John Chapman

When I was four years old, my dad took me to an American Civil War re-enactment to check out a unit he was thinking about joining. As we walked around, I saw a fifer leaning against the wooden fence playing along with two drummers. The sound of the drums was loud and powerful and captivated me the moment I heard it. On our drive home that day, I took out a piece of paper and pencil and began drawing all of the equipment I would need to be a drummer by the next re-enactment. At only eight years old, I sought out and befriended drummers at re-enactments. At nine, I personally spoke with the band teacher to make sure I would be playing percussion the following year. Determined to drum for re-enacting, I purchased a 19th century drum tutor (Keach, Burrdit, and Cassidy’s The Army Drum and Fife Book) and taught myself rudiments from their archaic pages. I think those stories highlight the immediate passion and tenacity I’ve always had for drumming. /- Since 4th grade, I’ve been drumming for various corps and impressions. I have been able to act as a Drum Sergeant, drum instructor and private tutor. I have portrayed an American drummer from the American Revolution War, War of 1812, and Civil War; British drummer from the American Rev War; and French drummer from the French & Indian War. I’m working on a Hessian impression for the American Rev War. /- Currently, I work part-time as an interpreter, researcher, and drum instructor for Old Fort Niagara’s Fife and Drum corps. I love researching military drumming. My favorite element is the logic puzzles of interpreting and transcribing 17th, 18th, and 19th century drum notation. I have extensively researched drum rudiments – the history of the American 26 Standard Rudiments, as well as English/British rudiments, French rudiments, and the origin of drum rudiments more generally. /- My books include a combination of different research interests. I have a series of Historic Drumming Workbooks, which combine my research on drum rudiments, music interpretation, and drum instruction. Most books are designed for beginner or intermediate drummers to learn the basics to their chosen interpretation. My hope is to help develop the music at re-enactments and museums of various eras. My prized works are those including my interpretations and transcriptions of historic drum manuals and manuscripts. These include research on the music and rudiments. Many works are transcriptions of fife music from fife tutors, publications, and manuscripts. /- Check out more of my research on my website HistoricDrumming.