I am Musician Naylor and have now been training since I joined the RM Band Service
in 2000. Prior to joining the Royal Marines Band Service I lived with my uncle
and aunt in Windsor and worked at the leisure centre as a lifeguard.
Monday
Like every other Monday our first detail was 0730 at the gym for a 45 minute
PT session. The girls seemed to be putting in a lot more effort than usual today,
maybe trying to lose those last few pounds before the Christmas Social next
week. After PT we went to work in the School of Music where I spent the morning
in a Brass Group, under the direction of Professor Yates, which is a small ensemble
of brass players at beginner and intermediate level. This happens every Monday
morning and early in the New Year we'll do a recital with some of the pieces
we've rehearsed. Today I also had lessons on my double bass and bass guitar
with my instructor Sgt Embury. The lessons are quite intense now with our T3
(Term 3) exams coming up and the time is spent perfecting our pieces. These
exams are extremely important. If I pass, no more work on Saturday morning -
YAY!
Tuesday
After dusting our lockers and checking our rooms were neat and tidy for rounds
we fell in at 0815 to be inspected by our section commanders. Tuesdays are boring
for me as I don't have much to break up the day, so I do a bit on each instrument
concentrating on the most important things... like staying awake! In the evening
we had an orchestra rehearsal. This was conducted by Major Watson, WO1 Smallwood,
the Bandmaster, and a few of the Sergeants on the Bandmasters' Course conducting
their own arrangements of various Christmas Carols, these will be played at
the Christmas Concert next Thursday.
Wednesday
After a year of practising and a successful first parade band gig under my belt,
marching with a tuba strapped to my body seems to be getting easier. Parade
band this morning was taken by our new Drum Major, Drum Major Boorah. Today
I made a solo appearance in the Big Band rehearsal featuring my bass guitar.
Big Band is led by the trombone Professor, Mr Don Lusher, and this was the first
time I had played bass guitar on my own - I did well and will perform with the
band at the Christmas Concert.
Thursday
Today, like Monday, started with an early morning PT session, however, instead
of running around the gym we were all taken down to the running track at Temeraire
for a practice of the mile and a half BFT - FUN! My bass guitar Professor, Alan
Ham, came in today and I had another lesson going over my T3 pieces - almost
perfect now. The day ended with another rehearsal for orchestra rather than
our usual Thursday night concert band rig up. With Mr Smallwood conducting,
we worked on the Malcolm Arnold Clarinet Concerto with Musn Walker doing the
solo. This is also for the Christmas concert next week.
Friday
On Friday morning we were lucky enough not to have parade band and only had
to be in work at 0845, so it was an extra half hour in bed! I had a lesson with
Andy Cresci, the Tuba Professor, during the day. Since I had already completed
my T3 exam in term two we had a chance to work on more serious things... like
my lower register. It's come a long way since I swapped from euphonium but a
lot more work is still needed. The last hour of the day was spent in a strings
rehearsal under the direction of Sgt Boland, the violin instructor. We spent
the time working on the Brandenburg Violin Concerto which will be performed
later during recitals.
Saturday and Sunday
This was my last Saturday morning of work, praise be. The rest of the weekend
was spent sleeping, relaxing, watching television and looking for a dress for
the Christmas Social - can't wait!