Resources
A curated collection of the best resources for fifers, drummers, reenactors, and anyone interested in American fife and drum music. We've verified every link and written a description so you know what you're clicking into.
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Organizations & Community
The groups that bring the fife and drum community together.
The Company of Fifers & Drummers
The central membership organization for the Ancient fife and drum community, founded in 1965. Maintains a museum and headquarters in Ivoryton, CT. Hosts the annual National Muster, Junior Camp, Jaybird Day, and summer concert series.
companyoffifeanddrum.org
The Museum of Fife & Drum
The only museum in the country dedicated to fife and drum. Located in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Houses historical instruments, uniforms, and artifacts dating to the 18th century.
companyoffifeanddrum.org
Company of Fifers & Drummers Archives
Extensive catalog of printed music, books, recordings, and video. Includes the full run of 'The Ancient Times' newsletter indexed by topic.
companyoffifeanddrum.org
Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums
One of America's most recognized fife and drum programs. Young musicians ages 10–18 perform historically accurate music in colonial Williamsburg, VA.
www.colonialwilliamsburg.org
U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
The only fife and drum unit in the U.S. armed forces, part of the 3rd Infantry Regiment. 69 members performing in Revolutionary War-era uniforms at state ceremonies and public events.
fifeanddrum.army.mil
Music & Sheet Music
Where to find tunes, recordings, and printed music for fife and drum.
Fife & Drum Online – Sheet Music Library
Over 1,000 pages of fife sheet music and drum beatings. One of the largest free online collections of fife and drum music.
fifedrum.org
Fife & Drum Online – Main Site
Long-running community site with fife resources, drum resources, corps schedules, a mailing list, and an extensive links page.
fifedrum.org
Village Volunteers Music Library
Online music library from the Village Volunteers FDC with a 'Study Mode' feature that pairs audio recordings with sheet music on the same page.
vvfdc.org
Company of Fifers & Drummers Store – Music Books
Official store selling the Company's music books, including the definitive two-volume collection of 148 historical, traditional, and contemporary fife tunes with drum arrangements.
store.companyoffifeanddrum.org
The Acorn Book (Sudbury Ancient Fyfe & Drum)
The Sudbury corps put their tune book online. A useful collection of commonly played Ancient tunes with notation.
ancients.sudburymuster.org
U.S. Marine Band – "From Fife and Drum"
Free educational recording from 'The President's Own' celebrating fife and drum music history from 1890 to 1988.
www.marineband.marines.mil
Instrument Makers & Shops
Where to buy fifes, drums, sticks, and accessories from makers who know the tradition.
Cooperman Fife & Drum Co.
Founded in 1961. Bellows Falls, Vermont. Makes fifes, rope-tension drums, drumsticks, and accessories. The most established name in American fife and drum instrument making.
www.cooperman.com
Cooperman Drum Shop
Cooperman's retail storefront for drums, fifes, sticks, heads, and rope-tension drum supplies.
www.coopermandrumshop.com
Healy Flute Company (Skip Healy)
Grammy-nominated fifer Skip Healy builds world-class fifes and piccolos in Switzerland. His patented bore design produces exceptionally even tone across three octaves. Premium instruments starting around $600+.
www.skiphealy.com
Sweetheart Flute Company (Musique Morneaux)
Continuing the legacy of Ralph Sweet's Cloos-model fifes. Traditional cylindrical bore instruments closely resembling the original 19th-century design.
www.sweetheartflute.com
Cooperman HistoryLives – Museum Store Products
Cooperman's wholesale line of historically accurate musical instruments, toys, and games for museum gift shops.
coopermanhistorylives.com
Loyal Drums
Fredericksburg, VA. Handcrafted rope-tension drums. In 2023, the U.S. Army Old Guard adopted a new set of Loyal Drums for their corps.
loyaldrums.com
Learning & Instruction
Guides, lessons, and educational content for fifers and drummers at all levels.
Treasure Coast Fife and Drum – Classroom
Free video-based drum and fife lessons covering rudiments, basic fife tunes, reading notation, and drum maintenance. One of the few structured online learning resources in the community.
www.tcfifedrum.org
Company of Fifers & Drummers Junior Camp
Annual summer camp held in Ivoryton, CT. Structured instruction for ages 10–18 with placement assessments and progressive skill levels. The premier youth fife and drum educational program.
companyoffifeanddrum.org
Company of Fifers & Drummers – Corps Resources
Guides on defining your corps identity, marketing your corps, and recruiting new members.
companyoffifeanddrum.org
Fife & Drum Collective
A project aimed at creating instructional and educational videos for the fife and drum community. Content-in-progress but worth watching.
www.fife-drum-collective.org
Skip Healy – Teaching & Tips
Fife and flute lessons from one of the world's foremost fife players. Also offers tips and technique guidance on his website.
www.skiphealy.com
History & Research
Primary sources, archives, and historical material for researchers and reenactors.
Library of Congress – Fife and Drum Holdings
The LOC holds fife and drum related manuscripts, printed music, and illustrations. Many items are digitized and available for free download.
www.loc.gov
National Archives – Military Images
Millions of military photographs including Signal Corps images from the Civil War forward. Public domain.
www.archives.gov
Smithsonian Open Access
Millions of images released under CC0 (public domain). Search for "fife," "drum," "military music," and "Revolutionary War."
www.si.edu
Ancient Times Newsletter Archive
Full catalog of The Ancient Times, the newsletter of the Company of Fifers & Drummers, spanning 1973 to 2014.
companyoffifeanddrum.org
Fife and Drum in America (Ed Olsen)
Authoritative historical essay by Ed Olsen, the Company's Archivist-for-Life and Curator of the Museum of Fife & Drum.
companyoffifeanddrum.org
Wikipedia – Fife and Drum Corps
Surprisingly detailed article covering history, instrumentation, American Ancient tradition, and modern practice.
en.wikipedia.org
Video & Multimedia
YouTube channels, recordings, and video resources.
YouTube: Ancient fife and drum muster
Hundreds of muster performance videos. The best way to hear different corps and see what musters actually look and sound like.
www.youtube.com
YouTube: U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
Professional-quality videos of the Old Guard performing at state ceremonies, inaugurations, and public events.
www.youtube.com
YouTube: Deep River Ancient Muster
Videos from the largest and oldest Ancient muster in the country, held annually in Deep River, Connecticut.
www.youtube.com
YouTube: Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums
Performance footage from one of the most recognized fife and drum programs. Period-accurate uniforms, formations, and repertoire.
www.youtube.com
Company of Fifers & Drummers – Sound Files & Videos
Audio recordings and video from the Company's archives, including interviews and historical performance recordings.
companyoffifeanddrum.org
Books & Publications
Recommended reading for deeper study of fife and drum music, history, and technique.
The Company of Fifers & Drummers Music Book (Volumes 1 & 2)
The definitive collection: 148 historical, traditional, and contemporary fife tunes with drum arrangements. Essential for any fifer or drummer.
store.companyoffifeanddrum.org
"Have Ye This One" by Skip Healy
Music book and CD set by master fifer Skip Healy focusing on American Ancient fife music and Irish flute music.
www.skiphealy.com
The Drummer's and Fifer's Guide by Bruce & Emmett (1862)
Historic Civil War-era instructional manual. Available through the Library of Congress in digital format. A primary source for period drumming technique.
www.loc.gov
Period Clothing & Reenactment Supplies
Sources for uniforms, period-correct clothing, and reenactment gear.
Jas. Townsend and Son
18th-century clothing, cookware, and camp equipment. Quality reproductions of shirts, waistcoats, breeches, tricorn hats, and accessories suitable for Revolutionary War-era corps.
www.townsends.us
Smiling Fox Forge
Handmade 18th and early 19th century clothing and accessories. Popular with reenactors for quality and historical accuracy.
www.smilingfoxforge.com