MOTUnation.com

First reported case of a fatality from 'Bagpipe Lung'.

While the trigger for the disease was initially a mystery, a series of clues led doctors to discover that the cause was most likely a collection of fungi living inside the man’s bagpipes.

MLC you haven't come up with a comment ???

Saw this on New Scientist. Confession: I actually like bagpipes, but only as a weapon.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/21 ... musicians/

You guys beat me to the punch on that one.

kgdrum wrote:MLC you haven't come up with a comment ???

Don't encourage him!

<sigh>

MIDI Life Crisis wrote:<sigh>

Was that you sighing, or your bagpipes?

And Shoosh beat me to the punch on that one.

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

I've played trombone for .... (omg) 40 years, now.

I've always done very regular cleanings. With a trombone, the slide only works well when clean, and it sounds better. I now play two trombones and practice trumpet some. Keeping three horns clean is a little more time consuming, but it's not too bad since they are all well-maintained.

To add to the madness, I also clean instruments at a local music store for side income. So I do this quite a lot. From what I can tell, most kids don't clean their instruments sufficiently, some not at all. It's cool that this store cares enough to make sure these instruments are carefully and properly cleaned before sending them out again.

I wonder if the bagpiper cleaned his instrument at all, or just insufficiently?

A few months ago I arrived at a midnight show. The piano keys were covered in blood! The player before me is apparently know for his brutal methods. I hope he eventually bleeds to death, just not before me gig. Twenty minutes of scrubbing cleaned it up, but what a jerk.

Sheeesh. That's a drag. Could have left you an apology note at least.

How do you clean the bag on bagpipes?

That's my bag, baby.