Graham Stevenson, Drum Major of the Royal Marine Band Scotland

There really is no better feeling than marching out in front of a big audience. All the members of the band put so much work in behind the scenes and it’s great that people appreciate what we do.

I live in Tillicoultry, Clarkmannanshire, with my wife Victoria and five-year-old son James, but I’m originally a Yorkshire lad. I’m a drummer and bugler and like most of those who join the Royal Marines Band Service (RMBS) I started as a child playing in youth and cadet bands. I joined the Royal Marines Band Service straight from school in 1990, following in the footsteps of others from my youth band.

Being in the band provides balance – it’s not all about the music and it’s not all about the military. It is a mix of both. I’m biased but I think we are one of the best – if not the best – military bands in the world. That’s part of the attraction when you're young – I think you always want to be part of the best.

Throughout the year we’re primarily involved in music, supporting the Royal Navy on engagements, doing concerts for charity and military tattoos around the world. But we are also trained military personnel. We initially do 15 weeks of basic training, then we train with the Royal Marine Commandos. After that recruits go to Portsmouth for music training.

Band members have to keep up their Royal Marine training and most are also skilled for roles such as casualty handling, ambulance driving, working in the transport section or being a radio operator.

I’ve been deployed to Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, and on these occasions I was primarily involved in supporting military operations. It’s interesting because initially when the band get deployed on operations other Marines sometimes look at you a bit funny, as if to say 'who are these guys?' But once they realise that you can do what is asked of you, they’re fine. There’s always plenty of good banter, as you can imagine.

In Afghanistan we put together a rock band and entertained the guys. When you’re in such a full-on environment for months at a time it’s good for those at the front line to get a bit of down time. It was a really good thing to be able to do.

My role as drum major is varied. As well as maintaining discipline and choreographing marching displays I make sure the standard of drill, dress and bearing are at the highest level at all times and ensure everything is on the ball performance-wise.

I think experience is very important to being a good drum major. I’ve been in the band service for nearly 27 years and I’ve seen others in this role before me and learned from them. You’ve got to be able to listen to people, understand what they are telling you and communicate well.

The Glasgow Tattoo at The Hydro is my first big event as band major and I’m really excited, particularly because the venue is so amazing.

Entertaining people is what it’s all about – you want every single member of the audience to enjoy what they are seeing. That’s down to the hard work and skills of the 52 men and women in the band. It’s their job to produce and perform music to the very highest standard day in, day out, but put them in front of a big audience and it brings out the best in them.

Obviously this is a brand new event, but our previous experience at tattoos is that the people who come to see them are very knowledgeable – they know what to look for and what they like. We can’t wait to perform.

The Herald is media partner of The Glasgow Tattoo. Visit www.theglasgowtattoo.com