Royal Marines School of Music Higher Training

Course Officer Maj AP Thornhill RM
Academic Professor Dr EA LeGrove BMus(Hons) MPhil EdD FRCO (CHM) PGCE
Chief Instructor WO2 Bdmr AC Cox BMus(Hons) AMusTCL LRSM RM
Academic Instructor BdCSgt H Williams BA(Hons) LRSM AMusTCL RM

Welcome to the first article from the newest members of the K block camerata.

It would be remiss of me not to start this article by sending our congratulations to BdSgt John Morrish and BdSgt Steve Green, who successfully completed last year’s Bandmasters’ Course. Their chairs were still warm when we arrived, and our desks and computers have already become a major part of our lives!
The trailblazers on this year’s course are BdSgts Michael Robinson, Tim Carter, Nev Dednum, Dave Prentice, Matt Weites and Ann Miller, who deservedly becomes the first female member of the Royal Marines Band Service to be selected for the Warrant Officer Bandmasters’ Course.

Rear: Sgts Dave Prentice, Nev Dednum, Tim Carter
Centre: WO2 Taff Cox, CSgt Huw Williams
Front: Sgts Matt Weites, AnnMiller, Michael Robinson

We quickly realised that our spare time could well be at a premium over the next twelve months, and early on in the course a three-hour theory exam on a Saturday morning soon confirmed this thinking! We have been granted shore leave on a couple of occasions though, and we were very proud to view our Massed Bands Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade, and also to attend the Royal Marines Band Service Regimental Dinner.

Our workload has been building up nicely; we have already completed a variety of assessments and exams and had our first compositions and arrangements kindly recorded by the Portsmouth Band. There is plenty more work sitting in our in-trays at the moment, and although we realise this year is going to be hard work, it’s a challenge we’re all relishing.
In a moment of light relief, the month of July will see us attend the Canford Summer School Wind Band Conductors course, studying with Tim Reynish and Mark Heron, as we seek to improve our skills and hopefully avoid the wrath of our conducting professor Malcolm Binney!

Next term brings the arrival of this year’s M1 course to keep us company, the start of our first concert season and a wide range of visits to further increase our knowledge.

I must sign off now though, I need to check my tamburo piccolo with a percussion.

ND

Last updated January 2010