Keep your mouthpiece in your right hand to keep it warm/cool. There's nothing worse than putting the horn up to play and the darned thing is ice cold or scalding hot.
There will/SHOULD be a flag draped over the casket. If this is a civil (civilian-type) ceremony, the religious-authority (preacher/reverend/priest/rabbi/etc) will announce, "We will now pay military honors to the deceased" or something similar. That is when the flag-folding team will move in and ever so slowly take the flag, step back and hold the flag horizontally over the casket. This will be the cue for the next step - which will depend upon if there is a rifle team there or not.
If there is a rifle team, they will begin their three volleys. Hook up with the Sergeant in Charge of the team for his last instructions, just to coordinate. As the Sgt gives the command for READY - bring your trumpet up to your mouth so you can warm it up and get the chops moist - and just blow air lightly into the horn to warm it up... no tooting!! Wait for the THIRD volley - and as the Sergeant orders his team to PRESENT ARMS, which should be within about a second of the third volley - as the word "arms" is fading out, your first note should sail out over the assembly. If you were to SAY it, it would be almost as if you said "PRESENT ARMS TOOT TA TOOOOOOT".
If there ISN'T a rifle squad, hook up with the person in charge of the flag team to coordinate... and then follow along as follows:
As the team steps up to grab the flag, put your horn up to warm it up (no warm-up tones!!!). They'll grab the flag, slowly stand up and then step back to pull the flag flat. It is then that the person in charge will salute - and as the hand touches their hat/forehead, start taps.
All in all, it is 34 seconds of "You'd better not screw this up!!"
To make sure you don't screw it up - all morning, when you are warming up - ONLY start out on the first note of Taps. ONLY play Taps as you are warming up (you don't have to go all the way up to the top note if your lip can't take it), and ALWAYS make sure you let that last note just fade out. This will keep that starting note in your head as you think about starting and help you from starting out on some strange harmonic.
DO NOT LOOK AT ANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE FUNERAL PARTY!!!!! If you do, you may start crying - and that ALWAYS screws up Taps. Until you start, ONLY look at the person from whom you will take your cue to start playing. When you are playing, find a leaf, a window, an outlet, ANYTHING to stare at as if you are staring off 1000 yards away - not at someone. Yeah, I know it's hard, but you gotta do it!
And once you are done, bring your horn down to directly in front of you (bell down), then sag your arms so the horn is in front of your zipper - and bow your head. From here on out - go ahead and cry all you want... Hold the position of respect for at least 10 seconds before you bring the horn up and put it under your left arm. The mouthpiece can either stay in place or take it out - your call.
When you leave, wait for the rifle team or the flag team to depart - and just fall in behind them as if you were part of them. There is no need to march in step (though it does look good).
There's not much else to say - other than, no matter what you plan on, something will change. The team will exit a different direction than planned or something. The key is to make the FAMILY think that you guys practiced to do what they saw for years, so it will be perfect for THEM. Just look professional.
And I really do recommend getting registered with Bugles Across America. It's a great organization!!How should I behave at a military funeral as a bugler?
Play a tune from Michael Jackson. Make all happy.
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How should I behave at a military funeral as a bugler?Basically, stand straight with your heels together, one arm down by your side making a loose fist while the other holds the bugle. Make sure you position yourself away from the services. Far enough away that you can still be heard but it's not loud to the people at the service. You should be standing by yourself pointing toward the service. Remember to play it slow and as smooth as you can. It's a sad song for a sad time.How should I behave at a military funeral as a bugler?I love your question. I first would like to thank you for volunteering, that is very patriotic. I have played the bugle in over 50 funerals in my 21 yrs in the NAVY. They will have a place for you to stand sort of in the background. You will stand with the bugle at your side. Trying to stand as still as possible(without locking your knees) They will let you know ahead of time when to start playing it. You will raise it in a slow sort of manner. Once finished playing taps, you will lower the bugle to your side in the same manner. You will just stand there until the funeral is over. Then be prepared to have the family and friends come and thank you. That is the most rewarding part.How should I behave at a military funeral as a bugler?http://xeml.buglesacrossamerica.org/inde鈥?/a>
http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/celebrate鈥?/a>
http://www.ehow.com/how_2157486_play-tap鈥?/a>How should I behave at a military funeral as a bugler?
Like you would at any funeral, respectfully.
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