Sick of carrying a musket and ready to fife

[theotherguy]

I was wondering if someone could point me in a direction to fall in with a Federal fife and drum corp for the Franklin event in October? Also wondering if there are any good videos for instruction on drums? I am a fifer but would like to learn the drum also.
My problem is that there is not a lot of interest here in Colorado and it seems difficult to find a unit that doesn't mind taking me under thier wing and prepping me via long distance.
Any suggestions?


Jay Hollenbeck

[PogueMahone]

Whaley's Battalion of Rambo's Brigade (I think this is also known as First Confederate Legion) had a good fife and drum outfit playing at Selma. I think these are the same guys I asked to move further away from our camp at Chickamauga (not because they were bad, but they were loud and some of the guys were snoozing AND our fiddler was playing softly to the enjoyment of his pards).

Your best bet to make a direct contact would be thru the NSA forum at:
www.nsalliance.org

good luck,

[theotherguy]

Thanks PogueMahone, I guess I should have specified Federal. Nothing wrong with you? Johnies but being born in way upstate New York, I can't seem to shake my alliance to the North. I have taken your suggestion and posted on the web site you suggested. Thanks again,

Jay Hollenbeck

[aplett]

The First New Mexico Field Music will be going to Franklin this year, so you might fall in with them as they're only a state away. I haven't played with them, but they have some good articles on their website at:
http://www.1stnmvi.com/first_new_mexico_field_music.htm

As for learning to play the fife from afar, it isn't as easy as it sounds, but www.beafifer.com (http://www.beafifer.com) has a good self-teaching program. Fife is a lot like flute, so you could also ask a flute teacher for help in initially sounding notes and getting an embrouchure. Good luck!
-Andrew Plett
Oregon Fife & Drum Corps
116 Regt. Penn. Vol., Co. B

[theotherguy]

Thanks Aplett- I happened to run into that site about a week ago and haven't gotten a response from them as to my question. The other thing that concerns me is that they have what I believe to be a person of the opposite sex listed as a musician and that is a big no no as far as I am concerned no matter how you want to slice it.

I have played the fife on and off for years havever I would need to know what they(the unit I would be falling in with) are playing in order to know if I am playing the correct stuff for their show. Another question that maby you could help with is if you know if the rudiment drum video from be a fiffer is any good?

Jay Hollenbeck