It's been another good few weeks at the School. We've all been working hard, and its definitely beginning to pay off. The weeks seem to be whizzing by, it feels like only last week that I was starting back after Christmas, but in fact we are now halfway through the term!
We have all had our mid-term assessments now, which went quite well. I am a little disappointed with how I did on my drumming, mainly because I know I can do much better normally. It is amazing what the nerves of playing in front of a corporal and a video camera can do. I still did fine though, so I can't complain too much. I did come out with an A for Bugling, so that's encouraging.
Now, as I right this blog, I am only a couple of weeks away from my end of term assessment! This term really has shot passed.
There have been various highlights to this term. A few weekend ago now the Buglers in training provided support in various ways to both the Inverted Chevrons reunion dinner as well as the Buglers reunion. It was a brilliant weekend, with endless dits and stories being passed on throughout the guests.
The following Thursday the school went up to London to watch the Mountbatten Festival of Music. This is a concert at the Royal Albert Hall by the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines. It was a very traditional concert this year, but always an impressive one. Not to mention it was a good run ashore for the buglers!
We've also had our first mid-term Long Weekend Leave which was fairly relaxing, not long now until Easter Long Weekend! I know its caused a bit of hassle for schools etc, but having this early Easter certainly helps break the term up a bit!
At the moment, myself and the other 2 Phase 1 trainees have been spending a lot of time out on the parade square practising various movements used in Mess Beatings (small scale displays). This has been a massive challenge, not only trying to remember all the different drum pieces and the order of the movements, but just being able to do some of the moves and keep the drum in the right place is challenging enough. Its good fun though, and it adds another dimension to our training so that's good.
I'd best be off for now.
Bugging out
Nathan
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Sunday, 3 February 2008
My Apologies
Hello to one and all. First may I start with a massive apology. It was my intention, at the start of my training to keep this blog up-to-date and not to let it slip into one of these things that's great to begin with, but actually ya lose interest in, or just don't update it for ages.
Well, I kinda let it slip into that. So here we go, back on the ball again, ready and raring to go.
The truth is, last term, to be quite honest was horrible. I didn't enjoy it, it was hard work and I didn't feel as though I was getting anywhere. It was frustrating, the troop weren't really gelling together in a lot of ways and my back was causing me a fair few problems. I didn't really fancy writing all that down in the blog. However, we've had Christmas leave, this term is a new start and I can assure you that I am loving the job once more. I genuinely enjoy the the training now. It's still flipping hard work, and of course you have weeks where maybe you don't make quite as much progress as you would like, but that's gonna happen wherever you are.
I'll talk you through an average week now that we are in the tick of Term 2. Monday morning kicks off with a 3 mile run, just to blow those weekend cobwebs away, after that its into work, we have an Aural class followed by a group bugle session, Drum Parade (A full on kit inspection by our instructors) then Drill, a spot of private practise before I then have a Bugle lesson with my professor. Tuesday's start with Training Parade Band, where we march around doing the whole marching band thing. This is the main time that the Drum Major has with us and so makes the most of the opportunity to gently encourage us and shape us to perfection (we are definately a long way off yet). Then its an elements class with the WO2 Bandmaster followed by Recreational Training (this week we'll be starting Close Quarters Combat). Wednesdays, myself and the 2 other Buglers in my troop have also been drafted to the senior Parade Band, so we march around for another hour and a bit then too. We've then got a bit more private practise as well as Harmony Lessons. The afternoon then is quite busy, with Corps of Drums Drill (just the Buglers, honing our skills to perfection), then group bugling and then drumming. Thursday is a quieter start, we roll into work at 0800 and kick off with private practise until our Musical Elements lesson at 0915. Then we have another Drill Spot followed by an afternoon of private practise and music Theory. Fridays start with more Phys, sometimes circuits, sometimes swimming, all chops and changes really. Then it's into work for private practise then music history. This week we were looking at Vivaldi and his Ritornella form etc. All very interesting stuff. Afternoons are good, it groups marches practice. As Buglers we have to know all the music for the marches in our heads, we don't carry any music with us, so Fridays we spend learning the new dots. Then, by 1520 we're done for the week. We all thin out and look forward to the weekend! YEY!!
This week has been especially good for one of the Buglers at the School of Music. Bugler Reilly passed his final B3 exam, and so has finished his training. Congratulations go to him and best of luck as he starts with Pompey Band Monday morning (Tomorrow).
As for me, I have my mid-term Parade assessment this Tuesday, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes.
That more or less brings you up to speed with how I'm doing for now. Once again, I'm sorry for my lack of updating, but I will endeavour to keep it up this time!
Bugging Out
Nathan
Well, I kinda let it slip into that. So here we go, back on the ball again, ready and raring to go.
The truth is, last term, to be quite honest was horrible. I didn't enjoy it, it was hard work and I didn't feel as though I was getting anywhere. It was frustrating, the troop weren't really gelling together in a lot of ways and my back was causing me a fair few problems. I didn't really fancy writing all that down in the blog. However, we've had Christmas leave, this term is a new start and I can assure you that I am loving the job once more. I genuinely enjoy the the training now. It's still flipping hard work, and of course you have weeks where maybe you don't make quite as much progress as you would like, but that's gonna happen wherever you are.
I'll talk you through an average week now that we are in the tick of Term 2. Monday morning kicks off with a 3 mile run, just to blow those weekend cobwebs away, after that its into work, we have an Aural class followed by a group bugle session, Drum Parade (A full on kit inspection by our instructors) then Drill, a spot of private practise before I then have a Bugle lesson with my professor. Tuesday's start with Training Parade Band, where we march around doing the whole marching band thing. This is the main time that the Drum Major has with us and so makes the most of the opportunity to gently encourage us and shape us to perfection (we are definately a long way off yet). Then its an elements class with the WO2 Bandmaster followed by Recreational Training (this week we'll be starting Close Quarters Combat). Wednesdays, myself and the 2 other Buglers in my troop have also been drafted to the senior Parade Band, so we march around for another hour and a bit then too. We've then got a bit more private practise as well as Harmony Lessons. The afternoon then is quite busy, with Corps of Drums Drill (just the Buglers, honing our skills to perfection), then group bugling and then drumming. Thursday is a quieter start, we roll into work at 0800 and kick off with private practise until our Musical Elements lesson at 0915. Then we have another Drill Spot followed by an afternoon of private practise and music Theory. Fridays start with more Phys, sometimes circuits, sometimes swimming, all chops and changes really. Then it's into work for private practise then music history. This week we were looking at Vivaldi and his Ritornella form etc. All very interesting stuff. Afternoons are good, it groups marches practice. As Buglers we have to know all the music for the marches in our heads, we don't carry any music with us, so Fridays we spend learning the new dots. Then, by 1520 we're done for the week. We all thin out and look forward to the weekend! YEY!!
This week has been especially good for one of the Buglers at the School of Music. Bugler Reilly passed his final B3 exam, and so has finished his training. Congratulations go to him and best of luck as he starts with Pompey Band Monday morning (Tomorrow).
As for me, I have my mid-term Parade assessment this Tuesday, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes.
That more or less brings you up to speed with how I'm doing for now. Once again, I'm sorry for my lack of updating, but I will endeavour to keep it up this time!
Bugging Out
Nathan
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