The audience were waving their arms along to Land of Hope and Glory

　　Musician Emma Peacock plays flute and piccolo in The Band and Bugles of The Rifles. She has been in the band for a year and a half, having completing Phase 1 training at ATR Pirbright and Phase 2 at The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.
When first asked to write a blog for The Band and Bugles of The Rifles, I didn’t know where to start. Being an Army Musician is my job and my lifestyle, why would that interest anyone else? Then I realised just how unique and great this job is and I couldn’t wait to take up the task.
But first you need to know who I am. My name is Musician Emma Peacock and I play flute and piccolo in the RIFLES band.

Currently the band is on a coach on the way to Norwich Cathedral to do a concert with the male vocal group Blake, in aid of the Royal British Legion, one of our many jobs for that charity. Quite a lot of our time is spent on a coach, but you get used to it.
Recently we’ve been to South Korea for the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of the Imjin River and we have just returned from Leiden in Holland, both very long journeys but worth it.
In Leiden we did a musical Tattoo, a concert and a couple of very long parades. We worked alongside the European USA Army Band, a Polish band and many others. The concert consisted of a set from each band and we included some typical bugle pieces and traditional British pieces. The audience were standing and waving their arms along to Land of Hope and Glory, which was an amazing moment. Communication and translation was sometimes an issue, however I think we all did a brilliant job.
The parades we did were 4 and 5 km, so took a long time, but the atmosphere was great. We were in amongst floats and there were bands, bikes, cars, people in fancy dress, children and animals, all partying the night away. Obviously, staying away together we went out to explore the local area and socialised over a couple of drinks. It’s times like these that make you realise that this is not a normal job with colleagues, but you’re also working with friends.
Between coming back from Holland and coming to Norwich we have been busy doing full band rehearsals for today’s programme. After this job we have a few days off to make up for last weekend and then we’re ready for more band rehearsals and a Pass off Parade next Friday.