About the Job

A musician in the Army is a soldier who performs as a professional musician in an Army Band. Within an Army Band you have the opportunity to work in ensembles such as Concert Band, Marching Band, Big Band, Rock Band, Quintets and Jazz Ensemble. These groups perform music that covers the full spectrum of musical genres from Classical to Jazz, Popular and Contemporary.

Army Bands perform at Defence and Government ceremonial occasions, entertain soldiers both here in Australia and deployed overseas, and are a key component of the Army's public relations program by supporting community events, educational programs and charity organisations.

In the Australian Army Band (AAB) there are opportunities for full-time musicians in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Townsville and Wagga Wagga. Part-time opportunities are available in all the above locations, as well as Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Newcastle and Darwin.

The Army Band enlists musicians who are proficient on the following instruments:

  • Flute/Piccolo
  • Oboe
  • Clarinet
  • Bassoon
  • Saxophones
  • French Horn
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Tuba
  • Percussion (tuned and un-tuned)
  • Drum Kit
  • Guitar
  • Bass Guitar
  • Keyboard
  • Vocals (male and female)
Please contact Australian Army Band Headquarters AABand.Recruiting@defence.gov.au for information on current full time and part time vacancies.
In-Service Information
Employment Category Number (ECN): 240
Employment Category: Combat Support

Key Information

Preparing for Your Recruitment Process

This document provides information that will assist applicants for roles in the Navy, Army and Air Force, including details about the recruitment process, how to prepare yourself for assessment, and what to expect if you are successful in joining the Australian Defence Force.

National Qualifications

Aspects of your training may result in the award of civil qualifications - something you can check with your Instructional Staff when you conduct your Initial Employment Training.

Salary & Allowances

In the Army you'll get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your pay increases as you progress through training.

In addition to your salary you'll receive a variety of allowances, extra pay for relevant qualifications – plus 16.4% superannuation, a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.


For more details download our Salary Scales.


Locations

Postings as a permanent Army Musician can be to any of the following locations:

  • QLD - Townsville, Brisbane
  • ACT - Canberra
  • NSW - Sydney, Wagga Wagga

Requirements

Age

Applicants must be at least 17 years of age and able to complete the Initial Minimum Period of Service before reaching Compulsory Retirement Age (60).

Applicants will not be allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, however they may be able to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age.

Education & Experience

The educational standard required is completion of Australian Year 10 education (or equivalent) with passes in English and Mathematics.

Although there are no formal musical qualifications required to enter the Australian Army Band Corps (AABC), all applicants must be able to read music fluently and perform their instrument to a high standard. Applicants will be required to sit an audition with an AABC Employment Category Testing Officer.

If you have not achieved the appropriate passes for this role, an education assessment can be conducted to determine your eligibility. Employment history and other qualifications will be considered. Speak to your ADF Careers Centre representative to discuss options.

Medical & Fitness

To be enlisted or appointed, you must be medically and physically fit for entry to your chosen occupation. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.

You will also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment before appointment.

For further details on medical and physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF and Medical Process for Entry into the ADF.

Period of Service

The Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) for qualified entry to the AABC is three years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You may request discharge at any time provided you have completed your IMPS obligation.

Your Careers Coach can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation.

Additional Requirements

The Army Musician has three different performance levels. These levels are called Musician Grade One, Musician Grade Two and Musician Grade Three. Prior to your audition, you should choose, in consultation with your local area band’s Music Director the level at which you wish to be assessed against. The repertoire lists containing the requirements for these levels should also be supplied to you.

Should you be applying for entry as an Army Reserve Musician, the minimum standard is Musician Grade 1, whilst the minimum standard for a Regular Army Musician is Musician Grade 2. You can be accepted into both the Army Reserve and Regular Army at one level lower, but you will be required to attain the minimum standard within 24 months for the Army Reserve and 12 months for the Regular Army. There is one exception to this standard – a vocalist will only be recruited at job standard.

Most applicants can also choose to be assessed against either a classical or a commercial stream. Classical stream does not refer to what is termed the classical period, but rather refers to art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times. Commercial stream includes styles from all areas of contemporary popular music. This term encompasses jazz, pop, blues, soul, country, folk, and rock styles.

Audition Requirements

Applicants will be assessed at an audition with an AABC Employment Category Testing Officer to ensure the applicant meets the minimum standard required for entry to AABC Bands.

Although there are no formal musical qualifications required to enter the AABC, all applicants must be able to read music fluently and perform on their instrument to a high standard.

The standard of performance at the audition will determine the avenue of entry to Qualified Entry 1,2 or 3.

The audition process is made up of a number of stages. These stages are:

  • An interview with the Music Director of your local band

  • The individual performance recital, where you will be required to perform a recital, sight reading and common band excerpts

  • An ensemble rehearsal audition, where you will rehearse with smaller groups within the band, including your instrumental section or group, jazz group of varying sizes or rock band, and

Further Information

The Australian Army Band Corps Guide to Audition and Recitals has been published by the Defence Force School of Music, and is an invaluable source of information on all aspects of the audition process. It is essential that applicants contact HQ Australian Army Band AABand.Recruiting@defence.gov.au

Aptitude

The Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA) is completed as part of the application process to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Some jobs may also require you to complete a further evaluation at a later date.

The JOA is used by Defence to establish suitability for ADF entry, and then identify jobs that best match your abilities.

Further information about the JOA can be found in the Guide to the Job Opportunities Assessment for the ADF.

To get a feel for the types of questions that are used in the Job Opportunities Assessment and how they will look on your screen some examples can be found in the Job Opportunities Assessment Example Questions.

Citizenship

To serve in the ADF you must be an Australian Citizen.

If you are a permanent resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary deferral of the citizenship requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain Australian Citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.

Find out more in our Citizenship page or ask your local ADF Careers Centre.

Security Requirements

The Department of Defence requires ADF employees to have a security clearance appropriate to their employment.

A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and if required, interviews, enables the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.

The minimum security clearance level required is Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1), and current policy requires applicants to have a checkable background for the previous 10 years.

This means applicants must provide credible referees (non-family members) who are able to provide information about the applicant covering an extended period of time. Required information for an NV1 includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Residence
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Financial information
  • Travel

Some ADF jobs may require a higher level of security clearance such as Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV). Your individual circumstances will determine the number and complexity of the questions and the supporting documents required for these levels.

Australian Citizenship is a requirement for a security clearance and a clearance will only be granted to a non-citizen in exceptional circumstances.

The security clearance is critical to an applicant's successful progression through the recruiting process. It is strongly recommended that all applicants action the Security Clearance Package (ePack) and provide the required documentation without delay to provide the best opportunity to commence training and be employed in their preferred employment category.

For more detailed information on the security vetting process and specific clearance level requirements set by AGSVA, please refer to the AGSVA website.

Support will be provided by DFR during the initial application process.

Training

Military Training

As a General Entry recruit, you’ll be required to complete the Recruit Course.

Army Recruit Course
Duration: Approximately 12 weeks.
Location: Kapooka, Wagga Wagga, NSW.

During training, you will take part in physical training, weapon handling and shooting, first aid, drill and field craft. You'll be challenged both mentally and physically.

Although it can be demanding, most recruits gain a sense of achievement, purpose and confidence during basic training, and on completion of the course feel justifiably proud of what they have achieved. The priority of our instructors is to help you succeed.

For more information, visit Soldier Training at Kapooka.

Employment Training

Following recruit training, qualified entry applicants attend an Initial Employment Training (IET) course for approximately seven weeks at the Defence Force School of Music (DFSM) located at Watsonia in Melbourne.

Musicians will learn specific skills required of military musicians. This includes identification of marching band signals, marching band performance, familiarity of ceremonial music and an introduction to the history and mission of the Australian Army Band Corps as well as general theory and musicianship skills.

Further Training

You will graduate from recruit training with the rank of Musician (Private) and could progress to Lance Corporal within two years following completion of all IET. Further promotion to Corporal (Section Leader), Sergeant (Group Leader) and Warrant Officer (Band Manager) is based on performance, time in rank and vacancies, and will require the successful completion of courses in advanced music studies.

Commissioned band officers are selected from within the bands with a minimum rank of Sergeant required before selection. All members of the AABC have the opportunity to career advance from Musician (Private Soldier) to commissioned officer ranks within the Australian Army Band Corps. Band officers are trained at the Defence Force School of Music.