Some musicians are put off joining the New Zealand Army Band because they think the Army lifestyle jars with that of a carefree, free-spirited artiste. But Army Bandsman Corporal Jess Blair says military discipline and values have given her much-needed drive and determination.

“Musicians tend to be quite fruity people, and it’s really interesting getting civilians to shift from being how they were, carefree, into disciplined.

“But when I think about how I was before I joined the band, and now – I've changed so much in the last seven years, for the better. I really like what the Army has done to me; how it’s shaped me. Before, I didn't have any focus, I was just drifting, but the Army has turned me around and made me focused.”

CPL Blair has been “shaped” by training that last year included the junior NCOs course and the Assistant Physical Training Instructor (APTI) course. “I learnt a lot about myself doing that course”, she says of the APTI course, which allowed her to indulge her passion for fitness. “One thing I really like about the Army is that it’s active. I get paid to play music and keep fit – so it’s great!” she enthuses.

Of course, being a member of the Army Band has also extended her musically. The Army supported her getting her letters, the LRSM (Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music) in euphonium performance, and her membership of several (civilian) national bands – even paying for her to tour Europe with the National Band of New Zealand in 2005.

While CPL Blair joined the band only intending to stay for a year, opportunities like these have made it impossible for her to leave, she says. She cautions that you still need to be proactive. “But if you know where you want to go and where you want to be, they will absolutely come to the party.”

She’s been able to play at some “amazing” festivals, including two trips to Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival to play at the prestigious Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and trips to Korea and Australia. This month (April), the band joined celebrated jazz musician James Morrison when he played in New Zealand.

“He’s a world-renowned, top, awesome, awesome jazz musician and he specifically requested that the [NZ] Army Band play with him – so it’s very exciting!” she says.

Some Army personnel might be surprised to learn that the band plays at stage concerts such as James Morrison’s, she says.

“They probably just see us on the parade ground, which is only one aspect. We do have a lot of variety in our job. The band is most famous for its display marching, like what we do at Edinburgh.”

In fact, she says some people in the Army – and we can only assume they’re Army newbies – are even surprised to hear the Army has a band of full-time musicians.

But the Army Band members aren't a constant fixture around camp, she admits. For example, last year she did her 10-week Junior NCO course, went to Edinburgh in July for 10 weeks, returned to New Zealand for two weeks and then went to Perth for two weeks, before returning to New Zealand and going to Woodbourne for the APTI course. The band also does a lot of travelling around New Zealand, performing at schools and community events.

“It's so busy that you don't get much time hanging around Burnham. We're always on the go, off doing something.”

For this reason, she says people considering joining the Army Band need to be flexible with their lifestyle and should enjoy travelling.

“They should also be light-hearted; not a person who takes themselves too seriously. And you have to be able to work with others, and also be self-motivated, able to work well without supervision.

“You also need to be quite focused; if you want to work well in the band you have to know exactly what you want out of it. You need to know what you're doing and what style of music you like, and who you want to try and emulate as a musician. You need to be able to babysit your career and know where it's going.”