(Some of the information about Earl Sturtze was gathered from Rick Beckham’s website www.RudimentalDrumming.com) Earl Sturtze began drumming in 1911 at the age of 10 in a drum corps organized by his dad.  His drum instructor was Carl Froelich, a former student of J. Burns Moore. After serving in World War II with the 98th Division Artillery band he went on to perform in many bands, orchestras, theatres and drum corps.  During the mid-twenties he moved to Buffalo to play in the Lafayette Theatre.  While he was there he played in the International Railway Company Band.  A few years later he found his way back to Connecticut and he took the competition circuit by storm.  He went on to win 7 straight Connecticut State titles, as well as championships in many other states. He was also the National Snare drum champion in 1928.  Ironically, with all of the titles Sturtze won as a soloist, it was his teaching that really made him famous.  He taught legendary drum corps such as the Connecticut Yankees and Danbury Drum Corps.  Of note, the Yankees went to the 1946 National Championship winning the top honors, with the drum line leading the way.  They received marks of 19.9 and 20 out of 20; scores unheard of during that period of drum corps history. His individual students were also the real thing.  Some of his most notable students include Frank Arsenault, Paul Cormier, Ray Ludee, Hugh Quigley and Bob Redican.  In 1956 he published The Sturtze Drum Instructor.  Among traditional circles, this book is looked at as “the rudimental bible.” One of the great solos he wrote is called The Rudimenter, which can be heard today on muster fields throughout New England!