Thanks from National CW Field Music School

[Jari]

A note of thanks to all 116 participants (44 Music Students, 12 Military Staff, 25 Infantry, 13 Civilian Volunteers, 12 Music Instructors and 10 Members of the 26th North Carolina Regimental Band) who attended the National Civil War Field Music School at Pamplin Historical Park this past weekend. All in all a great weekend for learning Fife, Drum and Bugle calls, drum major techniques, military instruction, school of the musician, and even getting in a lively game of rounders! Thanks to Joel Hummel for providing a period Church service for us Sunday morning.

An event like this is the result of hard work from many great folks. A lot of it behind the scenes.

Thanks to the fine Instructors (Garman Bowers, Tim Ertel, Jeb Hague, Douglas Hedwig, Joe Korber, David Loyal, Kara Loyal, Jason Maines, George Rabbai, Stephan Southard, and Chuck Woodhead) who gave of their time and talents and to the Military Staff and Infantry for providing military instruction to the students and being the guard at the event. Music of the 26th NC band added to the weekend and I was glad to have their support. A wonderful volunteer force under the direction of Ron Myzie and Heather Faust kept us well fed. My thanks to Doug Dobbs for providing the military leadership for the school, Michael Schaffner for his usual great work as Adjutant, Joel Hummel, our Sergeant Major, Company Officers (James Tate, Andrew Dangel, Denny Rohrbaugh, Steve Hane) and 1st Sergeants (Rich Hill, Jay Callaham) who handled the musician companies. And the Marines were there as our Quartermasters! Thanks Les Salsbury and Jeff Pollock!

The heat and humidity was a challenge all weekend but thanks to Steve Isberg, our hospital stewart (an EMT) we were able to keep an eye on all the participants. He was kept pretty busy!

Last, but not least, thanks to the Pamplin Historical Park for their support of the School and to the National Association for Civil War Brass Music Inc., the non profit organization that planned and supported this endeavor. My thanks to Michael Vice, president, and all the board members of NACWBM!

We will be posting pictures of the event on the website soon! For those interested in ordering photos, there will be information there.

http://www.nationalcivilwarbrassmusic.org/NationalCivilWarFieldMusicSchool.html

Also, we will be posting more music resources on the site so that this becomes a year round place to access civil war music.

Interesting to note that a severe rainstorm came through on Saturday around 6:30 PM and rain fell during the evening, yet not a single person left because of the rain…I think that is a record for a CW event ☺

Keep an eye out for the next National CW Field Music School!

Again, my sincere thanks and gratitude.

Jari Villanueva
Music Director, the National Civil War Field Music School

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Jari,

Congratulations on a good turnout and what sounds like a good event. Will it be held again in 2009, or is it too early to ask that? :)

[Jari]

Jari,

Congratulations on a good turnout and what sounds like a good event. Will it be held again in 2009, or is it too early to ask that? :)

Thanks Kevin. It was good due to the wonderful folks who helped make it work. Amazing things can happen when there is teamwork! Thanks for your comments about the "School of the Bugler" I sent you to review and for the information you were kind to send me.

One of our students (a young campaigner) wrote about his experience on his blog:

http://theyoungcampaigner.typepad.com/the_young_campaigner/2008/06/a-weekend-at-th.html

We are gathering photos and videos from the weekend to post on the site.

As for 2009, it looks that the overwhelming thought is that we need to keep this alive! So the short answer is YES. Stay tuned for details. :)

Again, my sincere thanks and gratitude.

Jari Villanueva
Music Director, the National Civil War Field Music School

[Pvt Schnapps]

Thanks for all the hard work you and Heather put into this Jari! It was one for the records -- hope to have my AAR out in a few days.

[Pvt Schnapps]

I had a great time and just posted the AAR at http://commonground.aceboard.com/249612-4910-5937-0-Field-Music-School.htm

[flattop32355]

It is my understanding that, after taking up residence in the barn for the Saturday evening storm, I managed to sleep through a quite boisterous set of music lessons from fife, drum and bugle. I honestly do not recall hearing a single note played as I lay comatose on the hard wooden floor.

[TheQM]

I honestly do not recall hearing a single note played as I lay comatose on the hard wooden floor.

Bernie,

Ain't old age just swell.

[Ephraim_Zook]

Bernie,

You are lucky. I tossed and turned most of the night.

Ron

[Jari]

Steve Hane filled in as photographer for Julio Zangroniz, who could not attend due to illness, at the school the other weekend.

Here are some shots from the weekend:

http://www.metroairphoto.com/MusicSchool

If you order a CD, $5.00 goes toward the school. That would help keep the registration cost down!


Jari

[TheSignalCorpsGuy]

One of our students (a young campaigner) wrote about his experience on his blog:

http://theyoungcampaigner.typepad.com/the_young_campaigner/2008/06/a-weekend-at-th.html


Jari Villanueva
Music Director, the National Civil War Field Music School


Jim (and all),


Thanks for posting young William's pasion! His family has been members of our unit for just over a year. He is a respected and valuable member! Him and my son (who is also a drummer) find an Infantry unit and drum all weekend at events.

Pvt. Chapman is the standard by which all others should be measured! I just can't say enough good things about him!

[Young Campaigner]

Jim (and all),


Thanks for posting young William's pasion! His family has been members of our unit for just over a year. He is a respected and valuable member! Him and my son (who is also a drummer) find an Infantry unit and drum all weekend at events.

Pvt. Chapman is the standard by which all others should be measured! I just can't say enough good things about him!

Thank you very much for such a great compliment! This is what I love doing and I appreciate all the help that everyone gives me. I will definately be at the field music school next year and for several more to come.

Jari- Thanks for the link and the compliment!

Sincerely,
William Chapman
Signal Corps of the James
www.theyoungcampaigner.com