I have orders to be here for six months, and even though I've heard oboists usually excel out after their three-month audition, I want to stay full term until April. I get to learn to make reeds, play on them consistently, and have the luxury of slowing down my study on the instrument to apply pedagogy and build better basic skills, something I've never done before. My instructor is the Navy oboist here in Norfolk Fleet Forces Band. She earned her Bachelors and Masters on Oboe from New England. I'm in good hands.
Otherwise I am also a full time Navy Sailor and have PT, watch duty, inspections, cleanups, drill band, ensembles, and music theory and ear training classes. For the most part the Navy musicians here have advanced music degrees and are excellent players, and Army has the full range of skill levels as they have bands all over the place to fill. Marines are the youngest, and loudest, and our teammates for the annual Turkey Bowl football game coming up in November.
There are two other oboists (both Army) and we make a Double Reed Quartet with the Bassoon instructor, an Army Sargeant. Imagine the sound! It's two oboes, English horn, and bassoon. I won't play English Horn until my oboe chops are back up to strength, so just oboe now, which is nice. Every week we are scheduled in concert bands and small ensembles, and Wednesdays there are recitals on the base movie theatre stage. The faculty here are fantastic. The ensembles meet every day, and we also have two periods of drill band every afternoon. I will march bass drum, cymbals, or road guard. I'm pushing for road guard, the cymbals hurt my wrists and I enjoy the neon road gaurd attire. In the fleet oboists don't march unless they want to.
Personally I've been having trouble sleeping, so please pray for me as fatigue does not bode well on anyone. Otherwise this is a great place to be, and the base is really convienient for a pedestrian. Okay that's all I got. Fair winds, God bless, and Go Cats.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD and JANE!
