Is one permanently assigned to bands or is a band a routine assignment interspersed between other duty assignments? Are members constantly being rotated in and out of bands or is the membership fairly stable over a period of time?
I have the same type of question related to the choral groups.
All of the military participation in the funeral activities was just magnificent ... the bands and choral groups, the honor guards, and all, up to and including the young man who held the umbrella for Mrs. Reagan on Friday ... and Major General Jackman, who escorted Mrs. Reagan was just wonderful.
Some info here about the school of music, which is located at the Little Creek Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach, VA.
As to choral groups, I believe that is more voluntary because I am not aware of a specific MOS designation. I am, however, willing to be corrected by superior knowledge.
I had to audition for the Fifth Army band to be assigned there. Upon completion of basic training, I was sent to the U.S.Navy School of Music at little Creek Virgirnia which is the equivilent of a three year colledge level music school condensed into six months. I came in with the highest incoming audition score for a tuba player with a 3.29 out of a possible 4.0.
An assignment to a military band is a permanent assignment. However, Army protocol at that time, mid 60's, was to rotate personnel every three years to prevent stagnation in any location. Transfers were always to other band units.
If a person was assigned to one of the 'special' bands, ie The Army Band, West point Band, the assignment was considered more permanent and transfers were less frequent.
Each 'Army' 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc had what was considered to be the 'headquarters' band where the band master also had oversight for any other bands in that 'army'. The Fifth Army band was a headquarters band. The headquarters band usually was able to get the 'pick of the crop' from each band within it's area and had a higher authorized strength than the smaller bands within it's area.
Being assigned to a band is easy duty, but still no guarantee of not being in combat. I am aware of at least 8 bands being in Viet Nam during that war and of several band members being killed there. Often when a band is transferred into a combat zone, they assume routine patrol and other duties like any other infantry unit.
When bands are playing outdoors in a live performance, it is hard to record and pick up all voices. Even indoors such as the Natonal Cathedral, where there is a lot of echo present, a clear recording is difficult to obtain. When I was with the fifth, we used several microphones and amplified speakers to distribute the sound while playing outdoors concerts.
Having said that, I was most impressed by the Air Force band that played the Hymns at the gravesite. They were playing continously for a very long time and still possessed a very nice rounded sound. They sounded extremely good for an outdoors performance.