Hi everybody,
Ever since I entered college, pursuing a career in the military bands has one of my top career aspirations. I have spent a lot of time researching the different branches and band programs. I don't feel that I have to pursue a career in one of the "premiere" bands (though if my preliminary cd was accepted, and I was asked down to a live audition, I would certainly put my entire self into preparing for the audition), but I think that I would still really enjoy a career in one of the "post" (or regional) bands. I definitely don't mind having to wear a uniform, or taking orders; actually all the other careers that I had considered before I became serious about music involved some type of uniform and taking orders. After graduating with my bachelors this year, I plan on either attending grad school (masters in Euph performance), or auditioning for the military band programs (mostly dependent on whether or not I get into the grad schools that I want). I have decided that if I end up auditioning for the military bands, I will audition for the Army band program and/or the Navy band program. However, I can't decide which branch would be better. I know that both branches will offer similar pay and benefits and are similar in many ways. However, I have heard a rumor that the Navy bands play more satisfying music (from a musicians point of view), and that the Army bands play more of the "crowd pleaser" type of music. Also, the navy band program has the navy band northeast, and the Army band program doesn't have any bands in the northeast as far as I know (aside from the Military Academy Band, and they are all set with Jason Ham and Barry Morrison); and as I grew up in Massachusetts, I would like to stay as close to home as possible... though it's not a big deal if I end up being required to go somewhere else. Anyway, I am starting to stray from the point. If anybody has had any experiences with the two different branches (whether positive or negative), please feel free to share them. I would appreciate any bit of information that anyone has that will make it easier to decide between the Army and Navy programs.
Ever since I entered college, pursuing a career in the military bands has one of my top career aspirations. I have spent a lot of time researching the different branches and band programs. I don't feel that I have to pursue a career in one of the "premiere" bands (though if my preliminary cd was accepted, and I was asked down to a live audition, I would certainly put my entire self into preparing for the audition), but I think that I would still really enjoy a career in one of the "post" (or regional) bands. I definitely don't mind having to wear a uniform, or taking orders; actually all the other careers that I had considered before I became serious about music involved some type of uniform and taking orders. After graduating with my bachelors this year, I plan on either attending grad school (masters in Euph performance), or auditioning for the military band programs (mostly dependent on whether or not I get into the grad schools that I want). I have decided that if I end up auditioning for the military bands, I will audition for the Army band program and/or the Navy band program. However, I can't decide which branch would be better. I know that both branches will offer similar pay and benefits and are similar in many ways. However, I have heard a rumor that the Navy bands play more satisfying music (from a musicians point of view), and that the Army bands play more of the "crowd pleaser" type of music. Also, the navy band program has the navy band northeast, and the Army band program doesn't have any bands in the northeast as far as I know (aside from the Military Academy Band, and they are all set with Jason Ham and Barry Morrison); and as I grew up in Massachusetts, I would like to stay as close to home as possible... though it's not a big deal if I end up being required to go somewhere else. Anyway, I am starting to stray from the point. If anybody has had any experiences with the two different branches (whether positive or negative), please feel free to share them. I would appreciate any bit of information that anyone has that will make it easier to decide between the Army and Navy programs.
Comment