What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

[davewerden]

I have been asked many times about the experience of playing in a military band. It is a natural topic for a euphonium player because (in the U.S.) that is about your only full-time professional playing opportunity. But the topic should be of interest to other band players as well.

When I first joined The United States Guard Band, it was my intention to stay for four years and then get out and get a job as a high school band director. However, I liked the job so much that I stayed in for 26 years. I had the chance to play in some of the nicest venues around, but I was also playing in some pretty uncomfortable situations, too.

Realize that the situation is different depending on the band you are in. First, there is the level of the band. The top bands in each of the five military services are usually called "The United States ... Band" (with "The" not "the" at the beginning). Except for the Coast Guard, the services have many other bands as well. In the Army, for example, they have two other bands that are very close to the top: the Field Band and the Military Academy Band (West Point). Then they have other bands at various bases or posts. The best gigs are in the top bands, but the other bands can still offer very satisfying careers. The post bands often ask for players to be able to double so they can fill spots in other ensembles. In the top bands this is not usually a requirement because they have specialists in all ensembles.

My favorite part was playing concert tours. There is something really exciting about performing in a different hall for a different audience each night. It was fun doing recording sessions, and we produced several albums during my time there. The job also requires playing ceremonies, parades, and other less-musically-glamorous gigs, some of which could be physically uncomfortable (rain, heat, cold, etc.). But often those uncomfortable jobs would be the ones I would "write home" about because we were playing for Presidents, Kings or Queens, or for some event that received national attention.

You audition for the top jobs before enlisting. Once accepted by the band, you are recruited into that service and given a Musician rating. Army, Air Force, and Navy musicians go through the normal basic training before being sent to the band. The Coast Guard sends you to a 2-week orientation session before you go to the band, and I'm not sure what the Marines' policy is these days.

You will be provided an instrument to use. Usually these are top-quality horns. However, you may find yourself playing a brand you do not prefer because the section leader likes them.

As a band member, you are still in the military. You are going to salute officers, shine your shoes, keep a clean haircut, etc. You also get military benefits, and about 1/3 of your pay is non-taxable, so there are both advantages and disadvantages of the military part of the job.

It's a great career for the right person, and it can be pretty unpleasant if you are not comfortable with the military situation.

[davewerden]

Military Band Recital Series

In some military bands, you have the opportunity to perform in a recital series. I believe the U.S. Coast Guard Band was the first to have an official series, thanks to the inspiration and hard work of then-member Denis Winter and the support of the then-director Capt. Lewis Buckley.

The USCG series was and is run by the band members. Programming is open to almost anything that involves one or more band musicians, even if other outside performers are involved. All recitals were recorded, so it was a good chance for many players to get some experience and come away with a nice collection of recordings of their playing.

I know the Army and Marine Bands also have recital series, and even some of the "post" bands have recitals.

[sanford4967]

RE: What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

dave,

I played euphonium in two army bands in the late 60's and early 70's. one was a gig and the other was an abomination. it depends on the bandmaster. if you get a good one it can be a most enjoyable experience, if not it is not very enjoyable. at ft. polk, la. we had a bandmaster who knew how to make you "dig a little deeper in the well" and bring out your best. In germany we had a bandmaster who griped and fussed over everything. if he didn't like the way you played he would get on your case and never let up. he destroyed my desire to remain in the army and music period. when I got out I gave up my career in music(was music major in college) and I went into law enforcement. like I said it is a fantastic assignment IF you get a good bandmaster.

sandy

[davewerden]

RE: What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

Sandy,
I am sure it can be uncomfortable to be under the leadership of someone you don't like. For what it's worth, it seems like the U.S. bands are pretty good that way. I have talked to lots of service band folks and haven't heard scary stories about the bands in this country. I didn't run across many people who had played overseas. Maybe we'll get a few more posts from others who have done that duty.

Also, I think the situation has improved across the board in military music. Leadership and musicianship are generally at a higher level these days.

[jcarrell]

RE: What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

My experiences as a Euphoniumist in the 98th Army Band had there ups and downs just as with any group. Overall, I enjoyed my time in service as a bandsman, and would also recommend it to anyone considering a career as a performing musician.Playing as a full time musician is a somewhat rare opportunity for a Euphoniumist, however the job also comes with the same responsibilities as any other MOS in the Army.

[whall1946]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

I have 7 years of military band experience. 2 years with The United States Army Band (Pershing's Own) aka TUSAB or "the downtown band" to Field Band members, and 5 years with the Army Field Band. The mission of the two bands is very different, and therefore, so are the ways they operate.

I auditioned and was accepted on both trombone and euphonium for TUSAB, and decided to take the trombone slot as the guys playing euph in the Concert Band were a long way from retirement. I spent two years in the Ceremonial Band getting very familiar with Arlington Cemetery, retiring generals, and arriving dignitaries. Ceremonial Band euphonium players also doubled on the G Bass Herald Trumpet. These days, of course, the Army Brass Band provides some real musical opportunities for ceremonial musicians.

The greatest things about the Army Band gig is that you are treated like a professional musician. All schlepping of equipment is done by the band's dedicated technical support staff, also building maintenance is handled by civilians. The worst part of the gig is standing outside at parade rest for 30 minutes or more on the asphalt during summer funerals wearing navy blue coats with West Point collars. The heaviest days work for the Ceremonial Band included a retirement parade practice, 5 funerals, and the retirement parade itself; duty form 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

After 2 years with the Ceremonial Band I auditioned for a trombone spot in the Concert Band of the Army Field Band, and then spent five years touring the country. While Pershing's Own stays mostly in DC, the Field Band's main gig is to tour three times a year, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Average tour length for Fall and Spring is 40 days, while Summer tours are between 10 and 14 days.

The band prepared three concert programs which they rotated on tour. That helped keep the music from becoming too stale. Our best treats were playing great orchestra halls and music educator conventions. Great halls that stand out in my mind are Powell Hall in St. Louis and the performing arts hall in San Antonio.

The greatest lesson I learned in both groups is that one's musical fulfillment can not come solely from playing in the band. The need to create, to experiment, and to learn new literature has to occur through outside playing. Fortunately mainly top military bands now have recital series, and metropolitan communities have many more performing oportunities.

That being said, I value my time in the military, and am proud to have a son in the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps.

[Francisl]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

From an South African perspective. All seems pretty much the same.

I have spent seven years in total in the SA Defence Force Bands. One and a half years in the SA Navy Band and five and a half years in the WP Army Staff Band. The WP Army staff Band which is crowned year after year the best Defence force band in Africa has performed and all Major SA venues such as the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela 1994, Band tours nationally, Concerts in the Cape Town City Hall, parades, Ceremonial ingagements etc.

Daily procedure within both bands followed the following routines: Report for duty at 07:30 am. Band practice from 08:00 till 10:00. 10:00 till 10:15 Tea time. 10:15 till 12:30 band reahearsals. 12:30 - Home time if we had no engagements.

As soloist performed the following pieces: Andante and Rondo - Capuzzi, Euphonium Sonata -Young, Mozart Bassoon Concerto KV. 191, Grand Fathers Clock - Air and Variations - Drake Rimmer, Horovits Euphonium Concerto, Barbier De Seville - Rossini, Euphonium Suite - Young, Introduction and Allegro Spiritosso - Senaille, Trombone Concerto - Rimsy Korsakoff, Rondo Giocoso from Bassoon Concerto in F- Von Weber.

At the age of 20 I was at the peak of the salary notches and could progress no further as a musician in the band. This bothered me for six years. I then decided that it was time to move on. I studied IT and progressed to National IT Manager and again felt the urge to progress and this led to the birth of Unseen Power Music studios.

I have been without a euphonium for 7 years since I left the defence force, but I am now the proud owner of a Yamaha 842S - great horn!

In conclusion - I have enjoyed my time in the defence force band even though there were ups and downs.

[Tubabone]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

I guess I am the first Marine Bandsman to answer up here. I did four years as a Bass Trombonist in a couple of the Marine Field bands. After the School of Music in Little Creek, my first assignment was In Okinawa, Japan. Then I was sent to Camp Lejuene and the 2nd Marine Division Band.
I have switched to playing Tuba in my own brass choir, hence why I am posting on this forum.
I can pretty much concur with all that has been said above.
You get a good Band Officer, it can be alot of fun, a bad one, Not so much!
I did some really interesting gigs in the Marines. Lots of change of commands and such. The fun ones where things like flying to Guam to do a parade. Going to Trinidad/Tobago to do a Military Tattoo or as we called it a "Dog and Pony Show" If you want to travel and don't mind alot of "Spit and Polish" and discipline I highly recommend joing the Military Bands.

[byoung]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

Dave, in response to your explanation about what the certain fields do. I studied with Matt Tropman at EMU two years ago(great player). If I remember correctly the Marine band(well he got into the Presidents Own) so this is different at least he auditioned was given a staff sargent rank and went straight to the band, now this is off course if I can remember correctly.

byoung

Music Education Major-Tuba
Rochester College

[davewerden]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

Originally posted by: byoung
...the Marine band(well he got into the Presidents Own) so this is different at least he auditioned was given a staff sargent rank and went straight to the band...

Yes, that is consistent with what I have been hearing lately as well. Thanks for following up.

[FlaEuph]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

I want to major in Music Education (HS Band Director). I was considering joining the military in order to pay for my college. I was curious if any of the various military academies had any music programs in which you can recieve a degree?

Thanks

[daruby]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

The military academies (West Point, Annapolis, Coast Guard, Air Force) do not offer music majors. The purpose of these academies is to train command-line officers. Most of the degrees offered tend to be Bachelor of Science in technical subjects (Engineering, Physics, etc.) with a heavy emphasis on development of leadership traits. The academies do have student drum and bugle corp, but the primary music group on campus is the academy band which is a professional group similar to the Washington DC bands. (The Coast Guard Academy's band is the USCG Band, stationed in New London rather than in Washington).

Doug

[davewerden]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

[QUOTE]Originally posted by: FlaEuph
I want to major in Music Education (HS Band Director). I was considering joining the military in order to pay for my college. I was curious if any of the various military academies had any music programs in which you can recieve a degree?

First, Doug's answer is great and very accurate! Because the USCG Band was stationed at the Academy, I was able to observe many of the cadets' activities. If you are interested in at least a hitch in the Coast Guard, for example, you would find a few different musical opportunities within your 4 years at the Academy. For example, there is a concert/marching band, a jazz ensemble, and "pit band" playing for the cadets' annual musical (usually a Broadway musical).

However, once you get through the 4 years there you have a commitment to the service as an officer. Still, if you DO have a compatible interest (engineering, etc.) and want to serve for a while, it is a great way to get a free (and good quality) education. You will also mature a lot during your time serving after graduation (and make decent money), after which you could go on to other things. Note, too, that the Coast Guard at least is extremely competitive to get into. The other services are not quite as academically competitive and rely a bit on a Congressional recommendation (i.e. talk nice to your Congressional representative).

But if you want to be a professional musician after college, this is not the way to go.

[scapino]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

the regular military bands as opposed to the Presidents Own etc. can provide a significant opportunity for younger people who are military bound anyway. They don"t require a pedigree BUT YOU GOT TO BE GOOD. You can go directly from high school into a military band. Watch one of the bands on youtube. Count the number of people without multiple stripes on their sleeves. Those who want to go into the marine Corps should realize there is a pretty tough boot camp followed by basic infantry traning. Straightest backs anywhere. The marine corps stresses you are a rifleman and will tell about manning the lines at Guadalcanal and one man killed and 7 wounded in Korea not counting frostbite. They won't hesitate to put you in harms way should it be necessary.

Regular bands are going to march more, concert less a fair amount of traveling for some bands others stay home more. I hated it. But I have fond memories of a lot of good musicians ( and funny ) and would do it again. I hear in my mind the first few bars of officer of the day march and see the straight backs---I regard this as a seizure disorder as it is preceded by an aura of the smell of hot asphalt and valve oil

You can arrange an audition at a marine corps band through your friendly neighborhood marine corps recruiter. Audition material is your own plus sight reading.

ALL THE SERVICES HAVE WEIGHT CONTROL REGS

[Eupher6]

What It Is Like to Play in a Military Band

Please forgive my long post ahead of time, but I feel a need to respond within this thread. I've seen posts of those who, like me, served in Army bands in the so-called "line" bands, but I don't believe I saw any other Army retiree thus far. I'd like to offer a perspective from someone who served in those bands that required more of their musicians than "just music."

I spent 20 years in the Army, active duty. Not quite 18 of those years I served as a euphoniumist.

I enlisted within a few months after high school and somehow (I never could quite figure out how) wound up cooking for the Army Security Agency. I guess it sounded spook-like, cooking for a bunch of folks who did the secret squirrel thing. But for about 2.5 years, I served as an active duty Army cook. Not so prestigious, perhaps, but I enjoyed what I did and did my best. I certainly grew and learned during that time.

But I knew I had screwed the pooch after I'd heard the 282nd Army Band at Ft. Jackson during my own basic training graduation. Those guys were doing things not too much differently than I had done in high school, but were getting paid for it. And as I'd always had an affinity for the euphonium (but played mostly trombone), I could see that the Army had an MOS (job) specific for the euphonium. Once that bit of information sunk in, I kicked myself thoroughly for not having explored Army bands enough. I could have requested an audition and while I certainly wasn't setting the world on fire with my playing, I was reasonably sure I could pass whatever audition the Army had.

When I became eligible to do so, I began talking to a reenlistment NCO about reenlistment for the School of Music. I got a green light, especially when I was armed with a successful field audition and I then made the decision to serve a full 20-year career, ideally as a euphoniumist.

I served in some crappy assignments, and some incredibly good ones. I schlepped a lot of equipment. I endured tyrannical bandmasters. I saw a lot of things that probably would get people jailed today. I played a lot and developed phenomenal endurance.

But I did a lot of things outside of music, to include logistics (supply), administration, training, and especially operations. I spent enough time in Germany to qualify as a certified linguist, and that experience was especially noteworthy for me since almost 9 years of the rest of my career was spent in West Berlin.

Being a part of the activities associated with The Wall's demise and eventual reunification was an experience I'll never forget. Not too many people can claim that they've performed alongside a Soviet band, seen where communism actually painted a happy face (but clearly showed otherwise), observed evidence of tyranny and threat, entertained diplomats in Tunisia, or performed honor guards for visiting presidents and vice presidents, to wit: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this Wall!"

As a Soldier, however, there were those soldier-like duties that had to be done. Meeting height and weight standards was crucial (running 13 marathons and hundreds of half-marathons helped keep me trim) along with physical fitness tests, and the expected attention-to-detail of uniforms, haircuts, instruments, and equipment. I spent some time in the field, performing both a musical mission and a security mission. I learned what a steel pot was and later, when the Kevlar came into vogue, we learned how to substitute a faux helmet for it that weighed mere ounces instead of pounds.

I won't even talk about marching band, because I spent a LOT of time outdoors in all sorts of weather conditions.

My final road trip while active duty occurred in the summer of 1994. The 1st Armored Division Band took a commercial bus down to a little-known area in southern France called Draguignon. This was the site of the equally little-known military cemetery that was the final resting place of hundreds of Americans killed during the landings in southern France in August, 1944. The D-Day stuff in June had gotten all the press, but there was more dying to do elsewhere. Battles were raging in southern France and in Italy in August, with a ferocity that warranted the establishment of at least one American military cemetery.

If you've never visited an American military cemetery in a foreign country, you need to at your first opportunity. NOTHING prepares you for that. And you walk away from the experience knowing that you've served your country - not nearly to the extent that those fallen did, but you served.

And this is the crux of my statement here - we can talk about careers in music, we can reminisce about our experiences here and there, but if you really want to reach down and find something that you can grab hold of, appreciate, know, and understand job satisfaction, putting the uniform on of a member of the armed services will get you very, very close to that.

I am proud of my service as a lowly cook and as a euphoniumist, trombonist, and incredibly bad trumpet player (yes, I played two bugle jobs on trumpet and at least one concert on that instrument). I know for a fact that the stuff that "you can write home to Mom about" has a great deal to do with service to the Nation and to others, rather than ourselves. There is an enormous sense of personal pride and commitment that comes with this type of work, irrespective of what the job is.

It just so happens that, again as Dave has pointed out, service in the military as a euphoniumist is one of the very few options available to most of us who play this instrument.

But that service goes beyond music, and that is what makes it so satisfying - at least for me.

Allen Lawless
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Retired