Requirements for Rank in the
Fifes and Drums of York Town

Beginning Musician:
Performance Standards for Beginning Musician
Complete required paperwork and attend orientation.


Recruit - Junior Grade:
Performance Standards for Recruit - Junior Grade
Pass music theory quiz (reading notes, rests, time signature)
Demonstrate basic marching ability (facings, forward, halt, mark time)
Demonstrate ability to follow Drum Major's signals for the above


Drum Recruit:
Performance Standards for Drum Recruit
Complete lesson book
Marching ability to include wheels, countermarch, increase/decrease front, etc. and Drum Major's signals.
Musical Requirements for Drum Recruit
Flam, paradiddle, flam accent, flamacueInstructor
Long roll, 7-roll, 9-roll, ruff (or drag)Instructor
Open beatings 2, 3, 4Instructor


Fife Recruit:
Performance Standards for Fife Recruit
Complete lesson book
Marching ability to include wheels, countermarch, increase/decrease front, etc. and Drum Major's signals.
Musical Requirements for Fife Recruit
Major scales - G, D, AInstructor
Minor scales - A, E, B, F#Instructor
Three CheersInstructor


Private - Drummer:
Performance Standards for Private - Drummer
Must be able to play the tune with as few stops as possible and maintain a moderate tempo.
Must be able to play rolls at an advanced beginner level.
Must demonstrate the ability to march and play simultaneously.
Musical Requirements for Private - Drummer
An Easy QuickstepCC I - page 1
Baltimore ICC I - page 2
British GrenadiersCC II - page 4
Norman ToyCC I - page 32
Roving SailorCC I - page 11
TecumsehCC I - page 3
Turkish MarchCC I - page 26
Yankee DoodleCC II - page 5
World Turned Upside DownCC I - page 21


Private - Fifer:
Performance Standards for Private - Fifer
Must be able to play the tune with as few stops as possible and maintain a moderate tempo.
Must be able to sound the notes fairly clearly.
Must demonstrate the ability to march and play simultaneously.
Musical Requirements for Private - Fifer
British GrenadiersCC II - page 4
Country Dance ICC I - page 1
Norman Toy I or IICC I - page 32
Seven StarsCC I - page 15
TecumsehCC I - page 3
Turkish March ICC I - page 26
Welcome Here AgainCC I - page 13
Yankee DoodleCC II - page 5
World Turned Upside DownCC I - page 21


Drummer:
Performance Standards for Drummer
Must be able to play the tunes with only a few stops.
Must maintain a tempo closer to marching speed.
Overall playing must be smoother and clearer than expected for the Private level with better rolls.
Musical Requirements for Drummer
Army 2/4 (Biddy Oats)B&E - page 56
Army 6/4 (Corkonian)B&E - page 60
Frog in the WellCC II - page 12
MarionettesCC I - page 29
Old 1812CC II - page 3
The HarriotCC I - page 25
The RosetreeCC I - page 22
ChesterCC I - page 23


Fifer:
Performance Standards for Fifer
Must be able to play the tunes with only a few stops.
Must maintain a tempo closer to marching speed.
Overall playing must be smoother and with clearer intonation than expected for the Private level.
Musical Requirements for Fifer
Frog in the WellCC II - page 12
Go to the Devil I or IICC I - page 2
MarionettesCC I - page 29
Old 1812CC II - page 3
Road to Boston I or IICC I - page 9
The HarriotCC I - page 25
The RosetreeCC I - page 22
ChesterCC I - page 23


Corporal - Drummer:
Performance Standards for Corporal - Drummer
Tunes must be played to a minimum Senior Corps performance level exibiting good tempo, good memorization of the tune, with overall good quality sound and general impression.
Corporals must demonstrate the ability to march and play simultaneously at an intermediate level.
Musical Requirements for Corporal - Drummer
3 Camps, Assembly, Drum CallSheet
Ah Ca IraCC I - page 30
Chain CotillionCC II - page 17
First of SeptemberCC II - page 19
New Tatter JackB&E - page 42
Paddy on the HandcarSheet (CFD I)
York FusiliersCC I - page 37
National Anthemsheet
Yorktownsheet


Corporal - Fifer:
Performance Standards for Corporal - Fifer
Tunes must be played to a minimum Senior Corps performance level exibiting good tempo, good memorization of the tune, with overall good quality sound and general impression.
Corporals must demonstrate the ability to march and play simultaneously at an intermediate level.
Musical Requirements for Corporal - Fifer
Reveille, Drums CallSheet
Ah Ca IraCC I - page 30
Chain CotillionCC II - page 17
First of September ICC II - page 19
Paddy on the HandcarSheet
York Fusiliers ICCI I - page 19
National Anthem I AND IISheet
YorktownSheet


Sergeant - Drummer:
Performance Standards for Sergeant - Drummer
Tunes must be played to an advanced Senior Corps standard demonstrating skills beyond that expected for Corporal.
Sergeants must also demonstrate advanced performance skills in marching while playing.
Musical Requirements for Sergeant - Drummer
Double Drag BeatCC I - page 17
Downfall of ParisB&E - page 44
Duke of York's Troop with FanfareSheet
Girl I Left Behind Me with FillB&E - page 52
Hey! Johnny CopeSheet
Mathew Conklin's 2/4CC II - page 18
NewportB&E - page 71
Pleasures of SpaCC II - page 7


Sergeant - Fifer:
Performance Standards for Sergeant - Fifer
Tunes must be played to an advanced Senior Corps standard demonstrating skills beyond that expected for Corporal.
Sergeants must also demonstrate advanced performance skills in marching while playing.
Musical Requirements for Sergeant - Fifer
Downfall of ParisB&E - page 44
Duke of York' s Troop with Fanfare I or IISheet
Girl I Left Behind MeB&E - page 52
Hey! Johnny Cope I or IISheet
NewportB&E - page 71
Pleasures of Spa I or IICC II - page 6
Rickett's HornpipeCC II - page 22
The ShambuyCC I - page 18


Drum Sergeant:
Performance Standards for Drum Sergeant
Tunes must be played demonstrating a high level of technical expertise.
The three additional tunes should be selected based on their technical demands such as changing time signatures, tempos, difficult phrases, etc.
One of the three additional tunes should be a waltz or slow march.

Note: The drum beats do not necessarily correspond to the fife tunes required for this rank.
Musical Requirements for Drum Sergeant
3 Tunes of Own Selection (Approved by Instructor)Instructor
Austrian & HessianB&E - pages 30, 32
Crazy Army 2/4 with FillSheet
Dixie with WalkaroundB&E - page 79
Governor's IslandB&E - page 70
Royal Deux PontsSheet


Fife Sergeant:
Performance Standards for Fife Sergeant
Tunes must be played demonstrating a high level of technical expertise.
The three additional tunes should be selected based on their technical demands such as changing time signatures, tempos, difficult phrases, etc.
One of the three additional tunes should be a waltz or slow march.

Note: The drum beats do not necessarily correspond to the fife tunes required for this rank.
Musical Requirements for Fife Sergeant
3 Tunes of Own Selection (Approved by Instructor)Instructor
Cuckoo QuickstepB&E - page 81
Dixie with WalkaroundB&E - page 79
Empty PocketsB&E - page 59
Lighthorse MarchCC I - page 13
Royal Deux PontsSheet


Drum Major:
Performance Standards for Drum Major
Final requirements for this rank are currently being documented


Fife Major:
Performance Standards for Fife Major
Final requirements for this rank are currently being documented


Field Major:
Performance Standards for Field Major
Must achieve the rank of Fife Major or Drum Major in their primary instrument.
Must achieve the rank of Corporal in their secondary instrument.





For more information please contact: corps@fifes-and-drums.org