Honors College Senior Thesis Presentations
Marching Through Time: An Analysis of the Military Band's influence on Performing Arts in America
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
History/Social Studies Certification
Minor
Religious Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Olga Koulisis
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
There is a unique tie between military groups and music. Historical analyses of military music groups demonstrates the evolution of music’s various roles in society. Through an analysis of military music and its increased emphasis in the United States, military groups such as the United States marine corps, navy, air force, and army, it is evident that military music influenced the practice of music in the United States. Although music was already incorporated into school curriculum prior to this, the influx of military musicians returning to civilian life after World War I caused an increased interest and focus on marching band programming in the United States. High school band programs increased in popularity during this time and are still evolving. With the evolution of these organizations came the creation of different competitive circuits for marching bands in the United States.
The United States saw many militarization movements. Because of these movements, and the United States military groups’ close ties to music education and specifically marching bands in America there is evidence of a direct tie between United States military bands and music movements in America. Music creates its own cultural aspects in the United States, and internationally. This project will provide a brief analysis of the background of the military band history and its ties to music education and performance groups in the United States. This project will give a brief summary of the evolution of these competitive organizations for high school musicians. Ultimately this project will focus on analyzing a cultural history of the United States through the lens of music education and military influences in America. I will accomplish this by analyzing scholarship and musical organization histories in addition to conducting a study of newspapers as primary sources of United States culture from roughly post World War I to the present.
Fall Scholars Week 2023 Event
Honors College Senior Thesis Presentations
Marching Through Time: An Analysis of the Military Band's influence on Performing Arts in America
There is a unique tie between military groups and music. Historical analyses of military music groups demonstrates the evolution of music’s various roles in society. Through an analysis of military music and its increased emphasis in the United States, military groups such as the United States marine corps, navy, air force, and army, it is evident that military music influenced the practice of music in the United States. Although music was already incorporated into school curriculum prior to this, the influx of military musicians returning to civilian life after World War I caused an increased interest and focus on marching band programming in the United States. High school band programs increased in popularity during this time and are still evolving. With the evolution of these organizations came the creation of different competitive circuits for marching bands in the United States.
The United States saw many militarization movements. Because of these movements, and the United States military groups’ close ties to music education and specifically marching bands in America there is evidence of a direct tie between United States military bands and music movements in America. Music creates its own cultural aspects in the United States, and internationally. This project will provide a brief analysis of the background of the military band history and its ties to music education and performance groups in the United States. This project will give a brief summary of the evolution of these competitive organizations for high school musicians. Ultimately this project will focus on analyzing a cultural history of the United States through the lens of music education and military influences in America. I will accomplish this by analyzing scholarship and musical organization histories in addition to conducting a study of newspapers as primary sources of United States culture from roughly post World War I to the present.