Klarinet Archive - Posting 000436.txt from 1996/09

From: Rob Breen <VB13@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Military band auditions
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 19:32:43 -0400

In a message dated 96-09-18 21:56:11 EDT, Andrea wrote

> I recently had a Marine Corps recruiter call to inform me of
>clarinet openings in the Marine bands, and to invite me to audition. He
>said it would be possible for me to audition on bass clarinet, my main
>instrument. I was wondering, what is required for Marine Band auditions,
>and military band auditions in general - what I should have prepared, what
>scales, is there sightreading, etc. Thanks for any help!

Andrea,

I can't talk about Marine Corps bands much, but Army Bands I can.
I suspect that things are generally the same in all the services.

Active Army bands are diminishing in number, but still fall into
three general categories. Division bands, post bands and special
bands. The division bands are part of particular divisions
(82nd Airborne, for example) and go where the division goes and
do what the division does. Post bands are are attached to the
headquarters of a particular post (the now defunct 1st Army Band
at Ft. Meade, MD, for example). They do ceremonial and public
relations work. Special bands (THE Army Band, at Ft. Myer, VA,
or the Field Band at Ft. Meade) are, of course, the cream of the
crop.

If you are fortuante enough to pass a special band audition right
off the bat, you might not even have to go through basic training.
If you are not quite that fortunate, but still manage to qualify
for one of the line bands, all is not lost. In my active duty
experience with the 1st Army Band (1978-81) there was a very
respectable level of musicianship there, and that band served as
a stepping stone to better things for many players. Several of my
contemporaries successfully made the journey across post to the
Field Band. One made it to THE Army Band.

As far as what happens in the audition, I've noticed other posters
mentioned sight reading. Like, yeah, lots and lots. In the audition
and on the job. Military bands sight read a great deal. That's partly
why the auditions tend to focus on reading. Posted advice to contact
the bands directly is right on the money. I do know of a pretty good
bari sax player who ended up in USMC infantry for four years because
after he got to the music school in Norfolk, USMC decided it had all
the bari players it needed just then.

One other thing I haven't seen other posters mention is something
that anybody considering military bands should take very seriously.
Physical conditioning. Contemporary military standards expect a
better than average level of physical conditioning from everyone.
In addition to playing and reading chops, potential military band
people should also be looking to their running, sit up and push up
chops as well. IMHO, good physical condition has a beneficial
effect on musicianship.

Hey, good luck. BTW, as seen recently on the Klarinet list, the
Field Band is looking for clarinet players. Tom Puwalski
(TSKI1128@-----.
In fact, Tom got to the Field Band by way of the 26th Army Band at
Ft. Hamilton, NYC. (Sorry 'bout lettin' that cat out of the bag, Tom.)

Rob Breen