 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-03-04 15:41
I think I'm past the age limit and anyway, I'd never want to do basic training again (already been there, done that 40 years ago).
:-)
Karl
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Author: KV
Date: 2009-03-04 20:03
Got to see the band play at the Great Lakes Chicago Ceremony. I video taped almost the whole ceremony. It was grand. Near the end they played "Anchors Aweigh and all the new Navy Recruits sang along. In my opinion they need more members and a fuller sound. They were very good, male and female members but as a fan of marching bands. I would like for it to grow in membership. When you enlist, can you request band membership rather than combat?
kimvawter72@cox.net
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-03-04 21:01
Off subject, except for the Navy's fine musical endeavors. We were priviledged in seeing/hearing the "Sea Chanters" rite hear in river city [OK], a great, wide ranging, performance of fine choral works with several musical skits and piano/keyboard, string bass, drums accompanyment. I hope this may find its way to the US Navy's music site to thank them for a very enjoyable evening. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-05 02:54
It's both a huge privilege and a musical hardship to have the Navy Band and the other "premier" service bands, orchestras and chamber groups mostly based in the DC area where I live. A privilege, of course, because of the vast number of excellent, free performances available almost year-round from these groups. And a hardship for the very same reasons -- as an amateur/semi-pro performer the groups I play in are often in competition for audience with the military groups; and just as often I'm in personal competition with military musicians for seats in many of the bands and orchestras around town. So, as with most things, it's a mixed blessing. A bit off-topic, please accept my apologies.
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Author: KV
Date: 2009-03-05 03:18
Children love what you love and I take my kids to paid concerts here in Omaha.
Bands and orchestras should be supported, always--with funds.
iPod, computers, TV and radio all provide music but great musicians playing in the marching bands and orchestras in a live venue is something that the canned music can never hold a candle to. It enters your heart through your guts as well as your ears!
Back to the audition question--go for it. I have played clarinet in bands and orchestras for 9 years in a row and I will never, ever get as good as some of the kids in coming through the better secondary schools today. It would be great if they could be given the same credit, accolades and money as some sports figures?
kimvawter72@cox.net
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Author: Tode
Date: 2009-03-05 03:36
I'm taking it and I want it (or any band job for that matter)! Gives me an excuse to visit home. =)
~Sarah Todenhoft~
Geaux Tigers!
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Author: William
Date: 2009-03-06 15:36
If you are auditioning, you had better be good, with a capitol "G". I had the privillage of sitting second chair to a former DC Navy Band clarinetist for two years in the UW Concert Band (Ray Dvorak, Conductor) and during that time, he never made any technique or reading error--even when sight-reading student manuscript arrangements and transcriptions. In fact, he admitted that he used to "sight read" his graduate clarinet lessons. He eventually got his DMA and went on to teach clarinet at a major western state university. Now retired, he occassionally plays with the local town band, and still turns the music upside down to make reading it more challenging--but still, without error. And he always said that he was not the "best" Navy clarinetist in the DC band.
Navy Band audition--go for it and good luck. If you don't make the Navy, there is always the Marines lol.
Post Edited (2009-03-06 16:16)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-03-06 17:20
Yup, high level playing to make it.
The judges score(d) a player from 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest. There's a minimum score level (it's been 21 years so I forget what that is) which if the player doesn't get, he/she doesn't make the band even if the winner of the audition.
Very high satisfaction rate from the band members I've taught/played with.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-06 18:21
Sarah, if you're accepted into the Navy Band, will your Dad get mad?
(If I'm not mistaken, Sarah's dad is a very fine clarinetist who plays in the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own" here in DC.)
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-03-06 18:53
KV wrote:
<<When you enlist, can you request band membership rather than combat?>>
I think the way it works is that you audition first and then enlist if you make the audition. (So it's just like auditioning with the Chicago Symphony, except that if you accept the job they give you a new pair of eyeglasses and teach you how to fire an M16.)
And I guess after you get out, you're in the Reserves for a period of time, too. Is that right?
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Author: Tode
Date: 2009-03-06 18:57
Eh, I guess he will be able to bug me about having less time with a gun in basic training. It might bring some Army-Navy friendly rivalry into the house as well. =D
~Sarah Todenhoft~
Geaux Tigers!
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-03-06 19:12
Whatever you do, don't do it in reverse unless you want a military life as a regular soldier.
For the Navy you have to do basic training, Marines are the only one that you don't from what I remember.
And never tell anyone in basic that you are going to be in the band.....
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: KV
Date: 2009-03-07 15:14
I'll ask my son. He was in basic training twice--Once for the Navy and then when he got his assigment as a Navy Corpsmen-medic-He had to do basic training with the Marines as well. He was in good shape from early morning band practice 4 years in high school as well as wrestling and track--He loved basic training!
Also he told me that one of his buddies had a clarinet and he wanted his mouthpiece and a bunch of reeds shipped to him so he could play it too.
(No--he did not audition. He is still working in the field "patching up" his men.)
kimvawter72@cox.net
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Author: Brianj
Date: 2009-03-08 00:37
If you want the real deal as far as being a service musician, email me. I have 19 years as a clarinetist for the Army, and can tell you what it is like, and/or who to contact in any other service to have them tell you what their job is like. If you want a gig as a musician and want great benefits, it cannot be beat.
SSG Brian Jungen
399th Army Band
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
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Author: Emily's Dad
Date: 2009-03-08 03:41
How does the competition compare with that of a major symphony orchestra? I have read the recent postings about the "difficulty" of winning the open position at the Chicago Symphony. Any comparisons?
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Author: KV
Date: 2009-03-08 04:28
For Brian
Where did you go? Where did you serve? Is it true that you guys had to march in battle to keep up moral? Who decides what you play? How long did you serve?
kimvawter72@cox.net
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Author: ww.player
Date: 2009-03-08 16:37
David, I don't agree. I think it's just as competitive, but in a different way. The DC bands get just as many applications for each opening as symphonies do.
While it's true that the level of solo playing does not have to be as high as for a symphony, the level of sight reading required is light years beyond what is ever asked of a symphony player. I've seen some absolutely amazing players with masters and doctorates in performance from the best schools in the country get totally shot down by the sight reading.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-03-08 17:41
"I've seen some absolutely amazing players with masters and doctorates in performance from the best schools in the country get totally shot down by the sight reading"
-----------------------------------
Then their sightreading skills were deficient.
The top military groups are great and their recordings are amazingly good. Not trying to take anything away from them at all.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: ww.player
Date: 2009-03-08 18:09
David, I didn't think you were putting them down. When I got in, I had to sight read three band excerpts and six marches. This was in addition to a prepared piece of my choice, two prepared etudes, and four prepared excerpts.
The audition took 45 minutes with just me playing. A good friend that was a section leader in the band sat in on the audition. He told me later that, if I had made one mistake, I wouldn't have been accepted.
Unlike symphonies, they don't take the most musical players with the best sounds, they take technical players that just don't miss. Just because it takes a different type of performance to pass their audition than a symphony audition doesn't mean it's any less difficult. There aren't many people, including most symphony players, that can sight read nine pieces flawlessly.
BTW, the DC bands can get up to 2,000 applications when they advertise an opening. It's not less competitive. However, I wouldn't bother applying nowadays unless I had a good enough resume to get past the first screening (or an inside connection) and some serious sight reading skills.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-03-08 18:53
I won the US Navy Band audition in July of 1988. John Coulehan was the head of it, and Hannah Ink was also there. I had to sight read the 1st page of the Mozart Gran Partita Finale with a Clarinetist in the Band who was also a Judge. The night before, when I arrived to Silver Spring, I got the music to learn (Band pieces including Pineapple Poll) from John.
Was tough! Those were the days when if you didn't have the recording already, you probably weren't going to easily get it - and I didn't have em.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
Post Edited (2009-03-08 20:01)
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