Music "A" School in Virginia

[Sinfonia2001]

Hello all. My name is Luis. I am not in the navy but I am seriously considering it for music. My question is, what exactly happens after A school for musicians? Do they actually go to the fleet? Is there a band on the ship? Or do they get assigned somewhere to be a performer? Any helo would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

[KYmom]

Hopefully someone will be along soon that can answer that question.
But Welcome and Happy New Year.

[nickhallnavy]

i know that the MU community is small, with limited places to go. i know there are bands on each coast of the US, europe, and japan as well, i believe. other than that, i don't know

[Sinfonia2001]

cool thanks. Does anyone know if you have to wait until there is an opening in the band before you audition and get to enlist? or can you just go in anyway and still do music-only things after bootcamp and Music School??

[AllyBloom24]

I'm also considering going into the Navy for strictly music. I would also really like to know what exactly happens after BC for someone going in for music, Do you go straight to the music school in Virginia afterwards? Is everything you do from then on about the music? What is the average time it takes for someone to graduate from the music shool and how does one become apart of one of the bands? And finally, can you get into the music program with a GED??? I would really REALLY appreciate it if anyone has the answers to my questions....If anyone else on here is actually in the Music program I would love to talk more about this!

-Thankyou in advance! ;)

[Retired Navy Chief]

I can't really answer most of your questions on this one ... mainly because I haven't known but a small handfull of Navy musicians in my career.

What I do know ....... the ones I met are probably some of the most talented individuals (musically) that I have ever known !! While I was a recruiter, we brought the Navy country/bluegrass band "Country Current" down to play in Branson, Mo. These guys were every bit as talented (if not more) as the famous performers that normally play there !!

There are rock bands, standard OOMPA bands that play at formal ceremonies and probably others that I'm not aware of.

To become an MU, you need to try out for it and that is very difficult. I think I heard that you must know all of the scales & I believe that you need to play more than one instrument as well. I'm no musician so I don't really understand all of that stuff ... but it doesn't look easy.

The MU's in that country band were brought in as E-5's and E-6's due to their talent level ..... which is unreal !! what you have to do to advance in this rate I couldn't begin to tell you.

Worth looking into, but don't be surprised if the competition is very stiff !!

Cheers,
PISTOL

[AllyBloom24]

Thankyou! I'm actually trying out for Vocalist....I'm a very experienced and talented singer.... I'm hoping that they will be impressed and accept me once I audition for it....But since I'm just vocal i was wondering exactly what they have vocalists do....besides sing that is lol... Ill continue to do more research....I'm going to talk to a recruiter in a few weeks so hopefully he/she can answer all my questions.... Thanks for your reply ;)

[mariatamis0]

It is a very informative and useful post of music school. I am playing guitar. I love to play guitar. My favourite bands are rolling stone, pink floyd, eagles, shania twain and Bryan adams etc.

[BoatsBM1]

Thankyou! I'm actually trying out for Vocalist....I'm a very experienced and talented singer.... I'm hoping that they will be impressed and accept me once I audition for it....But since I'm just vocal i was wondering exactly what they have vocalists do....besides sing that is lol... Ill continue to do more research....I'm going to talk to a recruiter in a few weeks so hopefully he/she can answer all my questions.... Thanks for your reply ;)

http://www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/NavyMusic/JobOpportunities/Vocalist.htm

http://www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/NavyMusic/JobOpportunities/

BoatsBM1

[BoatsBM1]

What I do know ....... the ones I met are probably some of the most talented individuals (musically) that I have ever known !! While I was a recruiter, we brought the Navy country/bluegrass band "Country Current" down to play in Branson, Mo. These guys were every bit as talented (if not more) as the famous performers that normally play there !!

http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/02C110B1-FAE2-4741-BA8A-E7118C63D4DF/0/cc_shipcomesin.wmv

http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/8928C1F2-1D2C-4354-BDD3-56EE46F29611/0/rockytop.mp3

http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/7F8B9572-B1AF-4EC1-A06B-48C40ECB548D/0/sugarland.mp3



BoatsBM1

[Retired Navy Chief]

Good stuff, Boats .... Thanks for taking the extra effort to gather this info.

Cheers,
PISTOL

[mynameistyler]

If you're looking to get involved with anything that the Navy offers for musicians, you've got to be the best of the best. I've been playing music for fifteen years and do so as my only means of making a living and I'm not near quality enough to stand alongside the folks such as Country Current. They're one of the top bluegrass acts in the country and are all outstanding musicians of the highest caliber. If you're going this route, either be ready to practice and learn more than you ever have or be ready for disappointment, these are the best. Good luck to you.

[ABH Oldtimer]

them boys are awsome

[BoatsBM1]

A couple of more from Country Current

http://www.navyband.navy.mil/Sounds/Country%20Current/heart%20of%20caroline.mp3

http://www.navyband.navy.mil/Sounds/Country%20Current/havin%20a%20ball.mp3

BoatsBM1

[sjl358]

Has anyone here actually been through a vocalist audition? I was a professional singer for the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas and Macau China for a couple of years, but my degree is in Drama. I am just trying to get a feel for the audition. Any reply would be greatly welcomed.

[DK3]

I'm not aware of anyone that currently visits the forum that has been through any of the auditions.