The Full Score

So what would life really be like in the RMBS? How would your career develop? What benefits would you gain? The answers are - excellent - up to you - lots.

You will already have gathered that the life of a professional musician is demanding, but in the Band Service the quality of that life is high. Apart from normal service pay you will have the opportunity to earn extra from fee-paying engagements.

Many musicians are even given approval to form their own groups and perform private 'gigs'. Then there's the generous amount of leave, free travel and subsidised accommodation - even Family Quarters. Musicians work well together, and the Band Service is rather like a large family of around 350 people. Wherever you go in the Service you can be assured you will meet familiar faces and receive a friendly welcome.

The length of your career is very much up to you. A return of service is required from you if you complete initial training after which you can serve up to 32 years, earning a pension and a lump sum. As a musician/bugler or an NCO you can serve to the age of 40 or even 50, providing you maintain your full fitness and ability, leaving with a full pension. As an officer you could stay on until you were 50 before leaving with a pension. And there would be no shortage of job offers whenever you decided to leave.

In fact a career in the Band Service is one of the surest springboards for a career anywhere in the world of music - be it conducting, composing, teaching or playing. One thing is certain - by joining the Royal Marines Band Service you would be writing the score for a full and rewarding career.