As a retired 27 yr Marine musician I have seen our band field evolve from being a 'pot luck' chance of getting in a Marine band to where they now play on a level with the President's Own Marine band, as this video shows. This evolution began around 1970, when Major Sidney Snellings instituted the Band Guarantee Program. Although we had our outstanding musician's, this program began drawing in higher caliber musician's, and the results are amazing and bodes well for the future of our band field, which is very gratifying for us 'old timer's'. The training and combat ready requirements for today's Marine musician's are also at a much higher level, which fulfill's my motto for Marine musician's, past, present, and future: 'Marine musician's toot 'n shoot'!! I'm proud to have been a part of the era of Marine musician's who laid the groundwork for the musician's of today, who carry on our proud legacy and contribution to our Corps and our country. To today's Marine musician's I say, "Continue the march, and Semper Fidelis". Jesse Sunderland/Captain/USMC bands/Retired.
As a retired 27 yr Marine musician I have seen our band field evolve from being a 'pot luck' chance of getting in a Marine band to where they now play on a level with the President's Own Marine band, as this video shows. This evolution began around 1970, when Major Sidney Snellings instituted the Band Guarantee Program. Although we had our outstanding musician's, this program began drawing in higher caliber musician's, and the results are amazing and bodes well for the future of our band field, which is very gratifying for us 'old timer's'. The training and combat ready requirements for today's Marine musician's are also at a much higher level, which fulfill's my motto for Marine musician's, past, present, and future: 'Marine musician's toot 'n shoot'!!
I'm proud to have been a part of the era of Marine musician's who laid the groundwork for the musician's of today, who carry on our proud legacy and contribution to our Corps and our country. To today's Marine musician's I say, "Continue the march, and Semper Fidelis".
Jesse Sunderland/Captain/USMC bands/Retired.