The Royal Military School of Music in Twickenham, West London trains musicians for the British Army's twenty nine bands. It is part of the Corps of Army Music. Twickenham is a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in the south-west of London It is best known as the home of Twickenham Stadium - the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union. ... Greater London and the Regions of England. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British military. ... The Corps of Army Music is a corps of the British Army. ...

The school is based at Kneller Hall, which was the country house of the court painter Sir Godfrey Kneller, and was rebuilt after a fire in 1848. The school was established in 1857 at the instigation of Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, who was Queen Victoria's cousin and the commander-in-chief of the army. Sir Godfrey Kneller (August 8, 1646 -October 19, 1723) was an artist, court painter to several British monarchs. ... Prince George, Duke of Cambridge - statue on Whitehall, London Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (26 March 1819 - 17 March 1904), was a member of the British Royal Family and army officer who served as commander-in-chief of the British Army from 1856 to 1895. ... Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819–22 January 1901) was a Queen of the United Kingdom, reigning from 20 June 1837 until her death. ...

The school is open to men and women, and the commitment to the army is for a minimum of four years. The Corps of Army Music is the largest employer of musicians in the United Kingdom, and it promotes itself to potential recruits as an opportunity to earn a salary as a musician, something which can be hard to find. The music taught and performed is not restricted to marching music, but also includes jazz, swing, middle-of-the-road, popular, baroque, mainstream symphonic and operatic music.

The Royal Military School of Music Museum at Kneller Hall has a collection of musical instruments, music, documents, prints, manuscripts, paintings and uniforms showing the history of military music which may be viewed by appointment.

External link

Corps of Army Music website (http://www.army.mod.uk/schoolarmymusic/index.htm)