Variations

You'll soon discover that life with your band is very different from training. Now you are on the musical 'shop floor'.

You will continue your daily practice, sharpening your skills under the Director of Music, but at the same time you'll be a fully working musician. And there'll be no shortage of work - there are always many more requests for performances than are possible. Concerts, spectaculars, marching bands, carnivals, Beating Retreat, Corps of Drums displays, dance bands, herald trumpet fanfares, lunch / dinner light orchestras, brass and woodwind quintets - the Band Service can provide them all and more.

The busiest time for a band is between April and September. During this period it's a constant stream of performances sometimes two a day, and rehearsals - when the time allows.

It involves a lot of unsociable hours and a lot of travelling. One musician summed it up - 'Often there's just enough time to change your shirt and get back on the coach.' At this point you will appreciate the value of your physical training at the School of Music.

But there are lots of compensations. All Royal Marines Bands provide musical support to the fleet, as well as supporting the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in the UK and abroad. In past years this joint role has taken bands to places like Bermuda, Hong Kong, Norway, Gibraltar, Holland, New York, Moscow, the Eastern Mediterranean and Portugal to name but a few.