Musn Linden 24 - 30 June 2002

My name is musician Linden, I joined the RM Band Service in September 2001, I play the piano and trumpet.

Monday

Today started off with a heavy Physical Training Session and everyone felt rather tired after it, as we haven't had it for over a week. I think everyone found it hard but beneficial. Myself and 8 other Musicians had Brass Group with Prof Yates as soon as we got in to work this morning. The first notes sounded a bit rusty as they always do as most of us haven't played since Saturday! This then brought us up to Stand Easy where everyone looks forward to one of Sgt Ridley's and Cpl Finn's lovely ham and cheese rolls, it's just enough to keep you going until lunch.

We then went back to the grindstone and practised for another hour before lunch. We then had fall in and were marched across for lunch by the Section Commanders. We all re-ironed our kit before 1245 as we have to fall in for afternoon inspection and then were marched across to the School for today's M3 recitals. The students playing today were Musn Scott Woolfenden and Musn Jason O'Brien, they both played very well. Scott played his trumpet and piano and Jason played his bass guitar, he also did a recital last week on his tuba. We then had time for personal practise for the rest of the day and fell in for House Parade again at 1620. All in all, quite a normal working day today.

Tuesday

Today myself and Musn Walton were in charge of the Auditionees who arrived yesterday. It was quite strange for both of us as this time last year, we were being auditioned for the RM Band Service. The Auditionees had Musical Assessments all day today with various professors and instructors on instruments that they play and also instruments they may never have seen, never mind played, but they all had an eventful day and from the reports that they gave back to us, it all went as they expected it would.

At 1500 we had to demonstrate for the Auditionees as they had PT with Sgt Griffin. Musn Walton couldn't do it as he had a prof lesson so Musn Hairsine S along with myself were to set the example. We had to do sit ups, press ups and burpees. It wasn't too bad and it brought back memories of a year ago, I was less nervous this year!

We then had to get the Auditionees showered and to dinner before evening rehearsal which started at 1830. The Auditionees came in to watch us rehearse Concert Band for Open Day on the 1st August. We were practising West Side Story, Gaelforce and Olympic Spirit which are both marches for Parade Band. Tomorrow morning we are going to play with drill movements!

After evening rehearsal the bar was open for us to go into, the Director of Music, Major Watson was going in as it is his last week with us as he is going across to Portsmouth Band and we are having a new DOM Training, Major Best from Scotland Band.

Wednesday

Today started with Parade Band at 0800. We were on the Parade Square for an hour starting practising for Open Day! We played Captain General's March, a whole new world and the National Emblem, then we had a break for 5 mins then we came back and played Olympic Spirit which is very hard to play and we have to concentrate on the drill and our dressing as well, so there is a lot going on in your head all at once. Once we had mastered the drill after going through it a few times, we then played Gaelforce which is yet another fiddly and complicated piece to play! After this we all went to do personal practice for an hour and a quarter and then it was Stand Easy so we got to sample the fabulous rolls from the coffee boat once again! We then had Jazz Group. There are two groups that are run every Wednesday, one is taken by Cpl Annett and the other one is run by the Bandmaster WO1 Martin. I went into the Jazz Trio Group today with Cpl Annett, I played the piano for the first time it was really hard but I got there in the end. We had a Clear Lower Deck at 1200. We had to be in the coffee boat for 1220 as we were giving the PDM a photo of the whole of Training Company as a leaving present. Major C J Davis will be taking his place in the next week.

A group of us had a gig in London this afternoon, it was a Fanfare Team of 7 people who played at the Drapers Hall. It was a rather flash place, the team played one fanfare and then we had a meal which had so many courses, things that you wouldn't get at home! It was interesting to say the least. We didn't get back till around 2330. All in all quite a good day!

Thursday

First thing this morning, Training Company had PT with Colours Curry and Sgt Griffin, the people on the gig last night were excused PT so it was a nice lie-in! The Troop went for a run to Southsea and had a swim whilst they were there, they did press ups and sit ups in the sea (nice!) We then had to be over to work for 0850 to fall in to check everyone was in and then the day began. We had personal practice until Stand Easy, I had a piano lesson with my prof after Stand Easy and then we were setting up for another round of M3 Recitals. The students playing today were Musn Mackey on oboe and cor anglais, Musn Imm on viola and Musn Jones on string bass. They all played really well, all their final exams are next week and then they are Trained Ranks and go off to their drafted bands. Recitals went on till 1400. Then I had trumpet prof lesson, we went through the Open Day pieces that we have started to rehearse already. It should be a really good day!

We then had afternoon Stand Easy. My term then had history with Sgt Ridley, we had our mid-term test on the Baroque Era, glad that's now over. We were told that we had a Clear Lower Deck so we had to go into the Concert Hall at the end of the day, this was to say our final goodbyes to our Director of Music, Major Watson. He is leaving us to go and work with Portsmouth Band. We all wish him luck and thank him for what he has done here at the School.

We then went to dinner and had to be back in to work for 1830 as we have wind band. Tonight it was taken by Cpl Tripp as he is doing his conducting Diploma so we played a piece called Danseries. It was a good night's rehearsal and we all benefited from it.

Friday

This morning the day started with Parade Band. We all had to be on Parade, we are now practising every week on the marches for Open Day as it is not far away now. It was a hard blow for all of us but a good rehearsal. We then came in to practise until morning Stand Easy. We have been asked to go over to Portsmouth Band room for the PDM's last talk to us, then we are lining the streets to see the PDM off the base. We all wish him well and will no doubt see him at concerts and events still. After this we went to lunch and then back in work for 1300. Then term 2 students had harmony with Prof Douglas till 1400 then we had an hour of private practice. We then had afternoon Stand Easy and then another hour's practice to the end of the day! We had a social to look forward to, myself and 3 of my friends all dressed up as pink ladies. We were going on a cruise round the Solent. Not only did we have a good night but to top it off we saw Jeremy Beadle, who is living on a fort for a TV show. We were all filmed and are going to be on TV on Saturday 29 June on Ant and Dec's Show. It added to the excitement of the night.

Members of training Company line the route as Lt Col Waterer departs the barracks

Saturday

We had to be in at 0830 much to people's regret seeing as we had such a late night but we got on with it. Sgt Hern was our duty NCO and if we worked hard up to Stand Easy we could be thinned out. People were relieved that they could go back and catch up on some sleep. All in all it's been a god but busy week.