Musician

Overview
As a member of the military, 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 Armed Forces (CAF) operations, foster morale and esprit de corps, and promote Canadian aesthetics and values, both nationally and abroad.

Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of Musicians are to:

Perform for a wide array of domestic and international engagements

Government and military parades and ceremonies

Public concerts, shows and festivals, public events

Military and state dinners

Perform as instrumentalists and conductors in various musical ensembles

Concert Bands

Parade Band

Stage Bands

Dance Bands

Pipe and Drum Bands

Brass Quintets

Woodwind Quintets

String Quartets

Jazz Combos

Small Chamber Groups

Work Environment
As ambassadors of goodwill, Musicians will perform throughout the world representing the CAF 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 Royal Canadian Air Force Band, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Entry Plan
The CAF enrols skilled Musicians through a competitive blind audition process to fill periodic vacancies in the six Regular Force bands.

Successful applicants have typically been experienced, professional musicians, many holding 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.

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, and ensures all recruits maintain the CAF physical fitness standard.

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

Part‑Time Options
This position is available for part‑time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada.

Reserve Force members normally serve part time in their community, may serve while studying or working at a civilian job, and are paid during training. They are not required to relocate, but may volunteer to move to another base or to deploy on a military mission within or outside Canada.

Musicians can serve with the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army or Royal Canadian Air Force. They are employed to provide musical support for CAF events and operations, usually serving at a military base, wing, home port or ship within Canada.

Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as Regular Force counterparts, and may receive 92.8% of Regular Force rates of pay, a reasonable benefits package, and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.

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