Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-10-08
MUSIC FOR OUR NAVAL VESSELS.
Uncle Sans school for Traing
Young Musicians.

Uncle Sans school for Traing
Young Musicians.
The naval bands which are sta
toned at the various navy yards, and
on board the vessels of the "White
Squadron" of the U. S. Navy, have
justly acquired the reputation of rank
ing among the finest musical organi-
cations of the world, and considera-
ton as to the means employed by the
Government in organizing its naval
bands and maintaining the degree Of
efficiency for which they are noted,
cannot fail to be of interest.
OF course, the leading band of the
navy is the U. S. Marine Band. This
band, which at the present time is UNI
der the leadership of Prof. Franciulli,
one of the acknowledged leaders among
composers of band music, is stationed
permanently in Washington, having
its headquarters at the Marine Bar
racks.
A training school for boys who have
a fOndness for music, and who desire
to enter the service OF Uncle Sam as
buglers and bandsmen to furnish
music fer the navy, is maintained at
the Marine Barracks. This school is
under the supervision of Col. Hey
wood, of the Marine Corps, with Prof.
Franciulli as instructor in chief. The
school is open to all boys between the
ages of fourteen and sixteen years, who
have the written consent of their par
ents or guardians bofore entering the
service, and who are found to possess
the physical qualifications requisite.
Ordinarily the quota required is filled,
but just at this time more boys are
needed to blow the bugles and manip-
ulate the drums. Applications for
positions in the school may be made
by boys from all sections of the coun-
try, and when first appointed the boy
is ordered before the nearest examin-
ing physician. If the slightest physi-
cal defect is discovered he is rejected.
If, however, the physical examination
is satisfactorily completed the candi-
date is fully accepted, and is required
to sign papers which bind him to the
government until he becomes of age.
No mental examination is necessary.
When the boys arrive in Washing
ton and report at the barracks, they
are put through an active course of
exercise and discipline that serves to
break them into the rigors of life in
the army or navy. They are required
to fulfill all the duties of a regularly
enlisted marine; to salute all officers,
and even to do guard duty. The
course of instruction is so thorough
that within a few weeks time the boys
become conversans with every detail of
the service. Every day. except Satur-
day and Sunday, from $50 until IL 80
o'clock, the boys are given instruction
in the use of the bugle. The instruc-
tors are in all cases members OF the
Marine Band, detailed for the service.
In the afternoon, from l 80 to 2:15,
the boys are taught to handle the
From time to time ex-
aminations are held under the direc-
ton of Prof. Franciulli, and the boys
who make the best records at these
examinations are given the preference
when it becomes necessary to send de-
tachments of musicians to ships in the
navy.
This training school offers an open
ing to boys of a musical turn of mind
that would be hard to equal elsewhere,
and it is the only institution of the
kind in this country. There are
usually large number of boys at the
barracks, but as rule within two
years from their entrance they are
ordered away for duty. Those OF the
boys who are found upon examination
to be especially proficient are detailed
for service in the Marine Band.
When the boys attain their major
ity they are allowed either to leave the
service or to reinlist as regular musi-
clan of the Marine Corps. All things
considered, q boy of fourteen who
wants to secure good education and
have nice home might do worse than
to enter the Marine Corps as a bugle
boy.