Which branch is the best to go into?
Originally posted by: Piomarine Though I am a member of the Marine Corps Band, I have a lot of exposure and work closely with the Army Band, Navy Band, and the Air Force Bands stationed out here in hawaii. I have limited exposure to the Coast Gaurd Band of the Pacific as they are stationed in Alaska (poor poor souls...) All of the military bands are going to give you the same pay and benefits as they are all regulated by the Department of Defense regardless of branch of service. I will say that i believe its quite the other way around between the Navy and Army bands...at least from my perspective. The Army Band is going to put more focus on cerimonies whereas in the Navy you will still do cerimonies but half as many, and much cooler ones if i say so myself...in fact we just filled in for the Navy band at Pearl Harbor to do two changes of command on two submarines...we got to tour the boats afterwards. The Pacific Fleet band also puts more focus on small ensembles including Jazz band, Jazz combo, Brass Quintet, Woodwind Quintet, and Rock band. The Army band does as well, but all of the Army Bands also deploy. The 25th Infantry Division Band just got back in November from a one year tour in Iraq. The Navy Bands do not deploy as far as I know. Also the quality of musicians will be exponentially greater in the Navy. They have fewer musicians and therefore are much more stringient as to who they let pass the School of Music. It is also required of Navy bandsmen to be able to play up to qualifying score on two instruments of their choosing (primary and secondary). I hope this helps some.
Sorry to have to say this, but I'm afraid you're misinformed. The Coast Guard has only one band and it is located in New London, CT. There is no Coast Guard Band in Alaska, unless it is an informal one assigned on an ad hoc basis, which I think is rather doubtful.
U.S. Army, Retired (built mid-1950s)
Adams E2 Euph (built 2017)
Boosey & Co. Imperial Euph (built 1941)
Edwards B454 Bass Trombone (built 2012)
Boosey & Hawkes Imperial Eb tuba (built 1958)
Kanstul 33-T lBBb tuba (built 2010)