Before the performance buglers Mace and Keeping talk through their display
The Corps of Drums in full swing during the drum static 'Maranath' and during Sunset conducted by the Bandmaster WO1 Martin
Monday
Having returned from our weekend Derby tour late last night, we were given the
first half of the morning off. The tour was a great success, particularly the
last concert in Burton. That was for everyone except Bugler 'Keeps' Keeping
who turned up to the first gig without his Dress Cords and Musician Phil Trudgeon
who left his whole uniform in Portsmouth. Luckily Cpl Cornish came to the rescue
on both occasions, lending out the various items of his own kit. However, fines
of bottles of Port were incurred and will be enjoyed by the School's Buglers
on their run ashore next Monday.
On arriving at work at 1045, we got straight down to work. The two bugle instructors
were away today but they had set plenty of work for us to get on with including
a piece called 'Theme and Variations for Bugles'.
The afternoon was spent working on drum exercises and the bugle piece, along
with a 20 minute aural lesson with the Bugle Major. Aural lessons are held daily
for the Buglers and follows the 'Kigali' method of teaching. This is quite different
to the aural training I did before joining, but I have found it to be an extremely
effective method of improving my aural skills.
Monday evening was spent preparing for rounds the following morning and socialising
with the auditionees, who are with us this week in the Victory Club.
Before the performance buglers Mace and Keeping talk through their display
The Corps of Drums in full swing during the drum static 'Maranath' and during
Sunset conducted by the Bandmaster WO1 Martin
Tuesday
At 0815 we marched over to the School and set about our daily practice. We had
a fairly long session of aural in the morning and then went through repertoire
for a Beat Retreat at lunchtime. We went to lunch early and then changed into
our ceremonials. A short coach journey then took us into the Guildhall Square
in the City Centre. We then did our Beating the Retreat display on the square,
attracting a fairly substantial crowd, considering it wasn't advertised. Those
not on the gig handed out leaflets to the crowd advertising the Open Day Concert
in the Guildhall on the 1st August. On returning to the School we were quickly
back at work for the remainder of the afternoon.
The evening was again spent in the bar.
Wednesday
Parade Band this morning took place on the lawn of HMS Nelson's Wardroom, rehearsing
for our second gig of the week, another Beating Retreat this evening. The Drum
Major was not very impressed with the Band's efforts, although the Buglers did
have quite a good rehearsal. However, on returning to the school, all the buglers
were called into the Bugler's suite where Sgt Boulton and Cpl Cornish 'expressed
their displeasure' with our termly assignments. I must admit, I was a little
shocked because I didn't think mine was that bad! We were given until tomorrow
morning to redo/reorganise our work so that they all used exactly the same layout.
There was a two hour choir rehearsal in the afternoon instead of the usual Recreational
Training Period and then we returned to the accommodation to do our kit for
that evening. At 1930 we mustered in ceremonials and walked over to the Wardroom.
As we were formed up waiting to march on, we spotted the Corps Drum Major in
the audience - the pressure was on! We then carried out a very good Beating
Retreat, with barely no mistakes at all from the Buglers.
The remainder of the evening was spent putting the finishing touches to our
assignments, ready to hand them in the morning.
Thursday
This morning it was PT as usual at 0730. Having said goodbye to one PTI a couple
of weeks ago, Colours Curry, it was now time for Sgt Griffin to leave. He gave
a heart-warming speech at the end of the session and introduced us to his replacement.
I think I can speak for all of Training Company when I say he will be genuinely
missed, despite the numerous thrashings he's given us in the gym.
On getting into work at 0900, I had a lesson with Professor Yates, the trumpet
prof, on Bugle. He gave me quite a challenging piece (yes I know we've only
got seven notes!) to sight read. After lunch I had a theory exam consisting
of harmony and figured bass questions. This was followed with an hours drum
lesson with Prof Cameron. I sight read some fairly complicated roll studies
which went surprisingly well.
The final period of the day was our weekly history lesson with Sgt Ridley. Considering
the preconceived notion that history couldn't possibly be fun or interesting,
Sgt Ridley does an amazing job at teaching it. However, today he gave our group
the results of last weeks test. Half the class did really poorly and the other
half did really well, and so the whole group have to come in and retake the
test over the weekend, even those who passed first time! (I'm not bitter!)
The day ended on a high at evening rehearsals, when we joined the Concert Band
to go through the fanfare 'Heroes Return'. It was our first time under the new
boss, Major Best, and it seems he was most impressed with our Bugling.
Friday
Parade Band this morning was a rehearsal for the Open Day Beating Retreat. It
was going very well until the heavens opened. As we are short of time, we had
to carry on regardless and got soaked. I had another prof lesson in the morning
before breaking for lunch.
It was a busy afternoon today. I had harmony with Prof Douglas followed by a
half hour session with Sgt Boulton going over a new static for Open Day. The
final part was used for some serious bugle practice to end the week. Finally
the bugle went at 1620 and it was the weekend. My girlfriend was coming down
for the weekend, all the way from Yorkshire. I met her and then ended the day
with a Chinese meal and a drink (or two).
Saturday
I was up early to come back into work to do a forty five minute exam. On completion
I returned to my weekend off and went to Southsea for the afternoon. In the
evening my girlfriend and I met up with Buglers Neil Lowe and 'Keeps' and we
went for a pizza and then some drinks.
Sunday
Today I went to a family christening in Bournemouth spending the day in the
sun. In the afternoon, we just happened to come across a percussion ensemble
playing sambas and Brazilian music, something that is used often in our exam
pieces. One player dancing around with a drum strapped between his legs reminded
me of Dan Johnson's rendition of Caixa March a few weeks ago which was quite
entertaining. This evening the other Buglers went to London to see 'Rhythm sticks'
a concert by BBC Big Band accompanying two famous percussionists. And so we
eventually went to bed, looking forward to PT in the morning with our new PTI.