I am Musician Clark and I am in term six of my music training.
Monday was a sad day for Training Company as we all had to return from long
weekend. It never feels as though we've been away as it is always straight into
the same routine. Today was no change. It was Rounds as normal ready for Tuesday
morning. Rounds has changed for us recently, it is now part of our daily routine
after a few of Training Company decided to bend the rules. It isn't as bad as
it sounds because it means that we stay on top of our cleaning.
Tuesday saw a new era at the School or should I say back to the old ways. All
trainees, not just new entries are now wearing berets. It has gone back to the
days at Deal. The Section Commanders get to wear their caps as does anyone who
is in their final term. It looks a bit strange with us not all looking the same
but it is something we are starting to get used to. I usually have two professors
lessons on Tuesdays but my flute professor wasn't in today so I only had my
saxophone lesson. I have been playing the saxophone for seven years, I was lucky
enough to play both of my instruments before I joined up. I spent most of my
time practising in my cell today. I am studying for a degree through the Band
Service so last thing on a Tuesday I have harmony with Professor Douglas. In
the evening we had orchestra with Sgt Boland and then the rest of the time was
our own.
Wednesday started as usual with Parade Band but with a difference. We had no
Corps of Drums. They were all stranded (!) in Cyprus due to all the out-going
flights bringing people back for the fire fighting. They got an extra three
days out there and of course they were most upset about having more time away.
They were however returning today. We had an inspection by Drum Major in our
berets and then had a musical rehearsal. We don't just study classical music,
we also get a chance to do jazz if we wish. Cpl Williams and sometimes the Bandmaster
take a jazz group on Wednesdays. It is a time to put aside any classical ideas
and make our own in the form of improvisation. Most of the class are new to
this style of music. Musn Mears and I both studied jazz before we came to the
School of Music although he looked into it far more than me. He is always there
to show us how it should be done, although the newcomers to it are getting the
hang of it very quickly. The PTIs were away with the New Entries doing Adventure
Training so there was no RT in the afternoon. Instead we were back in work.
Those of us who are in Dance Band had a rehearsal for our forthcoming visit
to Iceland at the beginning of next month. We haven't had many rehearsals but
it is coming together well.
Thursday we had a bit of a lie in. The PTIs being away also meant that we had
no PT to start the day. We were still up doing Rounds though. My saxophone professor
was in again today to take us for a sectional rehearsal ready for Big Band.
Mr Hastings is a jazz musician and so is able to point us in the right direction.
After our rehearsal with him we had Big Band with Mr Lusher. With my professor
being there he managed to show the saxophone section up somewhat, but we are
getting there. We had the rest of the afternoon to practice music for our professors
and Concert Band before the evening rehearsal. This is also ready for the Iceland
trip.
Friday saw another inspection in Parade Band before the beginnings of the rehearsal
for Iceland. It was quite windy, and slow marching into the wind proved harder
than we thought. I had aural this morning with Sgt Ridley and the rest of my
term. The rest of the day was spent in the usual way. We were all looking forward
to the weekend and the hope that maybe we wouldn't have to do rounds anymore.
Unfortunately this wasn't to be the case. It seems that some people still haven't
learnt what standards are expected of us and so we have another week of Rounds.
We all go our separate ways during the weekend. Some went to a BSO concert at
the Guildhall on Friday night to see a fifteen year old violinist playing the
way we can only ever dream of. A group of us went out for something to eat and
to spend the evening socialising.