Canadian Forces School of Music

{{short description|Music school of the Canadian Armed Forces}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

The Canadian Forces School of Music, CFSM (French language: École de musique des Forces canadiennes, EMFC) was an educational institution that supported the music branch and all Canadian military bands in the Canadian Forces. It was created in 1954 in Esquimalt, British Columbia for musicians of the Royal Canadian Navy, with the school being the Canadian equivalent of the United States Armed Forces School of Music and the Royal Military School of Music. In 1961, the school was expanded and rebranded to include musicians from the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force, and by the time of the Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces in February 1968, the school had officially been renamed to the CFSM. For its entire existence, the CFSM was located at CFB Borden{{Cite web|url=http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?i=1&index=alt&srchtxt=ECOLE%20MUSIQUE%20FORCES%20CANADIENNES|title = ECOLE%20MUSIQUE%20FORCES%20CANADIENNES [ ] - TERMIUM Plus® — Recherche - TERMIUM Plus®|date = 8 October 2009}} in Ontario and offered enrolled students with a two-year educational program until it was disestablished in 1991. Enrollment varied with the requirement for musicians. The school also gave a one-year program to CF musicians with experience in the music branch who wish to serve in leadership positions in CF bands. Personnel of the Regular Force who wish to be qualified to as a pipe major have to attend a year long course at the CFSM in order be appointed to the post.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-forces-school-of-musicecole-de-musique-des-forces-canadiennes-emc|title=Canadian Forces School of Music/École de musique des Forces canadiennes | The Canadian Encyclopedia|website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}

A notable instructor at the EMFC includes James Gayfer who was the director of the Band of the Canadian Guards from 1953-1961.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rn6pRc_I_OAC&q=%C3%89cole+de+musique+des+Forces+canadiennes&pg=PA231|title=La feuille d'erable et la Croix-Blanche|first=Christopher|last=McCreery|date=March 3, 2010|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=9781770707108|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cSzbMEehkqQC&q=band+of+The+Canadian+Guards&pg=PA77 | title=Canadian Band Music: A Qualitative Guide to Canadian Composers and Their Works for Band| isbn=9781574630879| last1=Burch-Pesses| first1=Michael| date=January 2008| publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation}} CF's musical training establishment of today is known as the Logistics Training Centre Music Division of the Royal Canadian Logistics Service.