Klarinet Archive - Posting 000428.txt from 1996/09

From: Bill Page <BPAGE@-----.COM>
Subj: Military bands
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 11:08:11 -0400

Way back in 1976, when I went to Norfolk and auditioned to
be an Army bands officer, I was struck by the knowledge and
virtuosity (is that a word?) of the bandsmen, especially the
warrant officers and senior NCOs who taught at the school.
I sat in one morning with a small jazz group and learned more
about playing tenor in that two-hour rehearsal than I had in
many years before that.

Although I ended up being an Air Defense officer (AD wouldn't
release me to the bands...still irritates me, 20 years later),
the guys at Ft Bliss and in Frankfurt used to let me sit in
once and again, and it was some of the most fun I ever had
musically. If you have young players who really want to
add proficiency and experience to their resume, the bands
are a great way to get what I consider an excellent musical
education.

And yes, these folks can play. And yes, your sight-reading
skills had better be good...I auditioned with the Chester
overture, and then was handed Seven Seals to "rehearse"
with the band...on 10 minutes study.

BTW, at one point in time the officer corps in the Army bands
had several alumni of Hardin-Simmons University (my alma
mater), due to the efforts of the late Prof McClure at HSU.

Bill Page
who wishes he still played as well as he did in '76 but
knows that means he'd have to practice...