Merit Badge of the Week: Bugling

Luck lets you wake up 2 minutes before the bugle starts to broadcast.

Clear notes float through the woods, letting everyone know what time it is and to get their day started.  Or to hunker back into their sleeping bag and groan.

Several months ago, I made a general inquiry by email about how troops use buglers--I just don't see them outside of summer camp.  I was surprised at the passionate response from a couple of units.

One uses theirs to call out each of the 15 calls from the merit badge (as appropriate of course--you don't call "Fire" just because you can).  They keep several boys in training (whether or not they play an instrument outside of Scouting) to always have one ready to go.

Good plan.  I've seen Taps played on a tuba (no bugler)--entertaining and odd.  A bugle would have been better.

Resources

1. Always begin with an Introduction to Merit Badges from the BSA--and the worksheet from Usscouts.org.
2. The official requirements for Bugling.
3. Baden-Powell and Bugle Calls from Scoutstuff.org.
4. Sheet music for the bugle (or trumpet or cornet)
5. 67 Bugle Calls by John Philip Sousa
6. Audio:  First Call
7. Audio:  Reveille
8. Audio:  Assembly
9. Audio:  Mess
10. Audio:  Drill
11. Audio:  Fatigue
12. Audio:  Officers
13. Audio:  Recall
14. Audio:  Church
15. Audio:  Swimming
16. Audio:  Fire
17. Audio:  Retreat
18. Audio:  To the Colors
19. Audio:  Call to Quarters
20. Audio:  Taps

[All of the audio files are through the great Usscouts.org site!]

Related merit badges:  Music

Does your troop have a bugler?  Anyone you can inspire?  Do you use your bugler to call each point in the day?  Comment below!