Life as a military musician

ttf_Emisaumell · Post by **ttf_Emisaumell** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 10:07 pm

How is your everyday life like? I am deeply interested in joining either the U.S. Army or the Air Force and would like to know how the role of a musician is like? I would like to know your experience as one!

ttf_harrison.t.reed · Post by **ttf_harrison.t.reed** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 4:29 am

Shoot me a PM with specific questions. In general, it's a great gig but a specific answer depends on whether you are talking about active duty regular or special bands, or if you are talking about National Guard or Reserve.

I can tell you everything you want to know but I'd rather answer specifics via PM.

ttf_vegasbound · Post by **ttf_vegasbound** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:00 am

Quote from: Emisaumell on Feb 12, 2017, 10:07PMHow is your everyday life like? I am deeply interested in joining either the U.S. Army or the Air Force and would like to know how the role of a musician is like? I would like to know your experience as one!

There are as you are aware several members on TTF either serving or have served with the US forces bands.....competition for the spots is as hard as any gig, are there any current vacancies is the first thing to determine!

ttf_harrison.t.reed · Post by **ttf_harrison.t.reed** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:20 am

Quote from: vegasbound on Feb 13, 2017, 05:00AMThere are as you are aware several members on TTF either serving or have served with the US forces bands.....competition for the spots is as hard as any gig, are there any current vacancies is the first thing to determine!

Again it depends on the type of band. Any of the premiere bands will have their own vacancies and audition processes and are extremely competitive (the Coast Guard Band hints that all of their musicians are graduates of conservatory level institutions and names Juilliard and New England Conservatory as examples). The regular Active Duty Bands are not as difficult to join.

ttf_robcat2075 · Post by **ttf_robcat2075** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:16 am

What's the current state of downsizing the military bands these days? Is the Trump era likely to change anything?

ttf_Dan Hine · Post by **ttf_Dan Hine** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:59 am

Quote from: robcat2075 on Feb 13, 2017, 07:16AMIs the Trump era likely to change anything?

My opinion: yes.

Emisaumell, feel free to pm me questions as well. I served as a Marine musician from 2005-2013 and am currently in the Army.

ttf_MikeBMiller · Post by **ttf_MikeBMiller** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:46 am

A woman I know joined the Navy music program about 10 years ago and she has really loved it. She has been in 3 different bands so far. One of them played here last summer and it was really a top-notch group with very talented players. This was one of the 12 or so Fleet bands. She told me that the level of talent coming in is way up from when she joined.

ttf_Radar · Post by **ttf_Radar** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 8:47 pm

A lot of the answer to your question is dependent on which band you get in. I was in a reserve band, but we went to Ft. Leonard Wood every year for 2 weeks and performed that bands duties for the 2 weeks. We played a lot of ceremonies for Basic training and school graduations, change of command Ceremonies, did some parades. I'm more familiar with reserve bands but will be glad to answer questions about being in the reserves as a bandsmen.

ttf_Arrowhead99 · Post by **ttf_Arrowhead99** » Mon May 08, 2017 2:47 pm

It's a mixture of rehearsals, office work, and training (classes, online classes, giving classes, physical exercise...)
If you're not afraid of the possibility that you could deploy "downrange," then it's not a bad career.

ttf_Cubes · Post by **ttf_Cubes** » Thu May 11, 2017 4:12 pm

Quote from: harrison.t.reed on Feb 13, 2017, 05:20AM(the Coast Guard Band hints that all of their musicians are graduates of conservatory level institutions and names Juilliard and New England Conservatory as examples)
I can give you a 100% guarantee that this isn't true. Good players but I know at least 1 came out of a state school known for producing band directors in Texas

Also each band is going to be different depending on the location and mission of each band. If you want more specifics, primarily about the 10 Marine bands you can send me a message

ttf_Cubes · Post by **ttf_Cubes** » Thu May 11, 2017 4:12 pm

Quote from: harrison.t.reed on Feb 13, 2017, 05:20AM(the Coast Guard Band hints that all of their musicians are graduates of conservatory level institutions and names Juilliard and New England Conservatory as examples)
I can give you a 100% guarantee that this isn't true. Good players but I know at least 1 came out of a state school known for producing band directors in Texas

Also each band is going to be different depending on the location and mission of each band. If you want more specifics, primarily about the 10 Marine bands you can send me a message