Military Auditions

[Carnival of Venice]

Hi everyone,

My apologies if I know less than I should, but I have a question when it comes to military auditions.

I have always had an interest in them (especially "the Presidents Own") and I've wanted to audition for them, along with orchestral auditions, but I have wondered/been somewhat concerned of a thing.

In my opinion, I think I'm somewhat physically fit (give or take a few pounds for my height), but is there anything beyond that? If someone from "The Presidents Own," could describe a day in the life of a member, that would be helpful.

I'm all fine with auditioning, but I'm not fine with holding a weapon. I respect those who serve but I could never hold a gun. I'm just not that guy.

Basically what I'm asking, is what, besides playing, is required? I tried contacting them about it, but they eventually stopped answering. I could see why. I would stop answering myself too.

Any help is grateful

[Ken Crawford]

In the presidents own they do nothing but play. No guns. No PT. No basic training. They have to conform to height/weight/appearance standards but that's it. The presidents own is really a dream job, you won't work everyday and when you do it's not usually a full day.

The other premier bands are a little more military and you'll have to hold a gun, at least in basic.

[Radar]

Unless you get into the President's Own military bandsmen are required to qualify on weapons. The President's Own is a very elite organization with tough standards, and typically they take musicians with music degrees so if that's your goal getting a degree in Music (if you don't already have one) would help you in this endeavor. Not saying they won't take an exemplary player without a degree, but you would have to blow their socks off at the audition with or without one, and you will be competing with other players who do have advanced performance degrees.

My personal opinion is that the military may not be the best career field for a conscientious objector who doesn't want to use a weapon, but I wish you the best.

[FarahShazam]

I'm in the navy. I've never touched a real gun in 17 years. Haven't been on a navy ship either. It's a military band but you're not usually going to fire a weapon outside of boot camp (unless you want the ribbon). If given orders for weapons training then you hold a gun.

You have to learn military bearing somehow. Knowing when to salute, how to address superiors, and what to say to the press and general public is a skill that must be second nature. It's very important in the special bands. You also have to have a squeaky clean background check.

The Marine Band is just as picky on retention as at the audition. Any mistakes during a first enlistment, it's possible to be denied re-enlistment. They have the strictest protocol rules of all the DC bands.

Boot camp in your 20s is very doable; at the most uncomfortable for 9-10 weeks. The hardest part is lack of sleep. If you're an active person, you will do well. I had to ship off within a week of my audition so I was not prepared physically. My feet and my knees hurt the entire time but I was 4'11 and 115lbs.

As for promotions, the Navy is the most competitive and you have to take an exam to be promoted to E7. It's not that uncommon to retire as an E6 in the navy. In the other branches, there are slightly more promotional chances. No matter which branch, ceremonial work is physically challenging and promotion is never a guarantee.

I cannot comment on auditions. I can say that the band members in the special bands are collegiate classically trained musicians. Visit all the bios that are on the websites to get an idea of types of music schools and degree fields. You'll see a pattern.

[dwerden]

The Coast Guard Band and the U.S. Marine Band in Washington do not require basic. I believe ALL the others do. You will probably be trained to carry and kill in basic training.

Even in the CG and Marine Bands, how would you feel about ceremonies you might play that honor those who have done battle?

The Coast Guard doesn't kill many people, since they are mostly in the live-saving and law enforcement business and are not in the Defense Dept. (except in official time of war). But even so, I played a LOT of ceremonies for Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force vets who usually had killed folks along the way. Your face and demeanor must show respect in those situations.

Things to consider.

[dwerden]

I forgot to mention... You did not say much about your level of playing and I should have commented.

The two bands I mentioned that don't require musicians to do basic training have REALLY HIGH standards for playing. One of my students, who just won the West Point audition, had tried a couple years ago for the Air Force Band. He is an outstanding player, with technique, tone, and musicality, but he did not make finals in that previous audition.

So if you can't meet that standard, then you would be trying out for one of the "other" bands and would certainly need to do basic training.

[Three Valves]

I want to be a doctor, but I really hate blood and icky stuff.

Any suggestions??

[Biggs]

I want to be a doctor, but I really hate blood and icky stuff.

Any suggestions??

[MackBrass]

It wasn't till i put together three huge volumes of band music, about 1000 pages, that i made my first finals at the age of 26 for Pershing's Own. When I was in my teens I also had an issue with holding a weapon but got over it when i became competitive for the DC level positions. In 1992 i was given a choice of where i could go but after i graduated the school of music i was offered the tuba instructor position and stayed there for almost 6 years.

Physical fitness is a big part of what you do and i was lucky to have been a pretty good athlete and was in great shape before basic. Of all 8 years in the Army, my proudest moment was being awarding the highest PT award out if my company during basic. Conditioning builds up confidence, keeps you motivated to get into better shape, helps with promotions, and you look great in a uniform. If your not in shape and are considering a military position, theni would start running.

As to the weapon thing, you will use one just about every day during Army basic and will have to qualify on it as well. Most of the Army field bands do have regular qualifying on their weapons so its something that wont go away. Even if you get into the Army band in DC, you will still have to go to basic and learn to be a soldier before you put on your E6 stripes.

Did i mention, in order to win a DC job, you have to be a mofo on the tuba in order to win? If you have never taken a DC audition then i would say go and give it a shot as it will give you an idea on where you are if you dont advance or win.

My advice, if you have an issue with holding a weapon, dont join or waste your time. Aside from DC, you are a soldier, sailor or marine first and musician second. God forbid we ever see another war where our young men and women have to put their lives on the line so we can have the freedom so many of us take forgranted on a daily basis. The military musician's job is a crucial position in that it lifts the moral and spirits of our young men and women in uniform. Anyone choosing this path needs to know how important their roll is. Again, if holding a weapon is your biggest issue but you have the desire to serve our great country then i would advise on getting over it and do what is needed to get the job done and be proud of it.

While teaching at the SOM i saw several young soldiers, sailors and marines that got kicked out from being not able to play to having the wrong attitude. If someone joins the military with anything less than for honorable reasons, it will show and they never last.

By the way, prior to basic I never held a gun or weapon of any kind, it was a great experience that i wouldnt trade for anything. If you still have firing a weapon issue, then you wont like throwing a granade of firing an M60 machine gun. Even in the DC bands, to wear a uniform proudly you must be willing to stand for its meaning as you are representing a whole lot more than someone who carries a weapon.

[Three Valves]

....then you wont like throwing a granade of firing an M60 machine gun.

Only surpassed by the thud of a Claymore or wheeling out the old .50 M-2!!

[Leland]

I had never fired a weapon in my life before boot camp, either. But now I get to say I'm a multi-award Expert on both rifle and pistol. If you need someone to shoot with iron sights from 500 yards and take out some stationary paper targets, I'm your man.

A big +1 to what Tom posted. You need to have the professionalism and dedication to imbue ceremonial performances with the respect and dignity you owe to your audiences. You'll play for school kids, active duty military, heads of state, parade spectators, wounded veterans, and grieving families. Many of them might not ever see another military ceremony again. You need to bring your best every single time.

I'll add that, for the field and fleet bands, you'll need to do basic training or boot camp, probably spend some time at the School of Music, and enter as an E-2.

I did my four months at MCRD SD and Camp Pendleton for boot camp and combat training. If nothing else, it gave me a great view into the military system and of the motivations behind my fellow Marines. They come from all walks of life, some sheltered and some not, some with a long family legacy in military and some who are fresh. But they all figure out that they need to work together to get things done.

[sousaskater]

That witch doctor LP needs a whole separate search topic. I don't think they have that in the military and if they do only at the highest ranking levels. **** I'm a civilian w/ heath care insurance, I cant find a witch doctor in my network. I'd pay the deductible.

[FarahShazam]

<edited for brevity>

*insert Mic dropping smilie*