, 2023): Since the founding of the Republic, music has played a vital role in both training troops and inspiring fellow Americans to join the fight. In this photo by Musician 1st Class Matthew Gagliardo, Navy Musician 1st Class David Kapral performs on the bass trumpet at West Forsyth High School during the Commodores 2023 National Tour.

The Commodores is a collection of tours held each year by various units of the Navy Band. For musicians like these, this means weeks on the road doing performances for audiences as small as local high schools. They also perform at major municipal halls, community centers, and countless universities and outdoor venues such as football stadiums and on the Capitol Mall.

The history of martial tunes begins with the Medieval Turks who are credited with developing the first truly military bands. These “Mehtaran,” or "pre-eminences",  played during the military campaigns of the Ottoman Turks who ruled Europe and Asia for over six hundred years. The Ottomans were the first to use band instruments, such as fife, drum, and bugle, to communicate orders to soldiers in battle. 

The Americans continued this tradition during the Civil War where each regiment was required to organize a field band to help command and control tactical units by dictating movements through specific tunes. Much later, General George Armstrong Custer required the Seventh Cavalry Band to play during actual combat operations to inspire his troopers, although to an unfortunate outcome. 

To become a soldier-musician, candidates must meet all requirements for a regular enlistment in the Army including basic training to develop physical fitness and warfighting skills. After Basic, these budding musicians attend their Advanced Individual Training at the Army School of Music at Norfolk, Virginia.

All Navy Band performances are free and open to the public.