<p>West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy have professional bands, Coast Guard doesn't. By professional I mean that they earn their living playing in the band. All of the services have multiple bands around the country, in addition to their premier bands in Washington, D.C. </p>
<p>I believe most people in these bands are enlisted, this however does not mean that they just sign up and get to join. I'm almost sure that to even audition for the U.S. Marine Corps Band you need a master's degree in music.</p>
<p>
[quote]
West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy have professional bands, Coast Guard doesn't.
[/quote]
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<p>The United States Coast Guard Band (a professional band of enlisted personnel) is based at the USCGA in New London, so indeed, the USCGA does have a professional band at the academy, as well as the various bands (regimental marching band, pep band, fife & drum, and jazz band) made up of cadets.</p>
<p>My mistake. I was basing that comment on last year's USCGA-USMMA football game at New London, where their professional band did not make an appearance.</p>
<p>The Navy has a band and it is composed of mostly enlisted personnel. I'm not sure about the USMC Band (which is also part of the Navy Band), and this is the first I've heard about a master's degree required. If that were the case I believe there would be no Navy or Marine Corps Band :)</p>
<p>The bands for each service does indeed have professional musicians. The Directors are Officers but the musicians are enlisted. Most Army musicians hold a bachelor's degree in music - yes even though they are enlisted. I <em>think</em> they start at E-4 after basic - depending on what schooling they bring.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps band specifically is very competitive - here is a quote from the Marine Corps website:
[quote]
Many Marine Band musicians serve for 20 years or more and most hold advanced degrees from the world’s top music schools, including:</p>
<pre><code>* Curtis Institute of Music
* Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester
* Indiana University School of Music
* The Juilliard School
* Oberlin Conservatory of Music
* Peabody Conservatory at the Johns Hopkins University
* University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
</code></pre>
<p>Musicians of “The President’s Own” are chosen at auditions like those of major symphony orchestras. Prospective members audition behind a screen to ensure anonymity and are selected for a final interview, by an audition committee from “The President’s Own,” based upon their performance.</p>
<p>Following selection and successful completion of a physical examination, musicians enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps under a four-year contract "for duty with the U.S. Marine Band only," guaranteeing exclusive assignment to "The President's Own." Members do not undergo recruit training but report directly to Marine Barracks Washington in Washington, D.C., to begin their duties. On-site training in necessary military subjects is provided in a structured program to help new members transition from civilian to active duty military life. Upon enlistment, members are immediately appointed to the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6), which allows the band to offer salaries commensurate with comparable civilian organizations.
Musicians within “The President’s Own” perform as a part of the Marine Band, Marine Chamber Orchestra, and Marine Chamber Ensembles at the White House, in the Washington, D.C., area, and across the nation during the band’s annual concert tour.
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<p>I am not sure if a Master's degree is required but the competition may require one. I have heard that many of our Armed Forces Musicians do indeed have at least a Bachelor's degree in Music and quite a few with a Master's degree in Music.</p>
<p>Additionally here is the link for West Point Dixie Players - they all have master's degrees, and are enlisted personnel. West</a> Point Dixie Players</p>
<p>Thanks for the information JustaMom, this is a subject which is not discussed freaquently so any enlightment is helpful. I know some of the West Point band played at our Joint Service Academy Ball this past Christmas and it was beautiful. :)</p>
<p>The Marine Band is not part of the Navy Band. They are the nations "oldest PROFESSIONAL musical organization." You don't need a Masters but you definitely need at least a BA in Music and the audition process is very competitive. Yes, many of them do have a Masters degree.</p>
<p>The members of the Coast Guard band are also professional musicians and have the same qualifications. They are based at the Academy but appear all over the world. So they are seldom available for Academy events. </p>
<p>For both organizations, those professional CIVILIAN musicians who make it through the tough competition are enlisted in the service so they have the right to wear a uniform. They start out as an E-6. However, they don't go to boot camp and they don't get transferred to the fleet.</p>
<p>The CGA Regimental Band is the closest thing they have to the USMMA band and it is composed of cadets. But they don't have the same performance schedule, don't travel and (in my opinion) don't begin to compare to the quality of the USMMA band. </p>
<p>The point is that all the other services' performing bands use PROFESSIONAL musicians, who already have have degrees in music, have extensive formal musical training, and make it through an extremely competitive process. </p>
<p>The USMMA Band is unique in that its members are STUDENTS - and as far as I know, none of them is majoring in music at KP. Instead of practicing music all day they attend classes, play sports and, yes, go to sea. Having seen the Army, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard bands perform MANY TIMES during my career, I can tell you that the USMMA band is every bit as good, maybe better, than those professional musicians. You guys should be incredibly proud.</p>
<p>Yep - each brach of the Armed Services has their own "Band" - actually they have many bands. For Army they do go to boot camp - but then are permanently assigned to the Band. The other branches apparently just audition and don't go to boot camp. The musical resumes are quite impressive.</p>
<p>This thread struck my eye since my daughter was at a military prep school last year and in "Band Company". It too was a love/hate relationship. Many of the issues that you folks discussed here she faced.</p>
<p>USMMA not being directly linked to a branch of the Armed Forces doesn't have the advantage of a professional band. Nevertheless - I do think any military school needs to have a band. The other academies have musical ensembles that are ec's for cadets/mids - like Army's Spirit band - but they don't have their own company. </p>
<p>My feeling - FWIW - any entering mid who enjoys music and playing an instrument should consider band company. I think if you want to keep the school going as a military school - having a band should be important.</p>
<p>There are many bands within the Marine Corps. Almost every major unit has one. Most of these people do go to boot camp and from there are selected to attend
field music school. However, the "President's Own" Marine band in Washington D.C. is comprised of members who are selected as described in previous posts and do not attend boot camp. I believe the same is true about the Navy's Sea Chanters vocal group</p>
<p>My friend enlisted in the Marines and will be playing with the band. He had to audition for it and he made it. He is going to boot camp right out of high school. No College. Then he goes to advanced weapons training, and finally one year of music school.</p>
<p>I went through boot camp with a young recruit who had the same experience. After infantry training he went to field music school While he did end up in A
marine band, it was not THE Marine Band. I think he ended up at Camp Pendleton.</p>
<p>My older son graduated from college, auditioned for the Marine bands, was selected for "The Commandants Own", the Drum and Bugle Corps, based at the historic barracks in Washington DC. The Presidents Own band members (they do not go to boot camp) are also based there, as well as the Silent Drill Platoon. My son went to boot camp, combat training and then straight to DC. The D&B travels widely and performs every Tuesday evening in the summer at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington for thousands each week. In addition to being accomplished musicians, they must maintain strict pft scores as well as rifle and pistol Marine standards. The discipline and training that came from years of band have only made him a better Marine. I believe that is true of the band company members at KP. If you hate music, don't join Band Co., but if you enjoy the extra dimension that music brings to your life Band Company is a good deal.</p>