 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinet713
Date: 2002-01-07 15:08
Hello-I was wondering if anyone out there who has played in any type of military band could tell me a little of what it's like. I have thought about doing this after college just to get a start, but I will be honest and say that boot camp is very unappealing to me. What kind of music do you play? Once into a band, you are expected to stay in for 4 years, correct? Thanks
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Author: Chris Howard
Date: 2002-01-07 17:34
I have been performing with a Navy Band for three and a half years now. During that time, I have worked with all the other services and seen what they do first hand. There are good points and negitive points with the military music programs, as with anything. For starters, boot camp is a serious drag. However, as a musician, it may be the only chance you'll ever have to get yourself into shape.
After basic training, unless you are in a Washington DC based band or in the Air Force, you are sent to the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach, VA. If you have already been to school and have a degree this place will frustrate you to no end. There is a good chance that you'll play better than your teacher(especially as a clarinettist), and the military has its own theory system that you have to learn. It is archaic, bizzarre, and absolutely nothing like the theory you learned in school. Dispite the frustration and dispair that I encountered at the school, I had ample practice time and met some of the greatest people I have ever known.
Once you are through with the school, you go to a band. In my band I work with the wind ensemble and clarinet trio. The level of musicianship in the "fleet" or "field" bands is relatively low. Of course there are diomands in the rough, but any musical satisfaction has to come from outside of the band. I currently hold a principal position in a local orchestra and ballet company. I have had great experiences with other musicians in the area playing chamber music and am currently working with a chamber music organization that focuses on contemporary music. All this I have had time to do while playing in a Navy Band.
I could go on and on about the pros and cons of military music. If you would like to know more, please feel free to email me at cphoward7@hotmail.com.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2002-01-07 19:34
The thing about the military is that, no matter what your job may have, you are a soldier first and foremost, unless you were a great celebrity (Like Gelnn Miller?) before you went in.
In the Army, cooks, clerks and musicians have to fight when the going gets tough (I remember a Catholic chaplain once, running around with a shotgun in the middle of a vicious firefight, defending "his" displaced children's home.) So, if you would be an Army musician, you need to keep this in mind.
Remember that you may have very little, or no choice as to where you will wind up, and that bands move out with their units when their units move out to combat zones. You wouldn't be assigned to the "front" (in crude Army terms, musicians are considered REMFs) but especially in today's warfare, the "front" is relative, at best, and who knows what you might be faced with.
Taking that into consideration, it would behoove you to learn all you can in basic training and even attend infantry school, if you could. You'd have a better chance of survival if things got ugly. Unless, you know for sure you'd be assigned to a D.C. band. Those jobs are cushier.
Another thing. Once the Army owns you, they own you. There are many freedoms, but there are many iron-bound duties and responsibilities as well. You don't go into the military to be a musician, you go into the military to be a soldier, and many an enlistee made dearly paid-for mistakes in that respect.
Without total dedication to the committment, I would stay out if I were you. If you think basic training would be a bummer, think hard about going in, because basic training was the easiest school I graduated from in the Army. The fact that you see basic training as "unappealing" instead of as a challenge, should start your warning lights flashing, if nothing else.
On the other hand, today's U.S. Army runs in shorts, t-shirts and sneakers. The U.S. Army I was in ran in full fatigue uniforms and combat boots. You never know what else it might do cushier now-a-days.
The Marine Corps is no easier. If you want a better military life, go into the Navy (they eat really well and have really decent quarters, but when a ship is hit, there is no place to run out there) or the Air Force. But the basic plan still applies: You go into the military, primarily, to become a soldier, anything else is secondary to that fact.
By the way, the better Army bands are fantastic, musically speaking. They play everything from marches to folk, to pop, to classical and leave very little unexplored in between. But your primary job is still soldier.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-01-07 19:46
Peter said:
"musicians are considered REMFs". To the uninitiated that stands for:
"Rear Echelon Musical Fellows"--right Peter?
Bob A
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Author: Brian
Date: 2002-01-07 20:36
Clarinet713,
If you want an unbiased look at military bandsmen life, email me a brickbinder@hotmail.com. I won't go into it on this board, but it is not as bad as some people make it out to be.
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Author: Kim L.
Date: 2002-01-07 22:49
You can join a band while in college since it can help pay for school. Check this through financial aid office. If you are eligible for the financial aid, you will be able to do it. I know three band members who are playing in the National Guard band. One of the pieces that the band played was Shostakovich's Festive Oveture.
Good luck,
Kim L.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2002-01-08 02:52
Clarinet713, forward your email address to [drjazzz@home.com] if you're truly interested in the updated version and straight scoop. I've been doing it for 24 years and NOT a recruiter. <:-)
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Author: jenna
Date: 2002-01-08 03:31
My "military" band is working on the Festive Overture. I really like it so far, beautiful piece, I can't wait till we really learn it.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-01-08 04:00
I too, have played in a military band. I personally found the experience wonderful. It was during my high school years (Australia) and I attended a Military School. I didn't have to do the "boot camp" thing, thank god, and that was the prime reason for me not going into a "professional" military band (i.e. the Navy, Air Force, etc). From a musical point of view, I chose (mostly) to play the E flat soprano clarinet, it always gets a great part and is very easy to march with.
Being male, and (consequently lacking in coordination), learning all the special marches and moves were a challenge (but fun, nevertheless). I did, too, march with the Bass Clarinet - it was fun because people would always come up to you and think your "instrument" was "cool". The bass clarinet was NOT fun to march with, however, and I think I did permanent damage to a few of my colleague's knee caps.
This is exciting - my "mates" that went into the armed forces' bands all loved it, once they got through the boot camp stage (as you Americans so delightfully put it).
Good luck!!
diz
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Author: Bill
Date: 2002-01-08 20:59
The only thing I would add is this: learn to shoot and shoot well BEFORE you enter the military. If you do get into a situation that requires you to defend yourself or others, no skill will serve you quite so well as being a good shot. My experience has been that very few become good marksmen (-women) in the basic. Even if marksmanship was the only thing that you studied in basic, six weeks is not enough time to master all of the skills of a marksman. I was very lucky in that my father was a big time hunter, and from a very young age he insisted that I learn to handle a rifle. (The hunting skills themselves would be quite valuable as well.) I have several friends who would tell you that they are alive today, because they could shoot more accurately than the other guy. Two of my brothers went to Vietnam; they both came back alive and well. It is not pretty or nice, but as Gen Patton put it: "War is not about dying for your country, It's about getting the other poor, dumb SOB to die for his country." He couldn't have said it better. I wouldn't sign on the dotten line unless you are willing to live up to that maxim.
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Author: Carol
Date: 2002-01-09 22:11
My brother has been in the Air Force Band at Colorado Springs for about 10 years now I think. He really enjoys it, the travel especially. They go on a lot of tours. He has never had anything negative to say about it.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2002-01-10 01:34
The fact that you enlist to become a soldier is not necessarily negative. I know many careeer soldiers who enjoyed being... Soldiers!
It's only negative if you enlist thinking you are doing it to become a musician and find yourself being a soldier first, and/or as well.
Many Air Force walks of life are notably more slack. No offense meant. On the other hand, most Marine Corps walks of life are notably less slack. And that is probably an understatement. That the Navy eats best is most definitely an understatement.
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Author: Lori
Date: 2002-01-10 04:54
Hi folks, interesting reading. I have been pondering the military band route myself lately. I am auditioning for "The President's Own" Marine Band this Friday. Does anyone out there have experiences to relay about this ensemble? As I understand it, no boot camp is required, and their responsibilities are all music-related. I was also wondering what range of abilities I should expect to be competing with me, and what sort of person might win. How much weight do they put on the resume and experience? What sort of things would they ask in an interview? Of course, the resume and interview will only happen if I pass the first round. I went to the audition in September as well, and nobody was selected.
Any advice or stories would be appreciated. Thanks.
Happy clarinetting...
--Lori
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Author: Shawn
Date: 2002-01-10 15:05
Lori-
I wish you all the luck with your upcoming audition, but I will tell you that this is the third audition the "President's Own" has had for that single spot. They have not accepted anyone the last two times. I'm an Eastman grad. and I have a friend playing Principal oboe in that band, and he says that they are looking for some genius clarinetist. I have had some friends audition for the exact spot you are trying for, and they have had no luck. But, you never know! I wish you the best and I hope you sight-read very well.
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Author: Larry Liberson
Date: 2002-01-10 17:36
Shawn said "I have a friend playing Principal oboe in that band, and he says that they are looking for some genius clarinetist."
Well, with no disrespect whatsoever intended toward the fine military bands (and all military musicians, for that matter), what do you think the chances are for some "genius clarinetist" to want to make a life in one of the military bands the very first of their potential career choices?
What would be your personal choice? Just wondering.....
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-01-10 20:28
Larry,
You might be surprised. I was amazed to see the compensation levels and backgrounds of clarinetists in some of the top military bands. E.g., on page 2 of the December, 2001 issue of "The Clarinet," is an ad for the United States Army Field Band. It lists the starting salary at $32,714 - $35,750 with "college loan repayment program up to $65,000." Granted this is for one of the top bands but starting salaries in the other bands that I have seen were still in the mid $20's if memory serves and, if the benefits are standard and haven't changed over the years, compensation/benefits also include 30 days paid vacation each year and room and board or a housing allowance (since the members have enlisted rank). I have also heard a couple of military band personnel indicate that the government provided them with top quality new professional instruments. Musical genius? If that presupposes someone in Ricardo Morales' class, probably not. But they are looking for and attracting musicians with serious talent and training.
Lori,
I think you can expect that the competition and performance standards will be tough, particularly for one of the "prestige" bands. There have been a few pieces recently in "The Clarinet" about military bands and band personnel and the credentials mentioned have invariably been impressive. As an example, in the most recent issue, there is a brief notice about Melinda Burts' recently joining the U.S. Air Force Concert Band. Her credentials include a Bachelor of Music degree (Music Education) from the University of Miami and a Master of Music in Performance from North Carolina at Greensborough. Her teachers include Michele Gingras, Kelly Burke and Patty Carlson.
Best of luck with your audition.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Peter
Date: 2002-01-11 05:48
Larry,
Enlistment and reenlistment bonuses in the military for people in a job category in which the service is interested can be very large. They can equal several times the average wage a musician can earn in a year's playing in a decent orchestra, if not necessarily one of the very top orchestras.
So if a top military band is really interested in a top performer, chances are they can afford to pay for it.
Several years ago, ROTC offered one of my sons $80,000.00 for four years' tuition and about another $2,000.00 per month living expenses allowance over the same four year period. All he had to do for it was study and attend summer camp for four years, then give the Army another four years as an officer in his field, with major bonuses if he stayed longer than that.
It came to be a very competitive package with what he would make in the same job in civilian life, except in civilian life nobody would either pay for his complete college education or match the benefit package offered by the military.
The field wasn't music, but it's one example of what they are willing to do when they want to bad enough.
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Author: Larry Liberson
Date: 2002-01-11 11:33
I understand all what you say, Peter & Jack--but these were not exactly answers to what I was questioning.
The term "clarinet genius" was invoked, but let's expand it, OK?
Since there are (so it seems sometimes) mostly students reading and posting, please relate to us your ambitions, plans, etc. in what you want to do after graduating--"genius" or not. What are your career plans? Is a position in one of the military ensembles your very first choice? And why--or why not?
Is it what you seek musicially? Is it the $ and the benefits? Is it the camaraderie?
As before, just wondering.
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Author: Shawn
Date: 2002-01-11 14:11
Larry-
"Clarinet genius" is the correct terminology for the person in which the "President's Own" is seeking. This came from the mouth of someone within that organization.
Of course most clarinetists want to immediately play in a symphony after graduating from school, but soon realize that they are not alone in this desire. It is unfortunate that the chances of this happening are dismal. After graduation, most students find themselves burdened with a substantial amount of loans, which causes them to turn to a more possible venue to repay them, thus the service bands. So, to answer your question fully, I must say that the initial attraction to the service bands is the money for most people, but the DC "concert" bands offer a better musical experience than the others.
-Shawn
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