The Music Branch is a

personnel branch Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any oth ...

of the

Canadian Armed Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...

(CAF). It is primarily composed of band musicians, and also deals with the selection and musical training of its recruits. The branch encompasses all the

military band A military band is a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind instrument, wind and percussion instruments. The conducting, conductor of a ...

s in service in the

. It is roughly the equivalent to the British Army's Royal Corps of Army Music (CAMUS). The musicians play in brass/reed and pipes & drums bands. Canadian military bands consist of: * 6 full-time regular force bands * 53 part-time reserve force bands * 15 voluntary bands The members of these bands come from all over the CF, coming from units in the

Canadian Army The Canadian Army () is the command (military formation), command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also re ...

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

, and

Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; , ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The navy is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of February 2024, the RCN operates 12 s, 12 s, 4 s, 4 s, 8 s, and several auxiliary ...

. The branch controls all RCN and RCAF bands through the Naval Operations Branch and the

Air Operations Branch The Air Operations Branch () is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces (CF). All members of the branch wear the air force uniform. Training Royal Canadian Air Force Academy The Royal Canadian Air Force Academy (RCAF Academy) at CFB Borden pro ...

respectively. The music branch as a whole is responsible for fostering morale in the CF and providing musical support for all aspects of military life and for official military ceremonies, including guards of honour for dignitaries.

Directorate of History and Heritage

The Directorate of History and Heritage is a sub-department of the Department of National Defence that is responsible to the Chief of Military Personnel (CMP) for providing personnel and technical advice regarding the Music Branch. It was founded on 1 September 1996 by merging the Canadian Forces Music Centre and the Directorate of Military Traditions and Heritage. On 1 April of the following year, the Music Centre was made part of the Directorate. The directorate has 7 sections, with the musical section making up DHH 7. Its specific roles include: *Developing and managing Music Branch policy *Evaluating musician qualification level *Provide advice and guidance on human resources including recommending the relocation of personnel and the recruitment for the Music Branch *Recommending the authorization of official music, marches and calls The DHH Music Staff is the official leadership of the DHH and the Music Branch that formulates Music Branch policy and carries out its roles. The order of precedence is as follows: *Supervisor of Music *Music Branch Chief Warrant Officer *Music Branch Chief of Staff *CF Music Branch Standards Advisor *Pipes and Drums Advisor and Standards Master Warrant Officer *Brass and Reed Standards Master Warrant Officer *Music Branch Auditions Coordinator

Military Tattoos

The Music Branch handles all CF Military Tattoos around the country, including the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Fortissimo Sunset Ceremony and the Canadian International Military Tattoo. The first tattoo to be managed by the branch was the Canadian Armed Forces Tattoo in 1967, which was the world's largest travelling show.

Traditions

March

The Music Branch has no authorized marches as it is responsible for providing music to the Canadian Forces.

Music Division

The Canadian Forces Logistics Training Centre Music Division is the training institution of the Music Branch that offers a curriculum of instruction to potential musicians in the CF. Part of the

Royal Canadian Logistics Service The Royal Canadian Logistics Service (RCLS, ) is a personnel branch of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). In April 1997, the CF Armed Forces Council decided to incorporate the Personnel Administration Branch into the Logistics Branch. From 1968 ...

, it is the '' de facto'' successor to the Canadian Forces School of Music. It is located in Building E-51 at

CFB Borden Canadian Forces Base Borden (also CFB Borden, French: Base des Forces canadiennes Borden or BFC Borden), formerly RCAF Station Camp Borden, is a large Canadian Forces base located in Ontario. The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Forc ...

. It consists of a concert hall, 47 practice studios, 10 teaching studios, a library, and four classrooms.

Supervisors of Music

*Clifford Hunt (1964-1968) *Charles Villeneuve (1980-1984) *Commander George Morrison (1984-1990) *Lieutenant Colonel Gaétan Bouchard *Lieutenant Colonel W. Scott Attridge *Lieutenant Colonel Charles Gaudreau (2019–?) *Commander Patrice Arsenault (?–Present)

Order of precedence

External links

Canadian Forces music

Canadian Forces recruitment for musicians

References

{{Canadian Armed Forces Canadian Armed Forces Military history of Canada Canadian Armed Forces personnel branches Military bands of Canada