“...The smaller ships are not allowed a band, but are provided with a “musician" instead. It seems unkind of the Admiralty to draw this distinction between “bandsmen” and “musicians.” It reminds one of Yum Yum's remark in “The Mikado,” that she knew the Prince was no musician the first time she heard him play in the band. There is no justification, however, in this case for such a distinction, as the "musician” is generally drawn from the ranks of the of the bandmen. He is the descendant of the old time “ship's fiddler,” and “must be able to play the violin, fife, or other suitable instrument”; suitable, that is, to amuse the men with in the evenings, and to play lively tunes on while they heave round the capstan or hoist the boats.

A bandsman must be over eighteen years of age, and be able to produce “a good tone on a principal instrument, to play a solo of moderate difficulty, and to read music well enough to take part in a band.” For this he is paid is. 7d. a day, with 2d. per day extra if he performs the duties of barber or tailor. He may, however, rise to the rank of chief bandmaster, whose Service pay is generally augmented by subscriptions from the officers; and he enjoys the distinction, if it be any comfort to him, of belonging to the only rank in the Service, with the exception of officers' servants, in which foreigners are permitted to join Her Majesty's Navy.”
[Music in the Navy, Navy & Army Illustrated, Stockholm, 4 June, 1898]