The lecture expounds on major shifts in weapon technology and therefore field maneuvers that made the need for a command structure all the more important as they didn't have watches. How did drums help stop the "motorcycle gangs of the day" from robbing the first banks  in 14th century? Orders needed to be carried out more rapidly as firepower and weapons technology increased. When was the king no longer needed on the battlefield? Why did drummers learn to play hand to hand?  This gave rise to common sticking patterns and duties across all languages, especially after a large gut snare was placed under the drums in about 1510AD, doubling the intsruments range.

The change from battlefield drummer to competition displays the new instruction techniques that befuddled high schools and colleges for decades. The gap between drum & bugle and fife and drum technical skills finally closed after a discussion over a few beers at a local bar after a rehearsal. The result of that night affected the next 40 years of competitions and has merit today. There are many pleasant surprises and quotes by many of the greatest teachers, judges and players of our history.

All the different snare genre finally come together under one judging system with fife & drum, Swiss, Pipe Band and orchestral concepts hitting the field and individual contests in the mid-20th Century. This became a zenith in economy and skill, when competitions sprouted all over the East Coast and Midwest.

 Speed drumming, backsticking and complex visuals are of recent history, achieved a quarter century before the movie “Drumline”. Olympic training methods and changes in equipment technology were absorbed by drumlines through individual competitors regimen.  The information is timely.  Rudimental coordination easily transfers to drum set, strengthening ones “recall library” and “chops", an advantage at any audition or public performance.