Klarinet Archive - Posting 000141.txt from 2000/04

From: "David S. Naden" <dnaden@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] Military Positions
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 01:37:59 -0400

Phil--

I served/performed with the 661st Air Force "Band of Flight" at
Wright-PAtterson
Air Force Base between 1984 and 1989. Beginning in approximately 1988, the
Air
Force began reducing the total number of sevice bands--the count including
the Air
Force Band in Washington DC and the Air Force Academy Band (the "Special"
bands)from
20 to the present total of 12. I can only assume that the other military
services had
similar reductions.

With the exception of the Air Force, which relys on OJT (On the Job
Training), military
bandsmen attend the Armed Forces School of Music (run by the Navy) in
Norfolk, Virginia
for six months following basic training. Yes, all bandsmen attend basic
training except
those assigned to the Air Force Band in Washington DC, and the Marine Band
in Washington
DC (I'm not sure about the US Army or the US Navy Bands in Washington DC).

Unless thing have significantly changed, the US Army is organized into
Premier Bands (the
US Army Band, the US Army Field Band and the West Point Band), Special
Command Bands, and
Division Bands. In addition to the US MArine Band, the Marines have bands
assigned to
divisions and other units. I'm not sure about how the Navy bands are
structured. Please
note that in the Army Division Bands in particular) and the Marines,
bandsmen are combat
troops first, and do participate in military exercises. In the Air Force
Bands, bandsmen
are musicians first. When I served, I knew that we had a secondary
specialty, but none of
the musicians in the 661st knew what it was!

Recommendation: For the most performance opportunities, with the least
amount of combat-
related training, the Air Force is the only way to go. However, as special
bands--the
premier service bands in Washington DC--are by audition only, the calibre is
comparable to
the finest ensembles anywhere, and the preformance opportunities even
better. There is also
one band in the Coast Guard located at New London, Conneticut, and it is a
premier band.

David S. Naden, MMus
Cal State University Los Angeles
Former member, 661st Air Force Band

-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Shapiro [mailto:pshapiro@-----.com]
Subject: [kl] Military Positions

Hey all,

I have a student who is thinking of pursuing a career in military
music. Is there one branch of the forces that is better than others??
What about 'Special Bands'??

Anyone out there with military band experience, your guidance would be
greatly appreciated.

Phil Shapiro
Miami Symphony Orchestra

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