Should I join a NAVY Band?

[89JazzMan]

I want to play bass for a living. It seems there are very few grad schools with electric programs that I can afford.

Moving to a city and getting your name out requires an undertermined amount of "poor time".

I am a pretty good player. I can hold down a solid groove, modulate metrically and tonally, I can sight read pretty much anything put in front of me thanks to the wonderful music faculty at WVU...go eers!!!

I am considering joining a military band as an electric bass player. It really seems the only route to a "sure" gig. I am looking mainly at the Navy because you can audition and if you dont make it...you don't join the Navy.

Anyone have experience out there on Navy Musicians? Do I need to be playing like Jaco to pass an audition? How good are these guys? I cannot really find any info and the audition requirements are vaugue at best.

Any tips???

[BBMS]

Most military musicians are good, and keep getting better. I was in the Navy Band in D.C., and you have to be really good to be in that one (I didn't play bass). It's a great way for someone who wants to play, and you can't beat the medical/retirement.

[tijuana_bass]

I don't have any experience of my own in a military band, but one of the best piano players I ever worked with had been an Air Force musician for 10 years. Daily rehearsal, frequent performance, reasonable touring schedule, and working with other terrific musicians were all components in turning that cat into a real monster player. The only drawbacks are those strictly related to military life (of which I do have personal experience) and I can say that the pay isn't great at first, but it gets better, there's a lot of penny ante bs to put up with, especially at first, but as long as you're not a dope smoker (that'll get you kicked out) the military offers a chance to be a pro player with a regular paycheck, excellent medical and early retirement. That former Air Force guy I worked with? He re-enlisted after being out for only a few months, and he didn't go back only for the money, but also for chance to work with other consistently high quality players. I'd at least audition, and talk to some of the other musicians, see what they say. Good luck!

[Steve]

Man...if I had it to do over again...I'd take a hard run at a military band.

[JTE]

As long as you realize that as a musician in the armed forces, you'd be a sailor first and a bassist second (and accept the consequences of that) it's a good idea. You'll get exposure to a wide range of musics, play with a ton of good players, learn to "hang" (the most essential part of being a working musician), and not worry about getting stiffed on a gig.

I beleive you'll also have to double on another instrument, but I'm not sure about that one. Of course, I'm prejudiced because my dad was in the Navy and I've always had an attraction to the sea...

John

[neptoon]

there used to be a requirement to double on tuba as an electric bass player in the navy, but that is gone...if you want to be a navy bassist, PM me NOW...i sit literally 100 feet away from PERS-4014, which is the navy music program management branch...the detailer (the guy that writes everyone's orders) is a bass player/tuba player, and the people that will review your audition also sit over there...i know them all personally, and two of them are on the burial detail with me...if you need to know the ins and outs, i can put you in contact with them, but know this...the people that are auditioning right now are NOT hacks and kids...they are 30+ year old professional musicians, mostly with advanced degrees in the musical field who aren't making enough money doing gigs and studio sessions...those are the people that you would be auditioning against...worthwhile to give it a shot! i'm not a navy musician, btw...just a submariner that happens to play bass and works a few cubicles down...

[NickCormier]

Anyone know if playing Upright bass is a requirement for military bands??

(I would love to learn eventually how to play upright but I just cant afford buying one, so I wont ever have one to learn. I got about ~3 hours max on one, from my old bandmate who had one)

[bassvi]

Originally Posted by Steve

Man...if I had it to do over again...I'd take a hard run at a military band.

I agree with this. The idea never appealed to me when I was younger (I was all counter-culture) but I went to school with some guys who did it and they came out great. A friend of mine played guitar in a band that was signed on a major label in the 70's, the band stiffed after a couple of albums and he joined the Air Force. He got to travel all over the world with the Air Force band, ended up with a requested assignment in his home town. He's a fantastic player, still jamming. And he's got retirement and benefits.

[reedo35]

Originally Posted by 89JazzMan

I am looking mainly at the Navy because you can audition and if you dont make it...you don't join the Navy.
Anyone have experience out there on Navy Musicians? Do I need to be playing like Jaco to pass an audition? How good are these guys?
Any tips???

Actually you have to audition for all the branches, and the same thing applies. if you don't make it, you don't join.
As far as an audition, you need: 1. a prepared solo 2. Know your major and minor scales at a decent tempo 3. Be prepared to sight read you butt off.
(This is 40% of your Audition) If you do make it you'll go to basic trsaining first, and then to the Military school of Music in Little Creek, VA for 6 Months. (20 minutes from VA Beach!!) From there, you'll take lessons , learn theory, sightsinging, and play in different ensembles. Before you graduate, you'll get your orders telling you where to go.
I Just retired after 21 years, and if travel and gigging sounds good to you, I would reccomend it. There are also some other military Bass threads on here, if you do a search.

[Beefbass]

Check with Pacman, he's been in both the Army, and the Air Force. If anyone would know about being a military bandsman, he'd be the one!

[KeithPas]

I have played in bands with many Navy musicians and they are all top notch so I say give it a try. Keep in mind that you are joining the military and your first responsibility will always be to the military as long as you are enlisted. Playing bass may end up being your profession but you are a sailor beofre you are a musician.

[jam.majors]

My twin plays Bass and Bassoon for the Army and loves it. He's likely going to move up to an officer (and out of the band), but he has had quite an experience!
I keep thinking about it, but I have a bad back and I'm not sure... But I think they'd take me, it's just a matter of how good my chops are!

[M0ses]

Originally Posted by 89JazzMan

I want to play bass for a living. It seems there are very few grad schools with electric programs that I can afford.

Moving to a city and getting your name out requires an undertermined amount of "poor time".

You want to be a bass player, but you are not ok with being poor?


....are you SURE??

[QuantumP7]

So are the physical requirements for the bands the same as the rest of the military? I ask because I'm hearing impaired, but can still play music.

[gregmerrill]

I was in for 7 years. After basic I went to the School of Music Norfolk, VA then was stationed in the Atlantic Fleet Band Norfolk VA for 4 years then was transferred to Navy Band San Diego for 3 years. If you want to do music full time here is your opportunity. You get paid to play and that's all you do. You will get lots of experience gigging and can do lots of travailing. I toured more than 40 countries. It was a blast. But the military is not for everyone. Things to consideray not all that great. Some of the musicians will drive you crazy because they are not very good. Promotion is usually based on a written test and not on how you perform on your instrument. You will have to relocate from time to time. I never liked the uniform. The segregation of Officer and Enlisted was my biggest gripe. If you don’t like taking orders I would not recommend. But I do not regret one minute of it. I got what I needed out of it and was able to do what I love most full time. If you do go for it take advantage of the time they give you to shed on your axe. In this economy I would think their recruitment figures are up. And another thing you will not have to worry about playing the tuba. When I was in you had to minor on it. Boy, I sucked pretty badly. But, towards the end of my enlistment I got adequate on it. It’s not an easy instrument to play. I never wanted to give up my practice on bass to get better at the tuba. They have since stopped this and now I think you would minor on bass drum or cymbals. You would perform on that for marching band type gigs. That’s would be another negative part of the job for the electric bass instrumentalist. If you make this move make sure you get it in ***WRITING***. Your recruiter should give you a document that guarantees that after graduation of Boot Camp your A School will be The School of Music in Norfolk Virginia. Take an audition with the Navy Band before you even talk to a recruiter. Get your reading chops together, especially chord charts.

[Dr_Funkdamental]

Originally Posted by reedo35

Actually you have to audition for all the branches, and the same thing applies. if you don't make it, you don't join.
As far as an audition, you need: 1. a prepared solo 2. Know your major and minor scales at a decent tempo 3. Be prepared to sight read you butt off.
(This is 40% of your Audition) If you do make it you'll go to basic trsaining first, and then to the Military school of Music in Little Creek, VA for 6 Months. (20 minutes from VA Beach!!) From there, you'll take lessons , learn theory, sightsinging, and play in different ensembles. Before you graduate, you'll get your orders telling you where to go.
I Just retired after 21 years, and if travel and gigging sounds good to you, I would reccomend it. There are also some other military Bass threads on here, if you do a search.

+1. And not trying to poach, but if thats your only reason, you should look into the army as well. I thought about the Navy way back, but the Army had better benefits and bonuses . Either way, you dont have to be Jaco for the audition, they just need to see some good musical potential. Ive been a bass player all my life, but I came in the army as a tuba player because my reading was better. Funny thing is, Ive played almost as much bass as I have tuba. Im currently changing my MOS to strictly bass.

[NickCormier]

so.. Is Upright a requirement for you guys? Or are you there just as an electric bassist / tuba or something?

I play alto sax as my secondary (well, it was).. so I am not concerned about wind/brass instruments, I actually enjoy them just dont have the time to learn over what I really want to learn.. but upright is hard because its so expensive to get even a decent one.

[reedo35]

The Job Title is Electric Bassist, But it really helps if you play Upright as well, even a little bit. (It will keep you out of percussion in Concert Band!)

[gregmerrill]

You do not have to play upright. It would not limit your potential in getting the gig one bit if you do not play it. But if you do play upright they would be very happy to have you. Playing a wind instrument will only help you as well. Your minor is usually the bass drum or cymbles.

[reedo35]

Originally Posted by NickCormier

but upright is hard because its so expensive to get even a decent one.

The good news here is that they will buy one for you. The same goes for your BG's. A friend of mine just got a Sadowsky
AND a Lakland.