Inside the Band School | Documentary | Joining The Bands of HM Royal Marines 

As a retired Royal Marine Commando, I'll say this, neither I nor my oppos were ever lovers of marching, parades or anything along those lines, Royal just doesn't do that stuff outside of C.T.C.R.M. However, when we do have to do those duties, marching behind our awesome band is hoofin', they're a credit to the Corps. Good luck to each of you from this short insight vid and all those who join up with you. Per Mare Per Terram.

I remember my time at the school of music like it was yesterday, such an amazing time and a career with memories i still treasure - if i could go back and be 18 again and do it all over - i would!! - thanks to this job i travelled the world and played in some amazing venues, in front of heads of state, royals and of course the public.......i hope this youngsters make the most of their opportunity

Written , directed and filmed by a corporal. Excellent professional work.

I was a Royal Marine Commando for 18yrs ... and I learned more about Bandies from this video than in all my service!

Wonderful to see the rigorous process to select recruits. As a retired oboist I have great empathy for the two offered their dreams come true, however, with the switch to oboe. I served as a U. S. Army Bandsman 1968-1971. I auditioned around the School of Music, and after Basic Combat Training was assigned to a direct On the Job Training (OJT) slot at the 433rd Army Band, Ft. Irwin, CA. I served with the 433rd, 4th Infantry Division HHC & Band in Vietnam, and the 36th Army Band, Ft. Huachuca, AZ. I can see why the Royal Marine Bands have such tremendous quality. Well done, all. Thank you.

Hope this is a series! Not only do I want to follow the progress of these fine men and women, I want to see more of what makes the Royal Marines Band THE very best. Wonderful stuff!

Marched to a Royal Marine band most mornings for many months at HMS Ganges, then served with them on the Yacht. One bandy we had on the Yacht was proficient on 4 different instruments, including the violin!!! Superb musicians👍🏻I don’t know how true it is but I was told recently that one of the top harpists in the world is now a RM bandsman!! That just shows the calibre of musician that they have👍🏻👍🏻

Congratulations and best wishes to the three of them. Congratulations also to the Royal Marine Band Service for keeping the standards.

As a Royal Marine I found this really interesting. You don't really know much about the band service from our side, but they do a great job and make us look great on ceremonial duties. Thanks for the video!

As an ex 3 RGJ musician my process of joining my band was no where near as selective as the Royal Marines but they are at the very top of their game when it comes to military bands. Thank you for the upload excellent watch.

I remember going to concerts performance of the RM band With my father in the 70s, I loved them, I ended up serving in the Royal Marines as a bootneck in the late 70s early 80s. Getting drummed back into CTC after the 9 miler made the hair stand up on the back of my neck, best band in the world, great to see such talented driven enthusiastic youngsters.🇬🇧👍

As an accomplished musician and high school band director for many years this was so interesting to see. I thank your producers and crew for such innocence coming into the cameras. Blessings to all.

Retired Canadian service fella here (Army, and RCMP), and my wife (Who I met in high school band) still teaches music in the public school system. Like so many already commenting, we really hope that this turns into a serial publication, following these applicants to RM Band.

I served in the British Army for 24 years and had the honour of seeing the Royal Marines perform in Hong Kong. I knew the Band was good, but only recently have I discovered via RU-vid just how incredibly good they actually are. Watching late into the night it has been a real eye opening experience and wonderful pleasure to listen to such fine musicians. It is one of those occasions in life when you do realise you can never stop learning and watching this excellent documentary has been one. Over 71 years my musical tastes are somewhat broad - ranging from Leonard Cohen, through Meatloaf to Hans Zimmer. Now I have to add the Bands of the Royal Marines. Oh! The recent performance of Bands of Brothers was exceptional.

This brought a tear to my eye, so happy for those youngsters

Royal Marines-BEST in the world.

Really enjoyed this video. I'm a US Army Bandsmen for ten years.

I remember watching the RM band practice in the band shed at RM School of Music, Deal. I was a cadet, but I used to sneak into the shed and watch them. I was never told off or told to get out. Just loved watching them play. Best military band n the World. ❤

Nice insight into that process. I was touched by the look of joy on Emily's face those first few seconds after the Major said "congratulations" Best of luck to them all.

I had a great career in the RM Band, played around the world and even went to the Falklands war. Good luck to these fresh talented young people.

Was in the RM Band from 1952, used to be accepted at the age of 14 went to Deal where the School of Music was in those days, very few had played a musical instrument and you were trained from scratch. Heaps of parade ground work, Discipline, and practice , practice ,practice. After two and half years we were as good as the military bands from other regiments, played a various events, then graduated into the full band at 17 and a half.

So excellent ! No wonder the bands are so fantastic.

This was great fun to watch. I was in the US Navy Band (Fleet) for 20 years. We also have the Washington DC special unit military bands but as a Fleet musician the tour of duty is a little different. Our audition process is a bit different. We have to qualify through a military recruiter before an audition. As a drummer my audition lasted about 3 hours (snare drum, drum set, mallets). The audition is on the instrument we would have already studied on at an university level and so would be the instrument we would play in a military band. Wind instruments sometimes ”double” on another wind instrument but we all have to pass on our main instrument. Takes a few weeks to know if we pass and then are assigned a date to go to boot camp (Navy, Army or Marines depending on the service you choose). After that they send us to the Armed Forces School of Music for about 6-7 months of study and then we are assigned a duty station. I was sent to the following- Navy Band Orlando (Orlando FL), Seventh Fleet Band (Japan), Navy Band Mid-South (Memphis TN), Atlantic Fleet Band (Norfolk VA), Navy Band Northeast (Newport RI) and Navy Band New Orleans (New Orleans LA).

Excellent very well produced. A great career in a fine band service . Thank you.

Best thing I ever did was join The Royal Marines Band Service at 16 years old..great video, thanks 😊

Really enjoyable watch, well done all and especially Emily who I have been fortunate enough to hear playing live!

I’m glad and happy all the three main candidates are offer a spot in the royal marine band!!👏👏👏👏👏

I'm ex RAF, very proud of my service and the RAF, but i don't think there's a better military band than the Royal Marines Band Service.

It is ALWAYS great to see young people have their dreams fulfilled. Well done.

This is truly wonderful ,ore content like this please.... those kids are lovely!

Brilliant video and good to sea such great young people joining the service

I quite enjoy watching the RM Band perform at the tattoos, retreats... This was a great look into the inside of it all

I love the bit about how they are auditioned with an instrument they don't play "I see you've brought your flute, that's great, first though, we're going to try you on something different." "Like an oboe?" "Ah, let's mix things up, here's a double bass, give it a whirl!" I did violin lessons for 14 years, that I never really liked (even played in some amateur orchestras, which I also didn't much like), and the thought of joining the marines, doing all the physical stuff and the uniform stuff and also having to do hours of music practice every day.........I truly cannot think of a more perfect Hell.

Have always enjoyed listening to her majesty’s band of the Royal Marines even though I served in the army always thought they where one step ahead in class , great insight to what they have to go though top class , also proud my nephew served with the rm for 22yrs

As a retired RAF Veteran and a regular attendee of the Mountbatten Festival of Music concerts, I found this both amazing and endearing. I commend all that apply, attend and endure the process involved to be firstly - a member of His Majesty's Armed Forces and secondly, a master musician capable of capturing a person's heart and feelings through the medium of Music. (Did I mention I am still a member of a respected Rock Band (albeit now non-professional) even at the age of 75? 😊

As a ex guards corps of drums member this was outstanding insight ,thank you

Thanks for posting. Excellent video. I had a great military career, but having watched this, have a slight regret at not going down the musician route. BZ to the successful candidates and best wishes for long and successful careers.

Excellent video, really enjoyed it. Well done to those who passed the test.

3 years to Train with respect from the States.

New respect for a classmate at university who was a drummer in HM Royal Marines.

BZ to all of them, always proud to March behind the bandies, they are the best.

Thanks a brilliant insight into the band service.

Great insight into the audition process. Thank you for sharing.

The entire Riyal Armed Forces are Amazingly Great 👍. The best in the world. Like your Monarch and the Royals.

Funny as a Ex Marine l always loved marching behind the band l never had anything but admiration for them

Brillant video and some very talented musicians. Royal Marine Band is the best in the world!

What the average military person does not take on board is a musician is a highly skilled person, playing a wind instrument as you march takes coordination and dedication, they deserve more credit than they are generally given.

I hope Jack embraces the oboe. I think he'll do well with the challenges!

Brilliant vudeo Thank you

Very uplifting, way to go. Enjoyed this video. Thank you!

I’m very moved by the talent these youngsters have I wish them all the best for the future

I hope that we can follow the careers of these people

Wonderful young people including those who maybe didn't succeed this time. I have so much respect for them all.

On 6 August 2022, I attended the School of Music’s Passing Out concert at Guildhall in Portsmouth. Had a nice chat with Jess Brock, the drummer with braids in the video. She is now in the band in Scotland as a member of the Corps of Drums. She learned the bugle from scratch. Impressive young lady. Didn’t get a chance to talk to Adriana or Jack but both are playing Oboe in the concert band.

I like that the officers and training staff really do seem to take real care of the recruits. Good luck, all!

Fantastic. To see those young people making so much effort and getting awarded a place on arguably one of the best military bands ever. And I really hope those that weren't successful try again.

Very interesting film. Interesting to see how much has to be put in, to become a musician in what is probably the finest Military Music Corps.

Outstanding! Well done to all,so proud ✊

Good programme and good luck to them all.

In the military, many things are difficult, esp as a recruit. There are days that will, frankly, suck. To succeed & thrive, you need to Embrace the Suck.

Can always hear the practice racket around Nelson from them in their little prison block 😅👌

Superb video! So impressed by the talent and determination of the young people. Not surprised the selection is rigorous and the training lengthy: just watch an RM band at work!

I was surprised about the age and the skill of the candidates. In Belgium, we have three military bands and they are filled with first and second prizes from the two musical universities in Belgium. Musician first, soldier tenth :) .

Would be a good idea if someone like Chris Terrill could do a TV series, following bandsmen from start to finishing their training and deployment to one of the RM’s band

Is this going to be part of a series following them through training? If so I look forward to it. I'm very interested in seeing how they handle CTCRM Lympstone and how it differs from Commando Phase I training

I don't know why I was so nervous, I'm 3500 miles away and I'm not even applying for a position, good luck to the candidates.

Major Williams was my last boss. I knew him as a trainee. I was in my last term, he was in his first. Never met a nicer person, and he deserves everything he has today.

CONGRATULATIONS...!

Never treated as a job! It was a career that did me well for 24 years!

Cool it , Thank you for your videos

Excellent musicians

Very entertaining, I wish them well.

One of the finest military bands in the world - err no its THE FINEST BY FAR.

Excellent video. Thank you very much. 👏🏽👏🏽🌹🌷

Very interesting and enjoyable thank you

I honestly thought they were all soldiers of various ranks, you live and learn well done...

Merci beaucoup pour cette belle découverte ...

Great informative video. I do hope we get to follow these guys

And in the U.S. Army the school is 10 weeks. However, one now has to have at least a music related 4-year degree to be competitive. A well done video. By the way, my audition was the day Elvis Presley died, 16 August 1977....

My cousin Edward played the trombone in the band for 30 years, did his training in Deal, joined in 1965 I think, did RTW on Hermes, was based at Daedalus when I was a teenager, then Plymouth when Daedalus closed, all I can remember was drunk bandsmen turning up at my aunts at all hours, he retired from the RM’s, busked and played pubs for five years, then the job centre found him a job with the Devon & Dorset TA band, he told me was like Dads Army, all 60+ ex military, the frightening thing to him was they could have been sent to Afghanistan

My ,hasn't changed .I joined the Royalmarines School of music Deal in 1951 as a bugler ..The training then wasn't as intensive as is today .. However . Aridginially applied to join the RN ; However was told i had a hieght of 6ft 3ins tall & would be better off in the RM .So landed up a R.M. bugler ..under a Bugle major Wagstaff ..How ever transferred to the RN . Had to come out of that as i was 3yrs to 8yrs old during the Blitz & unfortunately missed out on schooling as most of the time in Shelters ; I did 3years between the RM n RN.. & landed up as a Combat Engineer , come welder . With the Corps of Royal Engineers for 12 yrs .. but st say the RM band is the best band ,& Always listened to the RM Band ever since at 86yrs old ...& may they prosper ..

good luck to HM

Surprisingly good video, very interesting 👍

Very interesting and informative. Greetings from an American Paratrooper who loves music 🎶 and once played the saxophone 🎷.

Really enjoyed that. Thank you,

fortunately played euphonium and that's usually in demand, but simply would completely fail in woodwinds.

The bandies weren't as pretty in the 70s,when I served. Really enjoyed this.

The Royal Marines band is probably The Best Band in the British Armed Forces. And this is coming from an Ex RDG.

Is this a BBC Documentary? A RM documentary? It's almost midnight and I want ep 2...lol

Fantastic documentary. Are there more episodes following on?

Great video please make more 👍

I saw Colonel Bogie at Bristol on YouTub. l found it was brilliant stuff . The Portsmouth area.

This musically (very) ungifted ex Para found this clip very interesting and enjoyable. In The Para Reg in the 60s and possibly 70's bandmen were cross-trained in battle roles, ie the drummers were machine gunners (GPMG in Support role) and some were stretcher bearers. Are RM Bandsmen cross-trained or does their muisical training, practicing, and performing take up all their time? When I was serving, I had little to do with the band, and I greatly underestimated their musical skills, and was unaware of the range of genres a Corps, even Divisional level band can perform, and perform very well.

I’m biased being a fmr-bootneck but our band is the best on the planet. The band has a bigger failure rate than CTCRM.

Hope there can be a fallow up to this to see how the candidates progress to the ultimate conclusion, of training and joining the Band of the Royal Marines on parade or even at The Mountbatten Festival Of Music.

Yes Jack home boy were bothe from torquay

Do we have any more episodes of this?

Dommage que l'on ne peut pas avoir la traduction en français. J'aimerais savoir si c'est possible de traduire ? Merci pour ce beau reportage. J'adore votre orchestre.

I believe the narrator was inaccurate with the phrase "One of the best". There is only one HM Royal Marine Band! I'm hoping my Brothers that served in RAF don't get to read my comment, so I don't get banished to the four corners of Wolverhampton. The first time I experienced the Royal Marine Band was at their former barracks in Deal, Kent. They lead the Deal Carnival, so it was a very sad day for the town when they were moved to Portsmouth.

This is cool video thanks for post it