Thursday, May 8, 2014

Navy Musician's Lexicon

Revised and expanded:
JUL2020
AUG2019
OCT2016
JUL2014
NOV2012
FEB2010
APR2009 
SEP2008




Navy Musician's Dictionary

administrative petty officer: A french horn player.

Autovon: Toll-free Navy telephone system used by seamen for supervised official calls, by administrative POs for unsupervised official calls, and CPOs for all-night gabfests with old buddies in Yokosuka.

axe: A musical instrument issued by the Supply Petty Officer for the performance of duties, or, in the case of clarinets, a sharp-bladed tool for chopping wood.

bag band: A ceremonial unit, named after the pouches of march-sized music the musicians sling over their shoulders. "Oh hell, another bag band gig."

basso continuo: The effect that is achieved when the sousaphone player in the last rank misses the turn.

big band: A bag band without clarinets.

bitter end:
  1. The part of a rope that is tied to a secure object.
  2. The effect achieved when the trombone section misses the drum major's cutoff.
blues progression: The mental transition the MU undergoes when reading a piece of paper from BUPERS that

  • begins with the word "Hawaii,"
  • contains the word "ORDMOD," and
  • concludes with the word "Norfolk."

change of command: Proof that musicians, like cows, can sleep while standing up.

civilian: A term of endearment referring to half the personnel in the U.S. Navy Band.

chord changes: The effect created when four Navy trombone players attempt to sustain tones whose duration is greater than a whole note.

CLINK-CLANK: Band of the Commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT).

comp time: The 73 measures that pass while the trombone player tries to figure out when his solo begins.

cymbal crash modulation: A sudden transition between keys that are not closely-related.

Disney World: Place of employment for MUs who quit the Navy because they're tired of wearing uniforms and marching in parades.

ditty bag: The XO's wife who thinks she can sing.

dog watch: The guy in the van's passenger seat in charge of pointing out women while driving through an Army base.

dream sheet: A transfer request form upon which you are required to write the name of every stateside, overseas and seagoing band, in return for which you receive a letter congratulating you on having your request approved.

duty gig: An occasional nuisance that interferes with getting your real work done.

ensign: The guy in front of the band who was standing behind you last week.

equal temperament: A method of forecasting how the day will go that divides the chief's mood disorder into twelve equal stages ranging from mildly belligerent to acutely hostile.

first call: What you're thinking about when the bartender announces last call.

foul anchors: to botch the music during a ceremony. "What a rotten gig--we slaughtered 'Washington Post' and fouled 'Anchors.'"

harp: Rating badge insignia for MU.

harmony: the musical effect created by two Navy trombonists performing a unison passage.

head chart: A diagram, used during field day, that shows the precise arrangement of toiletries in the officers' restroom.

high and tight: The condition of the trumpet section during the last set.

key signature: The handwritten name on your chit next to the block checked "approved."

march tempo: A pace whose speed is dependent upon how late the bass drummer was out last night.

military time: Those few, hurried minutes sandwiched in between pay gigs.

Morning Colors: An event consisting of a short march to the flagpole, a few Sousa marches, a bugle call, the National Anthem, another bugle call, "Anchors Aweigh" and a walk back to band quarters, all of which lasts about a half an hour and is listed in the bandmaster's report as two parades, two concerts, two duty-bugler gigs and a ceremony.

Navy Exchange: The process by which a long-haired, tattooed guitar player in camouflage gear becomes a bald, tattooed guitar player in camouflage gear who can read music.

Navy special: Any of a number of dance band arrangements written for training purposes in the years after World War II. Variously described as "marvelously complex and challenging" or "hideously over-written."

Navy triplets: A three-note sequence of notes of sort-of-equal duration, usually consisting of:
  1. a dotted eighth note, followed by
  2. a sixteenth-note which is tied to
  3. a final eighth note.
Navy van: A remarkable feat of automotive engineering that carries four times its stated maximum load, never needs its oil changed and can be shifted directly from forward into reverse while the vehicle is in motion.

Pat O:
  1. Patriotic Opener, music performed before a special event.
  2. Opening words of an Irish song that begins, "Pat, O Pat, is there whiskey in yer hat?"
  3. The guy who welcomes you to your first AA meeting after you sing #2 at #1.
pay gig: A musical engagement for which off-duty MUs are miraculously on time, smiling and dressed correctly.

per diem: (L. "by dieting" or "meals are optional.") A travel allowance that is calculated by estimating daily expenses required for food and lodging and dividing by two.

perfect interval: The rarely-occurring period of joy that occurs when payday arrives before the bar tab is due.

perfect pitch: The arc described by a Bb clarinet tossed from the poop deck so that it clears the rudder.

plank owner: A saxophone player who has been issued a seven-year-old box of Rico Fives.

practical factors: Sucking up to the Chief, bribing the LPO and other skills required for promotion to the next pay grade.

ship arrival: An emotional ceremony during which sailors run down the gangplank into the arms of their waiting wives and girlfriends while the band plays "Back in the Saddle Again."

ship departure: An emotional ceremony that is traditionally followed by a surge in the number of unattached women in the Enlisted Club.

shitty ditty: An obscure song that is childishly arranged by an MU1, illegibly copied by an MU3, and highly favored by the admiral's wife.

sick call: The unfortunate music that ensues when a bugler begins on the wrong harmonic.

sound man: An MU who is being discharged in a few weeks, sits in the back of the auditorium and couldn't care less whether the vocals are audible.

staff combo: Four MUs who spend occasional evenings at the "O club" drinking doubles from the open bar, ogling the junior officers' wives, picking up juicy tidbits from the admiral's chief of staff and show up for work the next day complaining about all this extra duty.

stinger: A loud repetition of the last note of a march, generally performed only by the second trombone player.

survey: The procedure that transforms bass drums and tubas into coffee tables and flower planters in the Supply Petty Officer's living room.

4 Ruffles & Flourishes and the Flag Officers March: The default answer to all questions on MU promotion exams.

Nomenclature for Bands Afloat

battle station: A rectangular fabric casing filled with a resilient material such as cotton or foam, often employed with a similar, but smaller, "pillow" for the support of the head.

crossing the line: Asking the flag lieutenant's wife if she'd like to grease your slide after the gig.

flight quarters: An exercise, usually held at night, during which sirens are sounded and heavy chains are dragged across the deck directly above the band's berthing compartment.

general quarters: Nap time.

hatch: An opening in a passageway that is three inches narrower than a Fender Rhodes electric piano.

liberty call: An announcement signaling the period during which the ship goes to In-Port Routine, the crew goes on R&R and the band goes to work.

mess deck: The 16 square feet surrounding a trombonist with a broken spit valve.

port: The contents of the bottle in the trumpet player's spare case.

quarterdeck: The number of playing cards sequestered up the sleeve of the smiling bosun's mate who has just sauntered into the band's berthing compartment.

rack: see Battle Station.

unreps: Underway replenishment, a harrowing naval evolution involving two closely-spaced ships on parallel courses that requires precise radio contact, instant communication between helmsman and watchstanders, and a band outside the bridge playing Fillmore marches.

1MC: The public address system through which the executive officer remarks on the contribution the band is making to Unreps.

School of Music Terminology

ADM Joel T. Boone Branch Health Clinic: A recreational lounge for basic course students, enjoyed primarily during colors band week.

chord factory: The School of Music.

ear training: The development of advanced listening skills that allow students to stop riffing on diminished scales and open up the Fillmore march book when the Practice Supervisor's footsteps become audible.

flat five: An all-Army sax section.

head:
  1. The beginning of a piece of music.
  2. A place where excrement is deposited.
  3. In the case of Advanced Course arranging projects, both of the above.

hidden fifths: Training aids that circulate in the back of the Theory classroom.

Pool of Mucus: The School of Music.

practice room: a space provided for students to store their horn cases while they are outside smoking.

staff member: An MU whose behavior in a fleet band has earned him an extended period of punishment.

student bands: Training ensembles for basic course students of various abilities:
  • "A" band, consisting of students who perform at the highest level. 
  • "B" band, consisting of students who are competing for selection to "A" band.
  • "C" band, consisting of Marines.
unit: An hour of individual practice (derived from School of Music record-keeping terminology). "Trombones, you need to put in some units on that slow whole-note section."

MU Phrase Book

"Did you cash your last paycheck?" Translation: "Your constant griping about the Navy grows tiresome."

"Get a haircut." Translation: "I disagree with you, but can't think of an adequate response."
  • Question: "Can't the combo have some time off, chief? We're working twice as hard as the rest of the band."
  • Answer: "Get a haircut."
"Parade the Beef." Translation: "Form up on the grinder in athletic gear."

"Who booked this gig? Translation: "The accommodations for the band are not up to general standards."
  • MUs at Navy Band Newport had an unusual distinction in the mid-80s, when MU1 Billy Ream was the Operations PO in charge of scheduling performances. After a concert in a particularly inhospitable venue, musicians could stomp off the bandstand and truthfully moan, "Another Ream job."

65 comments:

Anonymous said...

GARBAGE CAN BAND OR WORSE- The U.S. Navy Steel Band.

Anonymous said...

"Cuz were the Navy Steel Band and your not"!! Translation: A tactful way of telling other musicians and/or audience members that we don't like you. circa 1979

Anonymous said...

"Is this an illegal gig?" Translation: Had something to do with a mysterious PAO book that existed, That line was supposedly in there somewhere, and was a MU1 test question that no one ever got right.

Anonymous said...

"Field Day" Translation :A complete waste of manpower and time usually held at the SOM on a Thurday evening, performed by Basic students and supervised by Enlisted Bandleader course students. Has nothing to do with being out in a field or any relation to CDR Phil Fields!

Anonymous said...

"Horse Trailer" Translation: A huge white box on 2 wheels,filled to capacity with thousands of dollars worth of musical instruments and attached to a beat up Dodge van. Then hauled around with no mercy through various Naval Districts until those famous words were heard once again " Hey, were gettin' NEW Vans this year"

Anonymous said...

Uniform for the gig will be "CIRCUS DRESS WHITES in the summertime, and "SERVICE DRESS BLACKS" for the remainder of the year. The best unigrams we ever wore were the Salt and Peppers, remember them?

Anonymous said...

Frank you have outdone yourself, keep it up. Also, you and Steve Dimond still owe me for the carpet on your golf course...

Anonymous said...

"Phone Watch" A long , boring and very tiresome evolution usually held by a band slob who (1) doesn't take annual leave, or (2) wants to be in ops so he can hear all the duty gossip behind closed doors or (3) wants to suck up so HE can become the next OPS Petty Officer.

Anonymous said...

"0 DARK THIRTY MUSTER" A very early time of the AM hours that bandsmen get together for a long van ride to a gig, that inevitably will cause a young "A" school grad to miss muster and therby guarantee
the band a future "PHONE WATCH"

Anonymous said...

"P.T. Test" Translation: An agonizing ritual held twice a year usually held after lunch? Huh!! in which smokers in the band practically died doing the 1.5 mile run, the jocks in the band finished early and became timekeepers, and the rest of the MU's stood around with light duty chits wondering why the Master Chief of the Navy band was running his test wearng khakis and CORAFRAM shoes.

Anonymous said...

"MANDATORY FUN"-Translation: (1)Participating on the Navy Band Softball team in which we were usually beaten thoroughly by the 5th inning, or (2) being "ordered" to attend one the yearly band picnics!!in which after the duty keg was emptied and the hockey pucks from the mess hall were all consumed, everybody snuck off usually to someone elses house to continue the festivities well into the wee hours, only to be yelled at by the "boss" the next morning that no one stayed for the whole picnic. In other words, the office staff usually ended up doing the cleanup!!

Anonymous said...

STANDING ON THE PIER IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY IN NEWPORT,RI PLAYING A LATE SHIP ARRIVAL, all I can say is "BRAVO,OPS,BRAVO!! "Hey Chief, my valves are all frozen, what should I do? ANS: "Quit whining, blow some air on them and keep playing" Grumble, Grumble, Grumble!

Anonymous said...

Test Question:
Which of the following does "not" belong while marching a parade in the pouring rain?
1) A sad looking white (DIXIE CUP)hat.
2) That "beautiful" looking NAVY RAINCOAT that we all had to wear.
3) The worst shoes ever made by mankind ie: THE CORAFRAM.
4) The band directly behind the "BEHIND" of our four legged equestrian friends.
5) 35-40 "HAPPY" NAVY BANDSMEN WALTZING UP THE ENDLESS HILL PLAYING "THE THIN RED LINE"

Anonymous said...

"Hey Petty Officer, the CO rolled the dice this month and your lucky number came up" TRANSLATION: Go pee in the bottle, "URINE" trouble now!!!

Anonymous said...

G.P.
Some have taught that this is an abreviation for "Grand Pause" in music. However, at the School of Music, the senior percussion students in the basic course would tell the new guy that G.P. actually stood for "Gong Part"...."and you better play it loud, because the whole band stops playing and waits for your solo..."

Anonymous said...

"POST EXAM REVIEW" Translation: Usually occured after the MU Rating exam was given whereby all or most MU1 candadites met at the EM Club for "LUNCH" to wind down and review the EXAM questions they could remember"Hey, was the answer to question #42 EbMinor or G#Augb13"? From the back room in between burps and belches the best "Test Taker" responded, "Neither, the answer was 4 Ruffles and Flourishes and the Flag Officers March", "but only if he's moving" piped in the only non-imbiber and band nerd.GAFAWS all around!!

Anonymous said...

"NAVY VAN" Did you know that NAVY VAN spelled backwards still spells "NAVY VAN"? Just a minor thought for all ye bandsmen out there.

Anonymous said...

This is F@#$% GREAT!!! I'm laughing hard tonight, perfect timing too, I finished TAP yesterday

Anonymous said...

"SEABAG INSPECTION"- An evolution that Master Chiefs threatened bandsmen with but usually never occured, because most bandsmen couldn't find their seabag if they had to.

Anonymous said...

"MORNING COLORS"- A Wed. morning evolution, loathed by bandsmen that (1) began with muster/unigram inspection, (2) marching down to HQ (on the tap)(3) waiting in the hot morning sun until the "official" party came out usually after their 12 cups of Navy coffee (4) Ceremony,(5) parading past ADM Zagnut's quarters (who usually was never there)(6) marching past the Marine Corps bandroom amidst cat calls of "OOOOOHHHHHRRRRRAAAAAHHHHH!! and other assorted ditties.(7) Thru Navy housing (WHY??)(8) then past the CO's residence whereby the band stopped, played a march whilst being attacked and barked at by his mutt named "POPCORN" and finally back to the bandroom where as we were falling out the CHIEF berates us by saying that we march like a bunch of 7th graders and marching band rehearsal will commence after the bandsmen consume their 12 cups of Navy coffee!! AAHH, the Navy Music Program!

Anonymous said...

"DEAD GIG"- Anyone who was a trumpet player or held a trumpet knows all about this kind of gig.Ask any one of them the next time you meet or see one in action.

Anonymous said...

"COZMIC GOD OF PER DIEM"- A well known entity that the Navy Steel Band and probably other performing units knew very well during the late 70's and early 80's. Funds were literaly thrown at these units to go out with Navy Recruiting to stay at nice hotels, eat at nice feeding troughs, come back to base and put in liquidations and then, receive another healthy check a few days later to go out and do it all over again. Sure beat staying in the "animal locker" ie: the BARRACKS, and eating HOSS'COCK" sandwiches and "BUG JUICE" at the chow hall which was usually closed by the time the band arrived.

Anonymous said...

"NALO" Translation: Naval Aviation Logistics Office. An entity that was requested by Band Ops to fly bandsmen around the friendly skies in order to do some mindless CofC or a showband gig in some remote area of our planet. After waiting forever at the local air station,in our cute little jumpsuits a bandsman was heard to say "Look, they just shit another plane out of the sky to come get us". We all hoped it was a C-9 and not some prop job, ie a P-3 or worse.

Anonymous said...

"The Check's in the Mail"- Translation: A hip, but rather unimportant big band chart that was played "ad nauseum" at high schools throughout the New England area circa 1980's. Musicians and bandsmen know what the title means, however most high schoolers don't. I remember the "Chief" going up to the microphone and saying "Here's one your gonna love, it's called The Check's in the Mail". Huh's and blank stares from the jocks in the front row, and from the back row bandsmen could hear, "Ya dude didn't Black Sabbath do that tune?" Another would answer "No way freak, that was Led Zeppelin"

Anonymous said...

"TRAFALGER NIGHT"- A very long, chop busting night that the CINCSOUTH Band had to endure while performing extremely difficult British marches played at ppppp volume. This event took place while members of the British element attached to AFSOUTH would sit at attention and eat their dinner in a royal fasion. Needless to say that most noses were pointed in the upward position during the festivities.

Anonymous said...

"BRIT FETE NIGHT"- Just the opposite of Trafalger night. During this evolution large quantities of lagers, ales and other mind numbing liquids were consumed at a rapid pace while the CINCSOUTH Band played the British 8th march at ffff volume and also proceeded to down large pints of the above mentioned toddy's. This gig did not last very long and no noses up in the air were ever seen, only long lines at the bar and at the men's head. Good times were had by both Blokes and Yanks alike.

Anonymous said...

CANOE CLUB- aka the U.S. Navy, usually heard by a former squid to another former squid. "Ya man, I spent 20+ years in the canoe club, how 'bout you? "Nah, I did 4 and got the h#&l out".

Anonymous said...

"GOAT F#&K", A term given to a number of bad situations often experianced by Navy musicians.1,bad logistics, 2,a really bad sponsor, 3,awful weather or 4, just an overall bad gig. Usually heard by the unit leader to the boss,"What a major GOAT F#&K that gig was"!!! "Let's not do that one again". But as we all know, it usually was repeated again the next year.

Anonymous said...

"MITTENS" 2.7 or below graduate of
School of Music.

Anonymous said...

"STAR FLEET" Navy musicians on mandos that are caught watching television during the day.

Anonymous said...

"TWO BEERS" And the clothes start flying off.

Anonymous said...

"GOT A SMOKE FOR A VET?"-Translation: A band slob who never buys cigarettes at the PX and constantly "BUMS" a smoke from other bandsmen. Then stands there with the cig hanging out of his mouth and says "I need a light too". The bandsman who gave up the smoke usually replies with "Would ya like me to punch ya in the chest to get it going too?" Gafaws all around.

Anonymous said...

"Slingerland Special", usually happens on west coast, Seattle and in SD. Some E4/5 forgets to load drum kit for Whidbey, or Fleet Week.

Travel card used to rent drum kit, or borrow one from a HS band director.

E6 drummer writes them up.

Anonymous said...

"GMT" General Military Training. A long, drawn out boring evolution held at the base theater at 1300 hours. Especially unbearable because it was right after a "gag burger" at the chow hall and it usually had nothing to do with anything that involved Navy MU's. All the MU's except the fanny kissers usually sat in the extreme rear of the theater so we could sleep and also to make a quick dash out of there when the agony was over!

Anonymous said...

A few memories from my days with the Navy Steel Band circa 1978-1982 1. "Don't wait up for the shrimp boats baby, cuz I'm comin' home with the crabs"-Ed Helm
2. "She was only the stableman's daughter, but all the horsemanure"-Ed Helm
3. "No man,no man,no man" about the extent of Wayne "Lumpy" Lumpkins vocabulary!
4. "Yabba dabba do" This phrase and the entire alphabet could be belched all at one time by the one and only Berhman "Buddah" Baker .
5. "We now would like to perform a selection from the light opera CARMEN, that was composed by George Bizet who is now decomposing"-Ed Helm
6. "TABER CROFF"- A very, very tacky tropical shirt worn by members of the steelband while performing at Admiral's residences. The shirt resembled god awful table cloths at local greasy spoons!
7. "No Zoot, you cannot wear purple socks with dress whites" Leader Greg Nevil telling Lyle "Zoot" Sacry before an inspection. Zoot could never get this concept and always wondered why he always got 2.0 evals!
THE END!!

Anonymous said...

This was my all-time favorite mandatory MU Exam study question:

1. What’s your favorite kind of music:

a. Rock & Roll
b. Jazz
c. Country
d. I hate music, therefore, I have no preference

Anonymous said...

Oh My God: Usually uttered when one had the unfortunate involuntary reaction to look at a "conductor". There stood a LARGE mass with the signature gapped tooth. It was wearing two left shoes.

Anonymous said...

----GOES WITH "MEETS STANDARDS" That was always a mystery with the PFT standards. Bandsmen were thrown out of the music program for being 1-2 pounds over the "standards" while "higher ups" just kept getting wider and wider and promoted too!!! So not surprised about the "conductor" in Bremerton.

Anonymous said...

My favorite memory from those years is a dummy put on the wall by Frank doing a pee test with a sign under it saying "Urine the Navy now". Also have fond (if gagging) memories of the chief's buggar board. Bill Ream - now living in Burleson, Texas.

Anonymous said...

"Lizard"

A MU that is a suck ass musician! And is only worried about making LDO/CPO. He knows who to suck the best A** in the world, but couldn't play come to jesus in whole notes!

Why is he called a "lizard" you might ask?!?!

Duh! Cause Lizards have tails!

Anonymous said...

---> GOES with "CHAINSAW".

What's the Traub doin'? Firing up the chainsaw to play the same darn lick, play a long, or three octave chromatic bs. Most frequent offenders consist of guitar, trumpet, and sax holders. 'Bone players?! They're too busy getting DUI's.

Anonymous said...

Send In the Clowns.....


That time when all E6 and below wait to hear words and pearls of wisdom from above. Only to realize the long wait was because the boss or other khaki's forgot their outfits

Anonymous said...

To add to "Send in the Clowns"-Just remember that SH%# rolls down hill as all E4,5, and 6's know. My favorite lines in Send in the Clowns were " Isn't it rich, isn't it queer, spending my money on coraframs and beer, where are the clowns, there all dressed in BROWN, khakis in brown, they all let us down!!

Anonymous said...

"IT'S OPENING UP" Translation: What bandsmen were constantly told by the tech assist folks who visited various bands, regarding promotions. "Ya,looks like were gonna' make 65 E-4's, 15 E-5's and 2 E-6's this time. That's 1 more E6 than last time so "it's opening up"! Farts and groans all around.

Anonymous said...

"The Norfolk Mafia"

The group of CPOs that seems to be able to homestead in Norfolk...Bouncing between the Band, SOM, and FLT Support. Most have spent their whole career there and when someone else trys to get orders to Norfolk its impossible. Reason being if the "Mafia" gets called by the detailer to transfer they threatens to "get out" BUT NEVER DO!

Meanwhile everybody else has to transfer so the Mafia can stay in Norfolk!

Anonymous said...

Who in their feeble mind would want to spend an entire career in "SHIT CITY"" ie NORFOLK?? What a horrible place to be other than SOM for a brief stint. Sure am glad other than SOM I never volunteered or got orders there. WOW!!

Anonymous said...

"LADIES OF NAPLES, ITALY"!!- Anyone who was stationed in the Cincsouth Band or 6th Fleet Band knows about these sexy ladies: Let's see, 1st there was "HUMPTY DUMPTY" who sat on her wall, then there was "EVERYDAY SALLY" who hung out by the notorious burning tires of Naples, and lastly there was "COMMISSARY MARY" yup you guessed it, she stood out where people were loading their groceries into their hand me down used Fiats and other assorted broken down European pieces of crap that we all drove. And don't forget all the "RIKIONEES" or "he-shes" that always waved and smiled at the Navy Bandsmen as we drove to a gig in Naples!! Lots of laughs during that tour of duty!!

Anonymous said...

Leo Leary once "threatened" to send Barb and I up to Punchbowl National Cemetery to do Echo Taps on Bass Trombone and Oboe.

Anonymous said...

L.E.S.....LEAVE & EARNING STATEMENTS. Officially the form you get telling you what your pay was as well as how much Annual Leave earned as well. Also known as LOWER ENLISTED SLOBS/SCUM.

Shell

Anonymous said...

"I need a day off Chief----PUT IN A CHIT, My wife is dropping sextuplets any day now Chief-----PUT IN A CHIT, My favorite rock band is coming to town Chief----PUT IN A CHIT, I wanna get VHA and BAQ Chief----PUT IN A CHIT-----Chief, do I need to put in a chit to re-up?? You won't have to after you SIGN YOUR EVAL!!!!!

Anonymous said...

"NO WORK TODAY, NO WORK TODAY, IT'S A HOLIDAY, SO GO AWAY" Words to the Italian National Anthem, usually performed on a daily basis.

Anonymous said...

1MC- "now sweepers, man your brooms" (Navy Band runs and hides).
1MC- "now sweepers , man your brooms, give the ship a complete sweep down, forward and aft, now sweepers" (Navy Band runs and hides).
1MC " all non-essential personnel report to working party stations for sweepers" (Navy Band runs to gedunk).
GEDUNK closed, Master Chief of the ship catches band skylarking, Navy Band ends up with brooms in hands, morale low, proving once again Navy Bands have no business on ships.

.

Anonymous said...

Golf Course: Breeding grounds for pre-MU's at the SOM.

Jery Winters said...

GUAM ROT - the corrosion one's horn suffers thanks to the Guamanian airs.

GUAM BOMB - old cars that ComNavMar bandsmen would sell to newcomers as they were transferred. Hammerhead had an Aussie car that looked like an American car.

HANGER - person who did the most extraordinary act of the week. Sometimes accompanied by money if there was any per-diem money left over. Coined by Alan Gaumer during UNITAS 1980, who was perhops the biggest hanger of them all. He also learned NOT to speak Spanish there...

ADIFUCKINOS - 'Goodf@#kinbye' in Alan Gaumer Spanish. NOBODY could learn Portuguese enough (Julius Melendez excepted)

Navy Band Wife said...

MUC - the new first name a Navy Bandsmen acquires when they attain the rank of Chief. Thereafter, all mail comes addressed to "MUC Smith" and all phone solicitors ask for you by the name of Muck.

Mark Mayfield said...

Xbandsman must have been in New Orleans. We had to play real soft when we passed the Admiral's house so we didn't wake the Admiral's wife up.

Mark Mayfield said...

School of Matrimony- School of Music


?- Is Manny still teaching in Guam?

Anonymous said...

Quitters = LDO Bandmasters

Anonymous said...

MUC/MUCS/MUCM TO LDO = ANCHOR CHUCKER

Dave (duna) Hodge said...

I'd not noticed this and am quite overwhelmed. Many memories supplied by you all - but no mention of the Admin Christmas tree in Newport - that Frank had decorated with urine sample bottles.

DennyJ said...

Ah, memories of the Newport band room--first a stop by Admin to view the xmas tree with various decorations--then a quick round of bandroom golf to be followed by a mandatory xmas concert somewhere in the Newport vicinity!! After all the merriment was done hark, a brass choir was dispatched to cover the Admirals house and the CO's housing as well! Once these functions were completed it was off to the Jubillee Clock and Grinder Shop (local watering holes)attended by all bandroom elves for xmas cheer and debauchery into the wee hours until those wonderful 3 words were heard back at the band room: "IT'S LEAVE PERIOD"--ah, memories!

Anonymous said...

How about the famous Italian march played by the Newport Band after the OCS graduations: "Thumbs Up, US!"

Anonymous said...

Relative Minor -/- Two MU's dating. Followed by Relative Major -\- When an MU has remarried, and the previous spouse checks onboard six weeks later......

Unknown said...

Bug: another term for the MU insignia on a rating badge, in addition to "harp"

Bob Nolan said...

Quick correction - Autovon is not just a Navy toll free system. I was in the Army in Germany calling the states via Autovon back in 1968. Working in JCSAN (Joint Chiefs of Staff Alerting Network) we had priority lines 24/7. I literally would pull out my address book and say, who do I want to impress tonight with an overseas call; and back then overseas calls were very expensive.