Musicians that blow... beware of 'Bagpipe Lung'

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Leave me out of this. I was dragged into this discussion kicking and farting...

[tomf]

Funny thing, when I taught private lessons half a life ago while working my way through college, I played on all my students' setups to see what kinds of problems they were having. (you can tell a lot about their problems by playing on their reed, mouthpiece, and horn) I NEVER got sick. I think it inoculated me from all that was going around. It's odd that I did that; I grew up not even wanting to breathe the air of someone who walked past my desk, so it was a real about-face for me. (about-face means turn around 180 degrees, for those who are too young for military/marching band terminology)

However, one day a particularly lousy student sounded even lousier than usual. This time I didn't play on his setup. I took the reed off to look at it. It was thick in green, furry mold, and had live maggots on it. From that day on, I never played on someone else's mouthpiece without scrubbing it with soap and water, and I NEVER played their reeds. I even hesitated to play their horns, but there IS a certain amount you can learn by doing that, so I'd have to do it. The image of that guy's reed just never went away. In 1981, I quit teaching kids. I taught college students at U of North Texas for a few years, but I realized I could put that time to much better use by practicing. I think that one experience had a lot to do with that decision.

Shoosh

That is so gross!!!!!