The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community

RAB · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 12:31 pm Post subject:

You can't have been too far away from my time in J/Wing Stu ('67-'69),
as Mick and Pete were the 'bone instructors at that time...

Another couple of good moves at that time...

Frank Lloyd was actually a trombonist..Pusser changed that..........
Rog Hartwell was a Horn Player, but just couldn't master it, and I believe he nearly left during training.....What an Oboe player he turned out to be....

I thought I'd joined up on euph/cello, until I got to the music store..AFTER TAKING HM SHILLING...and they threw me a friggin great pair of basses...

.I was 5'4" then..I was NOT a happy man..Who counselled me???? Pete Westaway....

General Melchett · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 12:54 pm Post subject:

Billy, I am tempted and you know I can't resist a challenge.....

I don't have many regrets in life, my "prof" at the school is one.
How come Billy, Max and Stu had good teachers?
After me - '98 they got Tim bloody Jones!!!!!!!!
And what did we have - Ca****ott

Thankfully, since then I have been lucky enough to have lessons from
Tim Jones, Rob Cook, Terry Jones to name but three.

My main gripe being - He was a f*ckin ar*e!

Doggy Panting ?
Scale times 64 ?
Have you read the ranty letters he wites in to the IHS journal?
Getting thrown out of lessons in term 3 for finding out he was useless and telling himso and teaching myself and passing out early!
Indicating tempo by:
1. Squeezing my trapezoid.... To be fair, he did stop that after I threatened to break his legs
2. Tapping on the toecap of my well bulled shoes!
Doing crappy "buzzing" exercises of a very dubious nature.
Teaching Q Brown, who joined at grade 8 and by his own admission went backwards after being "taught" by him?

Anyone else?

I am mad now -- Cheers for that Bill my fiancee will be well pleased now I'm this riled!
_________________
I feel the need - The need for Tweed!

Aaron Aardvark · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject:

I know a good lawyer if you want Melch....

bootybandy · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject:

In full agreement there Melch, I was an instructor at the RMSM at the time he was there causing havoc. I think that not only was he a crap teacher, (I refuse to use the word Professor where he's concerned,) but I don't think he even had any respect from any of the other profs at that time. He was completely out of his depth, and as you said you practically self taught yourself. (although I think Iain Steel was your instructor at that time?)

I'm sure he knew of his limitations but was too arrogant to admit it, and I suppose people passed his limitations within the first term and perhaps he did feel a little like a "Fish out of water" when his pupils were better than he was, or ever would be!!

Anyway matey you turned out to be a fine Horn player and it was a pleasure to be in the same band as you, before you you moved away. Ahem!!
_________________
Wine is meant to be drunk............I am drunk.............Therefore am I wine??

GeoffComber

I really got on well with both my proffs , I guess I was dead lucky in that I didn't have to change as I stayed with them for almost my whole stay at the RMSM . Mick Thatcher sadly died a few months before I left but Lew Becker was in the rudest of health ! Ken the Blob did my audition so I guess it was all his fault............
The thing about Mick Thatcher was that even though he only appeared to have about a teaspoonful of lung left ( it could be quite un-nerving to hear him wheezing like mad for nearly 10 minutes after he walked in from his car ) he could , nevertheless , produce a beautiful tone from his clarinet. He sure as hell didn't do it often , and I believe some of his pupils never did hear him , so when he took the trouble and effort to demonstrate I tried to make sure his pain wasn't in vain ! I liked old Mick and I was very sad when he died but I don't think any of us would have said we were exactly suprised.
Lew Becker was brilliant ( he was Pete Best's proff as well, I think) The lessons were always a lot of fun , if a little painful if you forgot to take your watch off. He was well aware that I was doing rather well on clarinet so he didn't over-do it and tried to make sure that if I couldn't play a million notes a second at least the ones I did play would be in tune and sound nice. I never could get the hang of positions though and would always get lost in the snow after a while. It was actually a great disappointment to me because with Lew's gentle intoduction to the instrument (and his effortless style when he played something for you) I really became very fond of the fiddle and I was more than a little sad to find that I couldn't play the bloody thing. The nett result has in the end been the extensive selection of recordings of violin concerti and other pieces that I still have cluttering up my record/CD collection.
I think they are both a sad loss. Fine musicians and real gentlemen the pair of them.
_________________
Young at heart...but old everywhere else.

General Melchett · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:25 pm Post subject:

Right you lot, you've unleashed the dragon and I've not finished....!

This is a letter from said "prof" to the International Horn Society, albeit a spotters mag, but nevertheless one that is "enjoyed" worldwide.....

Dear Sir,

The October 2004 issue of "The Horn Call" carried a very short article with a very long title about the forth horn part in [/i]Der Freischutz Overture. I have no complaints about the contents, but I am disgusted that the musical example given was transposed for four horns in F. If players on one side of the Atlantic Ocean don't know that the piece was composed for two pairs of horns , the first in F and the second in C, then that I can only say that it is high time that they did, and learn to read accordingly.................................
And now for another little gripe about he American influence, which immediately gives me a parallel example. Readers will have realise that I meant "The United States of America" and no other possible meaning of the adjective "American", however technically incorrect and incomplete that might be. However, in the wider world, let alone our own musical world, there are so many possible meanings of the word "horn" that it becomes necessary to add the adjective "French" if referring to our musical instrument. I challenge any reader to deny that, having been asked what instrument he plays and answered "horn," has not had to say "yes" to the subsequent question "do you mean French Horn?"
..........................Yadder!

So, I put it you, Ladies and Gentlemen: He (St***en Cal****tt) is a complete and utter nobber....

I rest my case milud...

Billy.............. Anyone...............?
_________________
I feel the need - The need for Tweed!

General Melchett · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject:

So, the normal ventings of a well balanced individual,

or

The mad cravings of a lunatic?

You decide...........
_________________
I feel the need - The need for Tweed!

GeoffComber · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:22 pm Post subject:

most finely balanced looney I think , just ABOUT to go over . Mind you , it must be uncomfortable having to sit over all those , even metaphorically inserted ..er.....French (for our American readers )Horns ?
Would I be right in thinking he isn't your favourite person ?
_________________
Young at heart...but old everywhere else.

General Melchett · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:24 pm Post subject:

Geoff, it's not for me to say.......... It's for everyone else to decide!
_________________
I feel the need - The need for Tweed!

GeoffComber · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:39 pm Post subject:

Ok

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURN him ! He's a witch !
_________________
Young at heart...but old everywhere else.

General Melchett · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:57 pm Post subject:

In answer to Brian, Yes; Ian Steel was my instructor at the time.
Taff Liley later, for my last term
_________________
I feel the need - The need for Tweed!

Hornblower · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject:

bootybandy · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:58 pm Post subject:

Yes, Iain turned into a good Cyclist, and Dorian was involved with the Fucshia Society in Deal. His great passion.
_________________
Wine is meant to be drunk............I am drunk.............Therefore am I wine??

General Melchett · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:40 pm Post subject:

Yes thanks guys, And now I am a great horticultural cyclist, with nack all knowledge of Horn Playing........

_________________
I feel the need - The need for Tweed!

bootybandy · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:44 pm Post subject:

See, Instructors do have their uses, but it was difficult with people like Dan Cooke, Pete Cox, Mick Davey, Martin Miles and Chris Nolan(RIP) in your class.
_________________
Wine is meant to be drunk............I am drunk.............Therefore am I wine??