Klarinet Archive - Posting 000282.txt from 2007/09

From: "Blake Arrington" <klarinetteman@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Military Bands
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:42:03 -0400

Vincent,

I speak for on me here...but I would head to school. I know many people who
have joined "non-Premier" bands (those not in DC) and many have had to serve
in combat. A close friend from college joined an Army band and has been in
Iraq the past year and 3 months. He has picked up his trumpet 6 times in
that year. He has picked up his weapon every single day and night and uses
it often, especially on night patrols.
If you want to be a musician in the military...go to college and work hard
to win a premier band position where the threat of deployment is minimal to
zero.

all the best,

J. Blake Arrington
Clarinetist, The United States Air Force Band

>From: "Vincent Horillo" <clarinetman@-----.com>
>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: [kl] Military Bands
>Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:44:49 -0500
>
>Hello, I'm a high school senior trying to figure out what I'm going to do
>with the rest of my life. I do know I am planning on majoring in 'Music
>Education'. One of my options I have been presented with thus far is going
>into a military band. I have done some research online(including some old
>klarinet archives) and I am going to have my private lessons teacher give
>me
>some contacts. Though I would also like to get a few more new and updated
>opinions from experienced military band members.
>
>My current status for each branch:
>
> - I have auditioned for the Marine band, I received a '2.95' on the
> audition and I will try again in the near future to get above a '3'. I
>am
> also going to talk to my recruiters boss this week and discuss some
>details
> on joining the Marines.
> - There is a discrepancy with my dad and a contract they want him to
> sign for the Army, so I have yet to do my audition for them.
> - I am currently going to be receiving some information about the Air
> Force and Navy so I can audition for them also.
>
>My main questions are:
>
> 1. What are the possibilities of a normal band member to be sent out
> for combat?
> 2. What kind of quality of music does each branch play?
> 3. Should I possibly wait until after a couple years of college to
> join the military? (For the new presidential administration and for the
> experience of college life)
>
>Thank you very much!
>
>
>~Vincent Horrillo
>
>"VP Dick Cheney classified the R13 as a weapon of mass destruction when one
>was uncovered in Sadam's palace."
>(Just for a bit of humor. A quote I found searching the klarinet achieves.
>Sorry I forgot the name of the person who said it. )
>
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