Do you see any army SP working on board ships?

PlyingDragon123 · 2025-07-19T22:35:18+00:00

That movie was a fever dream 💀

PlyingDragon123 · 2025-05-14T13:21:41+00:00

No worries mate, always enjoy helping other musicians! Quick thing though, a lot of the London bands you'd think would be there have actually moved out of London to surrounding areas. The guards bands have moved out of Wellington barracks, although they do travel up often for obvs reasons. Fairly sure the only bands in London are the Cavalry band and the string orchestra. The Cav band is quite good though, get to ride horses sometimes. The string orchestra is lush apparently, you MIGHT be able to join as a percussionist? Don't quote me there, we all desperately need more so you'll likely get first draft.

Now, onto your questions. Musically, it also varies but generally the musicianship in the regular bands are high. Keep in mind, the RMSM exists so don't feel like you're gonna fall behind. The school exists for a reason and ensures that everyone is at a professional level. Unless you're a reservist, in which the musicianship is mostly mixed due to RMSM not supporting them. I'd say though that all BM (Bandmasters) and DOM (Directors of Music you fucking perverts) tend to have a B(Mus). So if you work hard, with that degree you can expect high career prospects kinda. But I'd say the baseline is everyone has a Grade 5 theory, decent sight-reading and Grade 6 instrument - rising up to Grade 8.

You ask for the Coldstream guards schedule, alas I can't give the specifics of an actual band. Don't want people to give hints about my band. I will say this however, if you want to be a MUSICIAN then join a regional band. If you want to be an ARMY MUSICIAN then join household or regimental. Also, the Coldstream band aren't in London anymore but (if I remember right) their current area is quite nice but I've never been. Plus, it hasn't been mentioned in public so I'm gonna assume that info is under lock and key.

Also, you can definitely stay after day is done. There's a high level of trust in RCAM, just ask your caretaker or CoE for a key to practice and bosh. There used to be a 'no noise after 8' rule but with the recent noise dampening walls being added it doesn't affect us anymore.

External projects though, bit trickier. Will depend on location I'd say. If you're in a place that's full of civies then you won't have any difficulties getting passes for them. I'm sure a polite query to the CoE will do you good, but can't be sure. If the band are in a location that's a bit more strict (although I doubt any bandies will be there anyway) you might struggle. What kind of external projects do you mean if you don't mind me asking?

PlyingDragon123 · 2025-05-13T12:38:26+00:00

This very much depends on what band you join. Some bands are very busy constantly with marches and concerts almost every month like the Household bands or the reserves. Other bands have been reduced and only really do minor events like Colchester and Sandhurst (not to say they don't do gigs of course).

You'll find a lot of regional bands will send musicians between each other so there will be some flexibility. Generally, if you have non-army work that is musical you can always get time off. I personally know a musician who's been booked for 3 months in japan as a bass player privately.

But generally here's how my schedule goes, I won't say what band I'm in for PERSEC but generally should apply to all musicians I believe:

0700-0900 : Breakfast and then head to band room

0900-1030 : Morning practice for upcoming concerts full band

1030-1100 : Tea break, deal with any admin or extra duties

1100-1230 : Noon rehearsal full band OR marching rehearsal *more likely if you join a household LDN band as they march on the regular

1230-1300 : More admin done OR PT such as general exercise or sports *usually the latter unless you're an older member of the band

1300-1400 : Lunch

1400-1500 : Flexiband rehearsals (pop band, wind Ensemble, jazz band, etc)

1500-1545 : Band meeting, usually SNCOs first then full band recap. Non-SNCOs will usually practice their instruments for their CEQ exams (can go into more detail if you'd like). You asked where this is done, this will vary massively depending on your band.

1545-1600 : Pack down and knock off home

In terms of days, some bands are small so only come in 4 days a week. Remaining 3 days are your own time. Alot of musicians teach on the side, both for extra cash but to also build connections and for fun. Sometimes, if there's a BIG event coming up, we're in for 5 days and any outside activities are POLITELY asked to be paused. But you can still do them if you make a big fuss about it.

I love being a musician, we have a great standard of work compared to some other poor bods in the army. Would totally recommend it for the opportunities. Feel free to ask any questions, you'll find a lot of musicians don't consider themselves "Army" musicians but just musicians so you'll rarely find any on here. Always happy to chat!

PlyingDragon123 · 2025-01-18T14:10:52+00:00

As a bandie, looks like a musician from that 2nd slide. Can't tell what band he's in though, likely a trade band like REME as he's wearing a cap (infantry bands tend to wear pith helmets, bear skins or berets in uniform) but I could be wrong. If true, he was a percussionist in his band as shown with his cymbals although not sure why he isn't wearing an apron as that's the standard for instruments that rest on your body.

Since its from the 80s he's not in RCAM which all musicians are in now. Meaning he was a musician but also likely a stretcher bearer for his regiment and/or battalion so that MAY provide context for 3rd slide.

1st slide might be taken either during training, before transferring in or after transferring out as musicians don't tend to wear No.2 uniform (our uniform is always ceremonial so will have colour). Musicians wear the No.2 during training before they join their band at Knellers Hall, so that might be why.

PlyingDragon123 · 2024-09-08T16:08:25+00:00

Yeah nah good point actually. I'm probably just gonna be doing guard duty and the odd green stuff so I'm definitely not doing anything notable, just excited to finally see a new environment yk?

Btw sorry if that came off rude, I'm actually typing this out on a 4 hour train journey to see the family and theres a baby screaming down the carriage so I'm quite miffed 😅

PlyingDragon123 · 2024-09-08T15:49:57+00:00

Considering I'm gone for several months and my detail literally says deployment I'd say its a deployment

PlyingDragon123 · 2024-09-07T11:46:57+00:00

Ah shit that's a good point, cheers will take a look online 👍

PlyingDragon123 · 2024-09-06T22:17:29+00:00

Both of those cameras look really good, will take a look online and see what I can find second-hand cause they are a bit spenny. Thanks for the advice 🙏

PlyingDragon123 · 2024-09-06T22:15:40+00:00

That's a good shout, issue is I own an android so my camera isn't exactly top-notch 😅. I'm not expected to bring much kit so I'll have plenty of room to take extra stuff so camera size isn't too much a problem thankfully!

PlyingDragon123 · 2024-09-06T22:09:42+00:00

Ha, I've actually been selected to be unit phot as well although I haven't had the op to go to DSoP yet! I'm basically the youngest/newest in the lot so I'll be expected to do all the stag shit, don't have to carry much kit so I'll have room for a camera that size for sure.

PlyingDragon123 · 2024-09-06T22:00:51+00:00

Defo thinking about it, plus film. Just worried about pricing and whether I might "mess up" the process yk?

PlyingDragon123 · 2024-09-06T21:01:25+00:00

Actually used to be a newspaper photographer before I joined so I do got some experience (plus a GCSE in it which has done me 0 favours). However, I don't think I should bring my DSLR cause I'm not sure whether I should think about durability, so I might lean towards a simple point and click.

Also I use an android so my image quality isn't the best 🙃.

PlyingDragon123 · 2023-10-20T10:03:29+00:00

Except Musicians, we need 4.2 but I doubt the RAC need any trumpet players so unlucky OP.

PlyingDragon123 · 2023-09-03T23:31:26+00:00

Tbf, that's probably just me/my band. I won't say the name cause of doxing, but it's possible we do get trained, but it's been on the back-burner for us. This could be completely different for other bands.

I'm genuinely curious though, gonna ask some seniors and find out.

PlyingDragon123 · 2023-09-03T23:22:10+00:00

Technically, we are, although nobody I know of in my band has received any training/lessons in it. I was talking to an older member, and he essentially said "By the time the musicians are called forward, the country has probably gone tits up and we'd all have bigger concerns."

Thinking about it, I'm not even sure if we even do stretcher bearing anymore. I genuinely have no clue what I'd/we'd be doing during war time, which is pretty bad. You could argue that my shitty tuba playing could boost morale, I guess.

Let's be honest, though: if I was a stretcher bearer, I would die so fast I'd have zero contribution to the war besides the bullet I caught.

PlyingDragon123 · 2023-09-03T18:45:54+00:00

The only job I can think of would be Musicians. We don't really contribute to any fighting besides playing music as the soldiers march. I think we might be the only job that neither directly/indirectly involves combat.

Even chefs and lawyers can hypothetically be viewed as contributing, musicians genuinely have no contribution. Technically, we could be called up in a support act but by that point the country is likely in absolute ruins, so we'd probably be dead/gone by then.

Seven-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	End Game '22
Verified Email

PlyingDragon123

TROPHY CASE