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What They Do
Musicians provide musical support for all aspects of military life, including ceremonial parades, military graduations, and ship ceremonies. They provide quality music designed to support Canadian Forces operations, foster morale and esprit de corps, and to promote Canadian aesthetics and values, both nationally and abroad.
The primary responsibilities of Musicians are to:
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Perform for a wide array of domestic and international engagements including:
- Government and military parades and ceremonies
- Public concerts, shows and festivals, public events
- Military and state dinners
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Perform as instrumentalists and conductors in various musical:
- Concert Bands
- Parade Band
- Stage Bands
- Dance Bands
- Pipe and Drum Bands
- Brass Quintets
- Woodwind Quintets
- String Quartets
- Jazz Combos
- Small Chamber Groups
Working Environment
As ambassadors of goodwill, Musicians will perform throughout the world representing the Canadian Forces and the citizens of Canada.While on duty with a Regular Force band, personnel could find themselves in a wide variety of performing environments and venues, from performances in concert halls to providing musical support at ceremonial parades, all of which are integral parts of the military Musician’s life.
The Regular Force bands are:
- The Stadacona Band of the Maritime Forces Atlantic, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- The Naden Band of the Maritime Forces Pacific, Victoria, British Columbia
- The Royal Canadian Artillery Band, Edmonton, Alberta
- The Royal 22e Régiment Band, Courcelette, Quebec
- The Central Band of the Canadian Forces, Ottawa, Ontario
- The Air Command Band, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Career Development
The starting salary for a fully-trained Musician is $57,000 per year; however, depending on previous experience and training the starting salary may be higher. This military occupation offers many unique opportunities for qualified professional musicians. Excellent musical training or experience is provided in the six professional Canadian Forces bands. In addition, military Musicians enjoy many exciting travel experiences.
Canadian Forces bands are administered, managed and directed by Canadian Forces' musicians. Opportunities to explore and expand on a music career are practically limitless. Musicians who demonstrate the required ability, dedication and potential are selected for opportunities for career progression, promotion and advanced training.
The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification course, or Basic Training, held at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This training provides the basic core skills and knowledge common to all trades. A goal of this course is to ensure that all recruits maintain the Canadian Forces physical fitness standard; as a result, the training is physically demanding.
Musicians may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training, including:
- Voluntary Band Instructor
- Pipe Major Course
- Pipe Drum Instructor Course
- Drum Major Course
As they progress in their career, Musicians who demonstrate the required ability and potential will be offered advanced training. Available courses include:
- Basic scoring and conducting
- Intermediate scoring and conducting
- Advanced scoring and conducting
The Canadian Forces enrols skilled Musicians through a competitive blind audition process to fill periodic vacancies. Competitions are held periodically for available positions in the six Regular Force bands. Successful applicants have typically been experienced, professional musicians, many of them having a degree in Music Performance, Conservatory or University Certification, or equivalent professional musical experience.
Musicians must be multi-talented performers with experience in several musical styles, and must be able to adapt to all types of performance situations and to diverse audiences.
For more information about the application process or the audition procedure, please contact the Musician Branch at:
1-705-424-1200, ext. 1388
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/musi/ar/index-eng.asp
This position is available for part-time employment through the Reserves. Reservists generally work part-time for a Reserve unit in their community. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they can volunteer to move to another base. They may also volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.
Reservists train with their home unit to ensure that they meet the required professional standards of the job. If additional training is required in order to specialize skills, arrangements will be made by the home unit.
Typically, Reservists work or train with their home unit for at least four evenings and one weekend per month, from September to May of each year. They are paid 85% of Regular Force rates of pay and receive a reasonable benefits package.
- Bagpipes
- Bassoon
- Bass Trombone
- Cello
- Clarinet
- Electric Bass Guitar*
- Electric Guitar*
- Euphonium
- Flute
- French Horn
- Keyboard (piano)
- Oboe
- Percussion / Drum Set
- Pipe Band Drums
- Pop Vocals*
- Saxophone
- Tenor Trombone
- Trumpet
- Tuba
- Viola
- Violin
- Starting salary of $56,568
- Full benefits including paid vacation, extensive health and dental coverage, exceptional pension plan, group insurance, family support services and parental leave.
- Applicants must be Canadian citizens
1-866-991-0422
Attn; Warrant Officer Steve Lanning
DHHMusic@forces.gc.ca
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/musi/ar/index-eng.asp
