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Hey Everybody,

I haven't posted here in quite awhile, but I thought I should do a quick post about the following awesome event coming up in my life.

I won a job with the U.S. Army Bands! I'm shipping off to basic training at Ft. Jackson, SC in a couple of weeks, then to the Army School of Music, and, finally, to Ft. Drum, NY for my first enlistment! My wife and I are super excited about the whole thing (being apart for 20 weeks won't be cool, but we'll get through it). I mean, come on, full-time job playing music, getting awesome health insurance, and a STEADY paycheck! You can't beat that with a stick.

Anyway, just wanted to let the community know.

CONGRATS! And best wishes as you enter a new chapter in your life!!

Way cool! Good luck!!

That's awesome! Wish I was 45 years younger and in your shoes.

Thanks ya'll! We're very, very excited. I mean, taking care of $65,000 worth of student loans just by playing music is a pretty unbeatable deal. Plus, I get to throw a live hand grenade that will then explode. That is so FREAKING COOL!!!! I should probably clarify here, I would never want to throw a grenade under the conditions that a grenade is usually used, but at a military base where no one will get hurt, I can not wait. From what I've heard, I'll get to shoot a rocket launcher, too ... that would be even better than the grenade.

TubaTinker wrote:That's awesome! Wish I was 45 years younger and in your shoes.

Hell, I just wish I was 45 years younger!

Josh, Congrats!

JohnMCooper wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:That's awesome! Wish I was 45 years younger and in your shoes.

Hell, I just wish I was 45 years younger!

Josh, Congrats!

I'm sure I will have the same sentiment in 45 years.

Congratulations!

josh_kaprun wrote:Plus, I get to throw a live hand grenade that will then explode. That is so FREAKING COOL!!!! I should probably clarify here, I would never want to throw a grenade under the conditions that a grenade is usually used, but at a military base where no one will get hurt, I can not wait. From what I've heard, I'll get to shoot a rocket launcher, too ... that would be even better than the grenade.

When I went through Fort Jackson in 2009, only the top M16 qualifiers were allowed to shoot real AT4's at the heavy gun range day. Everyone else shot a 9mm dummy. It's almost better to NOT shoot one and get to watch it as many times as possible from the side, it is a friggin cool sight! Grenades aren't as much fun, particularly as I've always been a basketball guy over baseball and throw sports balls like one might imagine a 6'10" basketball player to do- high release, no speed, no real accuracy.

RE basic- do what the drills say, shut up, don't get caught up in recruit drama, and everything will be fine. For sharper folks, it's more of a "shut your brain halfway down and don't count days" kind of deal.
When you do the week field exercise at the end of basic try to be the guy in your platoon that gets the 249. It's heavy as hell and the model I had had a terrible strap setup but it is FUN! Nothing like doing react to direct fire and react to sniper drills with that porker.

Musically, Bravura, Armed Forces Service Medley, Army Song, Stars and Stripes Forever, Star Spangled Banner in Bb, and a few other marches (Washington Post, Queen City, National Emblem,...) seem to be the most popular. If your band is heavy on the ceremonial side you'll be playing those often. Even on songs that aren't put out to be memorized you'll have a much better time the more you have memorized.

Try and make a decent effort to learn the Navy rank structure at AIT. That's probably the best time you'll ever have to do so. They had a BUNCH of newish 4 valve 1291 Bb's when I was there (I went for the apparently infamous Hirsbrunner Eb) so likely you'll be able to get a Bb there and not have to suffer through 2 months of trying to play well immediately on a new pitch of horn. It'll also be a nice intro to the horn you'll want to sell your 186 and Cerveny to get.

Bob Kolada wrote:Try and make a decent effort to learn the Navy rank structure at AIT.

Out of curiosity, why? Don't the Army have their own SOM (in VA Beach, I think) these days?

I joined the Army Bands back in 2009, best/only decision that I've made post-grad. It's amazing how quickly you get to know this group of musicians all across the world. I look forward to possibly serving with you in the future! Congratulations and welcome to the family! Hooah!

From what I understand, the Army does have it's own school of music now as I am, in fact, going to Virginia Beach for AIT. Either that or the Navy School of Music has moved.

The group I'm going to be playing in will be at Ft. Drum in upstate New York. From what I've gathered, it is a huge base (I seem to remember reading 100,000 acres), so I'll mainly be doing on-base ceremonial stuff ... which is fine by me.

I'm not sure if I'll ever find a horn that'll make me want to sell my Cerveny. I had a love affair with the Wilson 3100S for the longest time. Was planning on getting one. Then, I found my Cerveny. Played a Wilson last year and ... well, it just wasn't the same. That's not to say that my horn doesn't need some work, but it has the sound I'm after. I DO still want to get the E-flat Wilson, though. That horn will complete my arsenal.

Yay, Josh. Enjoy...and yes, grenades are cool.

josh_kaprun wrote: . . . finally, to Ft. Drum, NY for my first enlistment!

Congratulations! That was supposed to be my first assignment, too, Josh. I was able to get to Germany instead, though, since I knew the FDNY band tuba section leader and he figured I'd like Germany better!

My brother (trombone player) just finished BCT at Ft. Jackson and is at Virginia Beach now for AIT. Message me and I'll be glad to give you his email if you like.

All the best!

Congrats man. By the time you get there that band will have their new 1st SGT and he is awesome. Almost went to Drum just for him (now going to Germany in May). He takes good care of his soldiers and will be great to have for your first duty station. Hope you like the cold.

As to the School of Music. It is currently still in the same building as the Navy/USMC but we no longer do anything with them. So yes learn all their ranks and do so quickly. It's not hard and is respectful to the other service members. They won't mess up yours so return the favor. The tuba instructor there is a great guy and he will have plenty to teach you. Shoot to get the C1 while you are at the school. It will make your life much easier/nicer down the road if you do.

Have fun there. PM me if you would like to talk more.

Is the C1 a horn or an achievement?

That's great to hear about the 1st Sgt. My wife and I grew up in Texas, so we're sick and tired of heat. We loved it in Wisconsin where I did my Master's (our friends gave us funny looks when it snowed the first time and we just had non-stop looks of awe on our faces), so we can't wait to get back to it. Even better, because we'll be on the east side of the lake, I hear that it's not unusual to get up to 35 feet of snow annually, which should be fun.

My composition teacher at my undergrad went to Eastman, which is relatively close to Ft. Drum, and I'll always remember the story he told me about winters up there. He talked about being an undergrad and waking up one morning, walking over to the window, and looking outside. He said it was a beautiful day, sunny, fresh snow up to the base of his window. He turned around and started walking over to his kitchen and then froze when he remembered that he lived on the SECOND FLOOR!!! Needless to say, he didn't make it to class that day.

josh_kaprun wrote:That's great to hear about the 1st Sgt. My wife and I grew up in Texas, so we're sick and tired of heat. We loved it in Wisconsin where I did my Master's (our friends gave us funny looks when it snowed the first time and we just had non-stop looks of awe on our faces), so we can't wait to get back to it. Even better, because we'll be on the east side of the lake, I hear that it's not unusual to get up to 35 feet of snow annually, which should be fun.

Um ... if you say so.

josh_kaprun wrote:Is the C1 a horn or an achievement?

Achievement. You have to get a 30 or better on your audition in order to get it. It can really help out your career down the road.

bububassboner wrote:

josh_kaprun wrote:Is the C1 a horn or an achievement?

Achievement. You have to get a 30 or better on your audition in order to get it. It can really help out your career down the road.

Do you mean 3.0 or 30? It used to be 3.0 and in the top 20% of the field. The C-1 used to be (seems like it still is) the ACOM band qualifier. If you don't get a C-1 ASI, you won't get a chance to play in the "better" bands.

A lot has changed for the Army's band field. The word "Element" has been dropped from the title and now read "US Army School of Music" and it still resides at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, VA. The three services are still instructed in the same building but their identities have been separated. It mostly deals with differences in training doctrine and staffing. Will they move to another location someday? Maybe but that's a very big decision with big dollar signs attached.

Auditions are now scored 0-40 and the C1 ASI is now held by nearly half the field. In order to meet course standards of the Senior Leaders Course(SLC), formerly Advanced NCO Course, Soldiers must attain the C1 ASI during the duration of the course. Failure to do so relegates their status to "minimally achieved course standards." This could potentially limit further career progression. The Soldier will also have to re-certify their C1 at each school but once he/she graduates from SLC, it's permanent, unless their commander sees the need to re-audition. The short version-practice well, practice often, get the C1, repeat and keep C1 for career. It will open doors for your career.

Ft. Drum does get a lot of snow and you'll get to do all things in all types of precipitation and temps getting as low as -40F. You'll be nestled in the foothills of the Adirondack mountains and it's beautiful country. Alexandria Bay is scenic and the band plays there often. Get up to SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music and see Dr. Guy for some lessons. Get out to NYC or to Rochester and find both playing and listening opportunities.

Enjoy your time and Climb to Glory Mountain Man!