Sigma Alpha Iota

Summer 2019 4 PAN PIPES 2018 NATIONAL CONVENTION IN REVIEW Summer 2019 4 PAN PIPES Y ou've graduated with your degree in music and now what? Or, you have been out there freelancing and/or teaching and just want a more secure job with better pay and benefits. Have you ever considered auditioning for a position in one of the U.S. Military Bands? Each of the services -- Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard -- have bands. ere are Premier Bands, Regional Bands, Fleet Bands, and Corps Bands, as well as Guard and Reserve Bands. e premier bands, with the exception of the Coast Guard, are located in the Washington, DC area and at a few of the service academies. e Coast Guard's band is located in Connecticut. ere are a total of 10 premier bands, 54 regional/fleet/corps bands as well as several reserve and guard bands. Premier ensembles exist to promote the U.S. military to the public at large, to support state ceremonies, and to preserve the heritage of American martial music. e enlisted members of the bands are the musicians, arrangers/composers, music librarians, and sound engineers. e officers are the conductors. Advanced rank, pay grade of E-6, is offered to musicians who meet the qualifications and are hired into premier bands. Regional, fleet, and corps bands provide musical support to specific military units, commands, or regions. e members follow the traditional military promotion track and will oen have greater non-musical duty obligations than their colleagues in the premier bands. Opportunities exist in the military bands for strings (to include guitar and electric bass), winds, brass, percussion, keyboard, vocalists, arrangers/composers, music librarians, and conductors. To give you an example of the performing ensembles that may be a part of a premier band, e U.S. Air Force Band has 6 performing flights. We have a Concert Band, Singing Sergeants, Ceremonial Brass, Max Impact rock band, Airman of Note jazz band, and the AF Strings. e USAF Band is comprised of 180+ members with different musicians assigned to each of these performing flights. Regional/fleet/corps bands are smaller and musicians form various ensembles as the mission indicates. Members of the premier bands are able to stay their entire careers with that band. Members of the regional/fleet/corps bands are subject to moving around every several years. e officers/conductors are also subject to moving around to the various bands. ere are requirements to become a member of one of the military bands, more requirements than would be asked of a musician joining a civilian orchestra or ensemble. First, you must pass an audition. Of course, if you are already in the military you are welcome to audition for a position but the majority of musicians auditioning are civilians. One key thing to keep in mind is that you do not enlist first and hope to be in a band! Audition first! Once you pass the audition and are offered a position in one of the bands you will need to be able to enlist in the U.S. military. is is where it differs from joining a civilian organization. e ability to enlist in the military means that you must possess a minimum of a high school diploma, and if you wish to be an officer/conductor you must have a minimum of a bachelors degree. In addition, Army and Marine Warrant officer conductors, and Navy Officers require prior enlisted service. While a college degree is not required for enlisted (musicians), one thing to keep in mind is you are oen competing with musicians who have at least a bachelors degree and oen a masters or even a doctorate in music. Joining a military band is exactly like joining the military. Depending on the branch of service, it is a three or four year commitment at the minimum. You must be at least 18 years of age and no older that 34 or 39 (differs by service), be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, meet the military height and weight requirements, pass a medical exam, and complete basic military training. e Marine and Coast Guard premier bands do not require completion of basic training, but they do require that you meet all other requirements Music Opportunities in the U.S. Military Past SAI National E xecutive Board Member Deborah Volker

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