Fifes have a long tradition as a military signal instrument and were used to signal commands and to call out the daily routines of camp life. Fifers were usually young boys between the ages of 12 and 16. One fifer and one drummer were assigned to a regiment, which usually consisted of ten companies. Fifes also have a long history as an entertaining musical instrument, particularly well suited to the jigs and reels popular in colonial America. This 16 ½" fife is a 6 holed instrument, and is available in a plastic or wood version.