A little note about the different branches. When I was in the Navy the total Navy Band budget was something like 3-4 million per year. The Air Force band budget at that time was 40-50 million per year. They don’t have ships to buy. The Air force Music Program is the elite only of military musicians unless you get into the Washington DC Navy Band which is similar to the President's Own Marine Band in status. If you are an exceptional musician try out for the Air Force Band.
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Should I join a NAVY Band?
- Thread starter 89JazzMan
- Start date
There are exceptional musicians in every branch of military bands, as well as mediocre players. Don't think that the Five or six elite bands in DC are your only option to play with excellent musicians.
Yes there are great musicians in all branches but the Air Force is the hardest to get into. And all military musicians know this. And the "five or six elite bands in DC" are going to have the finest musician’s period! There is a reason that they are there. But that doesn’t mean that there are not other great musicians throughout the fleet or field.
IMHO if you have the drive to make it through a college music program, you may have what it takes to be a military musician. I am not. However, living in the D.C. metro area, I've know many who are. At Uarts they used to tell me SCHOOL was like being in the trenches, you have to do your time. By that, I mean no disrespect to those who have served or been in combat. Also, go because you want to go, yes you'll get a paycheck, granted that you do make it, but it's a serious decision. Blessings, Fred
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,409
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- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
This is true, but due to the Air Force band program's size, the level of musicianship in the Air Force is higher than the other branches.
Think about it, travel, a steady paycheck, and a chance to play with good musicans everyday. And no day job to help pay bills while you are out hunting for gigs. Look aroud a lot of music venues are going out of buisness, and what is left aren't paying as much. Do the math......Good Luck. Give it some thought.
I say give it a shot..I retired from the USAF Band in Washington, DC back in 2007..it was a great career and I would do it over again in a heart beat. I think playing in a military band is one the best steady jobs for a musician anywhere, especially in this economy.
I should add that in addition to being a good player you need to have a clean criminal and financial record. The bands in DC require a top secret clearance and the regional bands require a secret clearance (at least they did back in 07). If you have a DWI, bankruptcy, or misdemeanors on your record they won't even look at you, it doesn't matter if you play electric like Jaco and upright like Ray Brown!
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,409
- 9,868
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
I'm currently in the Navy band. Neptoon, one of those people you mentioned I'm pretty good friends with (Erin).
PM me if you have any specific questions that are unanswered in this thread. Most of the information is accurate. The secondary job for bass is not just bass drum and cymbals, but all aux percussion - it's just we do more parades than big concert band stuff, so bass drum and cymbals usually sums it up.
As I understand it, the Air Force is able to be slightly more selective because they hire for specific positions similar to the premier bands of all the branches. You audition at the actual band you'll be playing with, and they don't send you to any military music school. The other branches all use the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, VA, and from there, they throw the people where they're needed.
There's lots of positives to the job. It's a lot less work being a musician in the military than out, from everything I've heard; I joined straight out of college. But the quality of musicians you play with is all over the place sometimes. You'll sometimes get in a really good band of smokin' players, and then sometimes you'll just want to take a wire cutter to the piano because they're playing so bad. Unless you have an extreme aversion to authority, I think it's a pretty great gig.
Anyway - if Neptoon hasn't helped you out in getting any help/contact information you need, I'm more than happy to help.
PM me if you have any specific questions that are unanswered in this thread. Most of the information is accurate. The secondary job for bass is not just bass drum and cymbals, but all aux percussion - it's just we do more parades than big concert band stuff, so bass drum and cymbals usually sums it up.
As I understand it, the Air Force is able to be slightly more selective because they hire for specific positions similar to the premier bands of all the branches. You audition at the actual band you'll be playing with, and they don't send you to any military music school. The other branches all use the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, VA, and from there, they throw the people where they're needed.
There's lots of positives to the job. It's a lot less work being a musician in the military than out, from everything I've heard; I joined straight out of college. But the quality of musicians you play with is all over the place sometimes. You'll sometimes get in a really good band of smokin' players, and then sometimes you'll just want to take a wire cutter to the piano because they're playing so bad. Unless you have an extreme aversion to authority, I think it's a pretty great gig.
Anyway - if Neptoon hasn't helped you out in getting any help/contact information you need, I'm more than happy to help.
hey 89man, we've got an opening in the Air Force Band in Omaha coming up in September, pm me if you're interested.
I HIGHLY recommend it...When I was 18 and STILL in High School I took the tests and got accepted into the NAVY program. However when I took the physical my degenerative arthritis prohibited me from going through basic. The OIC met with me and told me that he had good news and bad news...The good news was I would never see combat...the bad news was that I would never be able to serve in the military...I was crushed! I then tried to get into the Air Force and was told the same thing...I did a LOT of research and at least then I thought the Navy and the Air Force programs were definitely where I wanted to be. I understand that the Air Force is probably the more elite program now and has been mentioned tends to get the choice players as they are more selective. They also have THE BEST gear in the world as their budget is about 10 times the budget of the other branches (at least it used to be, not sure now) I did get a chance to go out and do quite a bit of sound production and a few gigs as a civilian contractor over the years and enjoyed every second of it. All the people I ever dealt with in Military bands were ALL GREAT people and were for the most part killer players. I think it would be the ideal life if I were to have to start over in my 20's again. I looked into serving again back in 2001 after 9/11 and have since then but I am 44 and not in the best of health. I could never get through basic now as I have had 2 hip replacements but I would have loved to have been looking back at 25 years in by now. I had decided to go in as a lifer and come out after 30 years with a nice pension and having traveled all over the world. I would have come out at 48 with all the knowledge and chops that I had accrued and be ready to keep on playing full time either in a working band or at a resort or something somewhere. I also considered being a cruise ship musician for a while just for the fun of it about 10 years ago. A friend of mine was working at Carnival at the time and was having the time of his life...I WISH I was in your shoes! I would already be in my A school or on assignment by now...
GO FOR IT! It is a different way of life but if you are remotely serious about being a professional musician this is one of the smartest things you can possibly do, especially in the times we are living in. Where else can you get into a band and be GUARANTEED that you will tour worldwide and get PAID for it? Not to mention some of the bonuses you can get now. If you stay in long enough you can actually make a good living at it...Now is the time though. Don't wait and then realize 10 years from now that you should have done it. I wish I would have been able to! I have had a good life and done some really great things and made a good living for myself but I KNOW that I would have been just as happy to be a career military musician!
To all the guys and gals that are serving now or have served in the past, I salute you and thank you for your service. YOU are the people that make me proud to be an American! I wish you all safe journeys and lifelong happiness! Thank you!
Peace,
T
GO FOR IT! It is a different way of life but if you are remotely serious about being a professional musician this is one of the smartest things you can possibly do, especially in the times we are living in. Where else can you get into a band and be GUARANTEED that you will tour worldwide and get PAID for it? Not to mention some of the bonuses you can get now. If you stay in long enough you can actually make a good living at it...Now is the time though. Don't wait and then realize 10 years from now that you should have done it. I wish I would have been able to! I have had a good life and done some really great things and made a good living for myself but I KNOW that I would have been just as happy to be a career military musician!
To all the guys and gals that are serving now or have served in the past, I salute you and thank you for your service. YOU are the people that make me proud to be an American! I wish you all safe journeys and lifelong happiness! Thank you!
Peace,
T
you know MU1 Horn? She's a real sweetie...we're both on the funeral/burial detail...it's funny...her name is Horn and she doesn't play one...the guy she relieved was named Cornette who is a french horn player (a badass one, too, btw - maybe you know him?)
He has already talked to MU1, and from what she says, his interview went really well and he will be auditioning at the beginning of the year - good luck, bro!
yeah the sight reading is both notation (on bass clef) and lead sheets/real book tunes, and sometimes number charts ie: nashville number system.
D
Thread resurrection for most recent info...
So, I auditioned for the Navy Band program about 2 weeks ago.
Here's what they asked for/had me do (you can get this info when you submit an audition request):
Major, Melodic Minor, and Mixolydian scales in 2 octaves.
Between 3-5 prepared pieces (I did 2) w/play along tracks
Sight Read Sample bass lines in a variety of styles
Sight Read a Treble Clef Head
Sight Read Changes
Jam a blues w/a drummer & guitarist (walk & solo)
I had an audition panel (2 guys-one bassist who was I think an E7-E8? & one high very ranking band person, who was a total monster of a player) and then an audience of 5-7 members of the band. They (the audience) offered to leave if it made me uncomfortable...I had 'em stay because it felt more like my college juries that way.
Nothing like being in a room with at least 10 people that can more than likely play circles around you....and have them critique you. I had one bassist in the audience (plus the one on my panel), the drummer, two guitarists, and then some other guys that I didn't catch what they play/hear much from. Everyone was nice, and supportive.
The audition was a lot of fun. I didn't play as well as I'm capable, but I also didn't bomb it by any stretch. They also let you know pretty fast. My audition was submitted to their headquarters yesterday (held up due to me not having my recruiter's info on me at the audition), and I got my results via phone call this morning (I passed).
Based off of my own research, which includes talking to active bandsmen in a few branches, Navy Band sounds like the best fit for me. The people in the band were very chill, there's 6 months of Military Music School (I'm very excited for that), 8-9 weeks of Boot Camp in Illinois, and you can start as high as E3 with college credit. The Military Bands have info PDFs that you can get by contacting the various branches band liaisons through the military websites.
Air Force band would have been awesome, but their audition requirements were a bit steep for where I'm at DB wise.
Army Band audition requirements seem pretty similar to Navy. At the moment, I'm deciding between Army & Navy Band programs.
If anyone has specific questions about the Navy Bands Audition process, let me know. It is still pretty fresh in my mind.
So, I auditioned for the Navy Band program about 2 weeks ago.
Here's what they asked for/had me do (you can get this info when you submit an audition request):
Major, Melodic Minor, and Mixolydian scales in 2 octaves.
Between 3-5 prepared pieces (I did 2) w/play along tracks
Sight Read Sample bass lines in a variety of styles
Sight Read a Treble Clef Head
Sight Read Changes
Jam a blues w/a drummer & guitarist (walk & solo)
I had an audition panel (2 guys-one bassist who was I think an E7-E8? & one high very ranking band person, who was a total monster of a player) and then an audience of 5-7 members of the band. They (the audience) offered to leave if it made me uncomfortable...I had 'em stay because it felt more like my college juries that way.
Nothing like being in a room with at least 10 people that can more than likely play circles around you....and have them critique you. I had one bassist in the audience (plus the one on my panel), the drummer, two guitarists, and then some other guys that I didn't catch what they play/hear much from. Everyone was nice, and supportive.
The audition was a lot of fun. I didn't play as well as I'm capable, but I also didn't bomb it by any stretch. They also let you know pretty fast. My audition was submitted to their headquarters yesterday (held up due to me not having my recruiter's info on me at the audition), and I got my results via phone call this morning (I passed).
Based off of my own research, which includes talking to active bandsmen in a few branches, Navy Band sounds like the best fit for me. The people in the band were very chill, there's 6 months of Military Music School (I'm very excited for that), 8-9 weeks of Boot Camp in Illinois, and you can start as high as E3 with college credit. The Military Bands have info PDFs that you can get by contacting the various branches band liaisons through the military websites.
Air Force band would have been awesome, but their audition requirements were a bit steep for where I'm at DB wise.
Army Band audition requirements seem pretty similar to Navy. At the moment, I'm deciding between Army & Navy Band programs.
If anyone has specific questions about the Navy Bands Audition process, let me know. It is still pretty fresh in my mind.
