<p>Hopefully someone who is more familiar with the Naval Academy can answer my question.</p>
<p>Are any of the actual Academy students in the Naval Academy Band or are there any bands as extracurricular activities? From research I know that there is a band' but it appears to be professional musicians who are mostly enlisted. Naval_Hornet has played the Clarinet and Saxophone for over five years, and is in the High School Marching/Symphonic band and Jazz Band. We were kind of hoping that she could continue her music through the Academy (God willing she gets into the class of 2011.)</p>
<p>I got thinking about this again after seeing the great picture of the Merchant Marine Acceptance Day and Jamzmom's son (he's in there someplace, right?)</p>
<p>I believe all the service academies have student bands. Follow this link to the Naval Academy which talks about the drum and bugle corps and other musical groups on campus. You're right too that the services themselves have bands of enlisted personnel. The Coast Guard band is located at the Academy but there is a separate regimental band, jazz band, drum and bugle corps etc.</p>
<p>The Coast Guard Band is the actual enlisted musician band. I know because my son-in-law plays tuba for them. They are stationed there in New London, CT on the Academy grounds - but they are not students.</p>
<p>The really great thing that we have found out is that, at least, D&B, Catholic Choir, and string ensemble [probably all of the musical/theatrical groups] are Brigade Support Activities.
That means, at least for D&B, it substitutes for an athletic/intramural activity. Furthermore, at least for D&B, it counts as a varsity sport activity under the current regime. [When it comes to earning points that establish overall order of merit, such activities are considered] Current supt. is very supportive of BSAs that require as much practice time as some of the athletic activities.
Further, D&B [also glee clubs] provide signifanct travel opportunities. This means, however, that significant practice and travel time means time away from classes, study time, etc.
You try out for some of these during plebe summer and then indicate you want to continue on in the fall.</p>
<p>I didn't know this until we'd gone to parent's weekend and found out that the band at USMMA is the only service academy band to be comprised of only its own midshipmen. Who knew! One of the kids in the band told us this and added that the other academies have professional military musicians. He said that they often mix in with the student band to perform. These academy bands are just awesome. Love watching & hearing them perform. Not that I'm thread-jacking or anything.... :) </p>
<p>Yep Cougar. He's in there somewhere. Had to get out the old trusty magnifying glass to find him to make sure. Someplace on the far right. Tell your daughter she has to get into the band! I want to see her during the half time show next year when Navy beats Army! Will send her reeds in her boodle boxes!</p>
<p>Thanks Bill and JM, Navy_Hornet and Mrs. Cougar were jazzed (no pun intended!) when I told them about this. The daughter even said maybe she should learn to play the bugle along with the Sax so she has a chance at a couple of bands.</p>
<p>Wish I could say we'd be at Army/Navy next year, but were only a Junior, so we've got another year to go. And the Army/Navy game is in Baltimore in 2007, which is kind of crummy since the she was born in Philly and hasn't been back since she was 4.</p>
<p>This year, the USNA formed a string ensemble;I don't know exactly where they came up with Cellos but we sent our son's violin earlier this year.
The ensemble played during the Halloween spectacular, some chapel related events, etc.
So far, it has full support of Supt.</p>