...

uniform and sat before their conductor the Iraqi army's military musicians burst into tune. They're marking the 94th anniversary of the founding of this battle style music. The Iraqi military band sings national songs to encourage and incite Iraqi security troops to fight extremists. Warrant Officer Qahtan Abdel-Rahman is a teacher at the Military Music School and explains that the music is played during "military activities, programmes and national anthems of countries to be played when receiving their representatives." The music is as important now as it was when it was created as it currently helps boost the morale of Iraqi security forces fighting the Islamic State group. Their forces are continuing to gear up for a long-awaited operation to retake the Islamic State-held city of Mosul. It also plays an important role in developing contemporary Iraqi music. Director of the Military Music School Colonel Amir Jawad Kadim explains how the music is a blend of eastern and western influences: "The military music depends on a study of western music. We use eastern musical instruments in a modern school. We are able to mix between eastern and western music and it's successful", he says. It's extremely respected to become a military musician in Iraq. Such accomplished musicians are they that they form an important part of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/f27041796a2f10392d3f0ac41f745d9f