Try your hand at composing a lockdown lullaby!

Army Cadet Music wants to get everyone writing a tune for the Corps of Drums or Bugle Platoon, Pipes and Drums and Military Bands. Entries can be submitted either handwritten or computer programme generated.

Titles such as Lockdown Lullaby, COVID Madness or The COVID Calypso are encouraged.

A neutral panel of judges will be promulgated, and that decision is final. First and second prizes will be awarded to the best overall composition, and an additional prize for the best effort, by a cadet in each of the three categories below:

• Pipes and Drums
• Corps of Drums/Bugles
• Military Bands

A Prize will also be awarded to the best overall composition by an CFAV in their respective categories.

Bands Criteria

• Key should be F, Bb or Eb Major or relative Minor
• Melody should be 4/4 or 12/8 time or a march in 2/4 or 6/8
• All pieces may have a short introduction of four or eight bars, 32 bars are recommended, excluding repeated sections
• No change of tempo or time signature
• If required, a pause at the end can be included

Corps of Drums/Bugle Criteria

• Key should be G Major or D Major for Corps of Drums
• Melody should be 4/4 or 12/8 time or a march in 2/4 or 6/8
• All pieces may have a short introduction of four or eight bars, 32 bars are recommended, excluding repeated sections
• No change of tempo or time signature
• If required, a pause at the end can be included

Pipes & Drums Criteria

• Pipe or drum score should be of no less than 16 bars (32 bars or more recommended, excluding first or second timings)
• No time signature changes
• Can be of any style tune

All entries must have the details of the composer/arranger along with name, age (if a cadet), star level (if a cadet), detachment and county, battalion or sector.

Closing date is the 8 January 2021. Any questions should be directed to Major Tex Calton MBE or Maj Ross Munro.