Hello, and this is my website report for the week of the Spring Term 04, at
the RMSM. I am Musn Burton and I am in term 7 as a solo cornet.
Monday
Today was the first day for the senior terms back in music from Military Training
and very keen to get to our instruments. I started this term with a professors
lesson on trumpet with Mr John Yates, a former Colour Sergeant with the Royal
Marines. I actually received very good news on this day. Portsmouth band, the
band I was expecting to go to in September, needs a solo cornet to go to America
for 10 weeks, lucky me, the boss of the School, Major Best, asked me and I jumped
at the chance. This means, I am actually passing out at the end of this term.
America get ready!
Tuesday
Today, the professor and I got a programme for my final exam up and running.
With 12 weeks to go, I will have the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, the traditional
lament All Those Endearing Young Charms, Donald Hunberger's Grand Russian Fantasia,
and the classic jazz tune Basin Street Blues, with my study jazz quartet. Also
today we had a look at some great Dance Band Music with Cpl Hudson, the trombone
instructor.
Wednesday
First day of Parade Band oh no! it was actually surprisingly good for 6 weeks
without marching. This was the last day of being under the careful and precise
leadership of Bandmaster Gavin Martin, he leaves us to be the Bandmaster of
Plymouth Band. However we did not let him go without a large and long blast
at our local Witherspoons. Most of us probably didn't even say good-bye for
obvious reasons, I don't think I did.
Thursday
No PT. Ha! The PTI's were away skiing in France. Today was a very long and hard
blowing practice, but very enjoyable. After morning stand easy, we had big band
with Cpl Hudson who produced some of the funkiest big band solo I have ever
played. Evening rehearsal consisted of myself playing the cornet solo Panis
Angelicas, Cpl Williams playing the trumpet solo Sing Sing Sing and Musn Lyndsey,
Musn Fairweather and myself playing the trumpet trio, Trumpets Wild. It was
the solo cornets night tonight!
Friday
I was told today that I would have to jump into a lake on Monday, brilliant!
We started Parade Band at 0800 and this was quite bad considering its supposed
to get better. I then had my instructors lesson with Cpl Williams. This was
very beneficial as my pieces were becoming more dynamic and easier to play.
Monday
Sea Survival? Serious! This is the price for going to America. I must jump into
a lake full of jellyfish and swim about 25 metres into a liferaft. I questioned
this immediately with, "can't I just swim to shore, which is 2½
metres". This course is the basic sea survival which all Naval and Marines
personnel must go through to legally board a ship.
I must also say that this is my week's anniversary for not smoking!