Brass Band Logo

NJH Music Logo

Some of the contents of the pages on this site are Copyright © 2016 NJH Music
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Brain Dead (was Re: Nerve Damage)

> 
> I would just like to thank Carole Spry for being one of the few persons
that
> has taken responsibility for her instrument.  I didn't understnad why
> everyone was complaining about there health injuries due to their
instrument.
>  If it was causing you physical pain, then find a way around it.  It is
your
> choice to play that instrument, no one is forcing them to play it.
> Nicole Wagoner
> 

I assume the message in the above was directed partially at myself as I
started this thread by pointing out a variety of injuries that may result
in playing an instrument. Allow me to point out that my original message
should have been taken in a humorous and sarcastic light but with a serious
message in it. Incorrect posture and breathing can be quite dangerous and
damaging to your health. It is the responsibility of teachers to get new
players to hold the instruments and breath properly. Several of our
training band members are terrible for sitting crossed legged and holding
their cornets pointed into their navels. We are forever pointing out that
this is bad for them and results in a bad tone when playing. 

As Carol pointed out the correct way to lift objects is to bend down and
lift with your legs. Many brass players do not do this, potentially
resulting in back injuries. Strictly speaking anything you lift should be
done properly whether it be music from a pad or a mute on the floor. What I
was trying to hilight was the ludicrousness of the situation where a Band
follows such advice. After playing, each player would have to stand up,
bend properly to put the instrument down or lift it, and replace the music,
this would then be repeated when the band was ready to play again. If you
are a Bass player, like me, this should be done with aid from someone, 
obviously I could not help another Bass player to lift their instrument
while holding mine. I would guess my Bass weighs about 35-40 Lbs, certainly
over the limit allowed for one person to safely lift by themselves. It
would take several minutes for a band doing all this to ready itself for
the next piece of music and would look comical to say the least.

Like Carol I am a vertically challenged, for a male of the species, and
have problems lugging my Bb Bass in its case so I normally drag on its
wheels. As there is only a 1-2" clearance from the floor it makes lifting
the instrument up stairs very difficult as I have to lift it on one arm,
and this places a strain on my back due to misbalanced wieghting. Due to my
previous back injury this can be painfull. There is though no simple way
two people can lift a large Bb Bass, the shape is wrong,  so I have to live
with it. If I feel my back being stressed I simply put the instrument down
and rest. Both our Eb players are female and one is retired. They are lucky
in that their husbands lug the instruments for them,  the Eb's are also
about 10-15 Lb lighter as well. 

As I also pointed out the sound volume a Band puts out probably exceeds the
safety limits for industrial noise. I suspect that a case could be made to
require Brass Bandspeople to have to wear ear defenders when playng ff of
fff. Which as I tried to say would be a funny state of affairs. Certainly
one of the Bands neighbours has a problem with the noise (not music :) ) we
make and has threatened to report us to the councils noise pollution
department. But he also complains about car exhaust fumes coming through
the fence and poisining his bedding plants as well. You just can't please
everyone.

Dave (likes a 10 minute Tai-Chi warm up before playing) Barlow 
Forget a Yard of Ale, try the Bass of Ale. 


--
unsubscribe or receive the list in digest form, mail a message of 'help' to
listserver@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Services] [Contact Us] [Advertise with us] [About] [Tell a friend about us] [Copyright © 2016 NJH Music]