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Re: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche--Clarinet Choir

Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-11-05 09:59

Getting into the military bands is becoming more of an honor now. With degrees from colleges sometimes you go in at a much higher rake. In fact I think it is pretty hard to get into the military bands without college degrees. You simply fail the auditions.

So you get out of the military after 20 years and you are around 42 to 45. You retire making about $3000 a month. Not bad! But can you put up with it? I was not able to. I got lucky and was able to get out of the Air Force DC bands. Arnold Gabriel was the conductor then. A great man, So gifted. So nice. A few of the players could have sat in any symphony. That talented.

One thing for sure you get to play. This was actually a problem for me. Too many concerts. 1 or 2 rehearsals and you were often on the road or flying to some country performing. You are surrounded by some really great musicians. Your position in the group doesn't have to do with rake. So someone that's been in for 30 years may not be the solo player. You can be 22 years old, right out of Eastman School of Music and be sitting first chair.

If you made it into the Marine Band in DC, "The Presidents Own," you don't have to go through Basic Training. The Air Force Basic Training was pretty easy. You only have to run 1 1/2 miles to pass Basic Training and you have 12 minutes to do it. You can almost walk that fast and make it.

So for those that want to be in pro groups and get paid, it's a great gig. Then if you are good wait for that symphony job to open up, work hard, and then get out of the military. My problem with unhappiness was playing the saxes and very little clarient.

Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces

Yamaha Artist 2015

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