the high school level. Mace Civilian brass bands and pipe bands generally use a mace for giving signals and commands while marching. As marching bands in the United States have started to focus more directly on halftime shows and less on parades, the traditional use of the mace has largely vanished from high school and college marching bands, in preference of hand movements, occasionally with the use of a conductor's baton or whistle. Podium When a band is not marching, the drum major may conduct the band from a stage using a baton. United States marching bands Drum majors lead bands and drum & bugle corps in the U.S. Drum & bugle corps are predominant in Europe and Japan. The U.S. is the only country where most high schools, colleges, and universities have marching bands and drum majors. The tradition is almost certainly inspired by stirring American march music - brilliant military style musical compositions of John Philip Sousa (1854-1932). Drum majors primarily use whistle and baton or mace commands to cause the band to start marching and/or playing according to the planned performance. This requires timing skills on the field, so that the band starts and finishes on the correct yard lines. As the name implies, the drum major in reality, commands the drum section of the band - whistle commands are heard first, drums sounds ensue, and then music fills the air. It is all very appealing to a crowd of onlookers. The drum major usually wears a more elaborate uniform that is representative of the authority and responsibility of a field commander. A tall hat, such as the busby, is often part of the uniform. The dignified leader of the band captures the minds and hearts of most people, who see a little bit of themselves in the drum major. A marching band show (high school and college) usually begins with a hand salute from the drum major(s). Salutes range in complexity from a simple hand-gesture to complicated routines involving many members of the band. The salute is traditionally the beginning of judging in a competition, and also signals the end of a band's show. A drum major is also responsible for calling the band to attention, beginning, and conducting the show. The drum major may use a whistle, vocal, or hand commands to accomplish this. This practice goes back to the military origins of the marching