Before the advent of what we know today as modern military communications, fifes and drums played a vital military role. Not only used for entertainment each order that regulated a soldier’s life could be communicated by music. Fifes and Drums where also vital on the battle field as the fifes and drums could be heard over and under the roar of muskets and artillery. Military music is now used to entertain as well as to add pomp to a military march but in its day it was vital as a communication system.