Instrument of War: Music and the Making of America’s Soldiers With Author David Suisman

Instrument of War: Music and the Making of America’s Soldiers (University of Chicago Press, 2024) examines how music has shaped American military life from the Civil War through the 21st century. Drawing from this research, Suisman explores how the military has used music to train soldiers, regulate military life, build morale, cultivate national identity, and how service members have used music to cope with the emotional and psychological strains of war. A moderated Q&A led by SU Associate Professor of Political Science Eric Rittinger concludes the program.