305th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Story by Spc. Joseph Vine 10.10.2010 CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – A tuba, two trumpets, a trombone, and a French horn are all it took for five soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division Band to speak to 25 Iraqi music students, with the Peace Through Arts program, at the United States Embassy.
The students sat on the edge of their seats holding their instruments and mimicking the soldiers’ movements as they played. They listened intently, learning from every note produced by the instruments of the Cantigny Brass Quintet.
Once the quintet finished playing music that ranged from classical to movie themes, they gave one-on-one classes to the students to improve their playing skills.
The band members showed the students breathing techniques and proper hand placement on their instruments to play louder and longer.
“We showed them classical music, American marches and rock ‘n’ roll,†said Chief Warrant Officer Jeremiah Keillor, a native of Los Fresnos, Texas, 1st ID band commander and band master.
He said that the student’s musical skills are based on a good foundation. They only needed to hear the songs and they could play them back.
Mohammed Saad, one of the students from Baghdad, said they will benefit from the band member’s experience to help them be better musicians.
This is the first time a musical exchange between soldiers and young Iraqis has happened at the Embassy.
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