Soldiers, Iraqi students hit high notes with musical partnership

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.

“I’m able to get a point across and communicate through the music,” said Sgt. Matthew Johnston, a native of Ellicott City, Md., and a trombonist with the band.

“We did some of the Iraqi folk songs together,” said Johnston. “We were able to produce music together for their enjoyment and ours.”

“Hopefully the students will take this experience and see that the band is made up of not just soldiers, but musicians too,” said Keillor. “We’re like them. We can play the same music, we can open the same book, we can read it side-by-side,” he said.

Ambassador James F. Jeffrey, United States Ambassador to Iraq said although the students associate soldiers with Humvees and protecting them against terrorists, it’s great to see the soldiers share with them their love of culture and music.

“We’re really proud of these soldiers from the Big Red One, and proud of their cooperation with these young Iraqis,” he said.

“By working with the children, we are able to collaborate and share a piece of their culture as well ours,” said Johnston.

The soldiers from the quintet will continue to reach out to the Iraqi students. The band has invited them to Contingency Operating Base Basra to play together again and to continue to develop a bond based on the language of music.

“It’s all about small steps,” said Keillor. “Hopefully it will shape the lives of the 25 kids that were here today.”