Klarinet Archive - Posting 001425.txt from 2000/12

From: "John Dablin" <jdablin@-----.uk>
Subj: [kl] RAF Bands (was Re: [kl] audition pieces.)
Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2000 15:36:29 -0500

I wish what you say were true, but the RAF Music Services has suffered as
much as the Army and Marines. When I joined the RAF in 1963 the RAF had
three Regional Bands, the RAF Regiment Band, the RAF College Band at
Cranwell, RAF Central Band, and bands in Singapore, Cyprus and Germany (I
think that's all, if I've missed any, well it is 37 years :-) ). Now it is
reduced to Central Band, the RAF Regiment Band (which has been moved to
Uxbridge from Catterick in Yorkshire) and the College Band.

I would agree that the services attract a better class of musician nowadays,
but I suspect that because there are fewer vacancies they can be more
selective. Having heard both the Royal Engineers and the Royal Marines
School of Music bands in the past year I would say that they are at least as
good or better than the RAF bands, and all are a higher standard than we
aspired to in my day.

I only stayed in the RAF five years, then left to pursue a non-musical
career. However, a career in the services can be excellent training. You
get to play music of every possible style - classical, swing, rock, jazz,
and if you make the most of the opportunities (I didn't) it's possible to
develop both technical and musical skills as far as you are willing or able
to go.

John Dablin
Aylesbury UK
Aylesbury Community Concert Band http://www.accb.fsnet.co.uk/

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Wakefield <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Date: 31 December 2000 12:02
Subject: Re: [kl] audition pieces.

>Danny,
>Think about an Air Force band. I say this even tho` I`m from U.K. The
>defence forces of the future, as seen in the U.K all point towards the
><higher tech> services, i.e. air primarily. Sixty U.K. army bands all
>disappeared 6/7 years ago. The Army now has only 40. Whereas all our air
>force bands have remained intact, plus they seem to attract a more
>proficient kind of musician. Most straight from college. What I`m saying
is,
>could the U.S. defences move in similar directions at sometime in the
>future, thus causing you to change direction in a career you thought was
>going to be secure.
>I could be talking thru` my a - - h - - - of course. But it might be an
>angle you have not, as yet thought about, and which might just require a
>small amount of thought.
>
>And get your hair cropped, you `orrible little musician!!!
>The very best of luck to you.
>Tony W.
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>Subject: [kl] audition pieces.
>
>
>> I'm a High school student about to audtion for the ARMY field bands
>and
>> for some college music scholarships and was wondering if anyone had any
>> names of good audition pieces. Right now my tutor has me working on Four
>> Pieces by Ferguson. Some clarinetists I've talked to don't know of that
>> piece, but some of you might. But I was also looking for some other
pieces
>> to use, because some auditions call for two different styles. And also if
>> anyone out there has any tips for doing an actual audition, like maybe
>> protocol in the audition, whether or not to talk to the "ajudicators," so
>to
>> speak, and so on. Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>> Danny Ehrhart
>> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>
>
>
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