Is Trumpet Playing Good or Bad for your Health or Body?
David Clark
trumpet and any health hazards or physical problems that it might
create; maybe even some ways it can benefit your health or physical
longevity. I wonder what the average age of the deceased pro trumpet
players is because they would have played more than anyone and this
figure would be a good measurement. I know that some players have
mentioned the possibility of strokes; are strokes more prevelent in
trumpet players or is there any way that we can guard against having
them?
David Clark
Tommy T.
studies is that trumpet playing raises the blood pressure in most if not all
players. This implies an increase in the problems which are caused by or
made worse by high blood pressure, such as stroke and glaucoma. On the
other hand, trumpet playing seems to improve pulmonary function which
implies a benefit where improved pulmonary function is important, including
increased oxygenation of the blood (and generally healthier tissue as a
result) and less stress on the heart.
In people who do not already have a tendency or problem, like glaucoma, the
effect of trumpet playing is probably lost in the background noise of
different genetic, environmental and life style factors.
While it is never safe to generalize, it is probably the case that people
whose careers are music are less active and fit than people whose careers
are ski instructors. Amateurs whose interests gravitate to playing music
(or bridge) are probably, on average, less active and fit than amateurs
whose interests gravitate toward white water kayaking. This muddies the
waters of analysis.
There are plenty of famous cases of trumpet players dying young, but
generally from life style abuses or outright accidents.
There are also plenty of long lived players who tour professionally well
past the usual retirement years. The lady who sits next to me in the
Lexington (MA) community band has been playing cornet for 75 years, as of
last summer. My Dad still plays, in private, at age 85.
Tommy T.
"David Clark" <timb...@aol.com> wrote in message
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Gordon Hudson
Playing a narrow wind instrument improves breath control
which benefits people who suffer from asthma.
It used to be common for doctors to recommend
brass and woodwind playing for children with these difficulties.
Gordon
Catzz66
and drug abuse. You probably cannot generalize a category of just trumpet
players.
William E. Graham
Somebody told me once that trumpet players are more likely to get lip
cancer than the average person, but I have never seen any official
statistics that verify this, and I have no idea just what was meant by,
"more likely".
Steve Ricks
workout. Raises up the heart rate, works a number of muscles. Sure is more
fun than jogging. I haven't played for a few years and feel I would be in
better health if I had.
On another line of reasoning, if you have to "go," it may as well be why
playing.
Charles Hargett
William E. Graham <we...@attbi.com> wrote in message
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Eric Bolvin
trumpet player that died of a heart attack. Perhaps others can list some.
Trumpet players do suffer from other types of non-lethal health problems
like hernias which are quite common and neck and back problems which are
also common. Although hernias are common in all men, many trumpet players do
get them and trumpet playing can aggravate them, most notably the navel
type.
Back and neck problems can be caused by playing with a tilted head or other
posture problems.
As far as strokes go; even though your head may feel like it's gonna explode
at the end of a long phrase, rest assured that it probably will not. But get
that breath anyway.
Eb
--
Eric Bolvin
Trumpet, Arranger, Composer, Educator
SF Bay Area
Hear our new CD at
http://www.bolvinmusic.com
http://www.mp3.com/EricBolvin
408.236.2009
"David Clark" <timb...@aol.com> wrote in message
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Dave Lee
>playing.
I always said that when I 'go', I want to be either hunting, fishing,
or....well, I can't say it here.
Robert DeSavage
I feel OK even though I play. Sometimes though I think the sickness
was there BEFORE the fact. That is to say, sick in the head to wanna
play in the first place.
ONLY KIDDING GUYS AND GALS
Catzz66
Without a connection to a carcinogen, like those in tobacco, I would doubt it.
When I was quitting smoking, I tried that snuff stuff a few times and thought
man, this is not someting I oughta be doing, and quit that too. I know some,
but not too many brass players I know smoke anymore.
Robert DeSavage
While I'm not trying to be a crusader or what you call a 'reformed
smoker', there are other health hazards related to smoking that are
not as well known as lung cancer. For example, Raynaud's 'disease' is
a circulation disorder that effects the extremities, mainly the finger
tips. Numbness and discoloration from the reduced circulation are the
symptoms of Raynaud's. Naturally, the colder and damper it is, the
higher likelihood of getting an attack. This can also happen during
the summer months where (believe it or not), I've had to wear gloves
to relieve the numbness. According to my rheumatologist, smoking and
Raynaud's is a deadly combination. It took me years to have the
willpower to quit smoking, but I finally did last May. Knock on wood.
Although I've been taking medication that has given me relief from the
symptoms, the fact that I quit smoking made the relief something
dramatic. In conclusion, but not meant to create panic, a worse case
scenario of having Raynaud's is that the circulation can be so bad
that some people (including Moi) have lost parts of their fingertips
due to gangrene. It's like this as explained by the doc - If you
develop an infection on one of your fingertips, while the body will
have the ability to fight the infection, you need even MORE
circulation in that region to carry away the results of the 'battle'.
With Raynaud's you're at best behind the eight ball. I hope this helps
to shed a little light on what else smoking can do.
jazz...@hotmail.com
> I think trumpet is good for cardio. I find it very difficult to think of a
> trumpet player that died of a heart attack. Perhaps others can list some.
Steve Jensen, former co-leader of the Chicago Jazz Members Big Band, comes
to mind. Nobody else offhand for me, tho.
There's a book out that lists the cause of death of major jazz musicians
(in great detail), maybe even the various health problems that may have
contributed. Of course, jazz musicians have traditionally had so many
other contributing factors that heart disease is probably too slow and
plodding....
I quit smoking (again) about three years ago, and I'm glad I did. I get
enough of it second-hand that I don't need any more.
--
Jeff Helgesen
http://www.shout.net/~jmh/
Doc
> Have any of you guys seen any studies related to people that play
> trumpet and any health hazards or physical problems that it might
> create;
Well, consider this. EVERY cornet player who played in the Marine
Corps band under John Phillip Sousa is dead.
Coincidence? I think not!
Tommy T.
>>Corps band under John Phillip Sousa is dead.
I'm so glad I never joined the Marines. At least I won't have to worry
about that.
Tommy T.
Doc
William E. Graham
"Robert DeSavage" <alle...@attbi.comnospam> wrote in message
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Yes....This condition is not helped by diabetes, which I have.....I quit
smoking 20 years ago this August....Best thing I ever did for my
health.....I did it "cold turkey", which is the only way to go.....I
never got over the desire to smoke....All I did was get used to the
pain....Even today, 20 years since I have had a drag of any tobacco,
when I am in a restaurant, and I see some cat light up a cigar after a
nice meal, the old desire comes back..........
THEOldMan
and this is probably true. I smoked for about 30 years and finally
about 4 years ago I told my doctor that I needed a prescription for
Nicotrol which I had seen on TV. This is the "crutch" that looks like
a cigarette holder. He said I had tried everything and this probably
wouldn't work for me. I told him it was my money ... write the
prescription. He did .. I did .. and within about 10 days I had quit
smoking. Another couple of months and i quit craving. I was playing
baritone in a community band and noticed that walking up the walk to
the rehearsal hall the thing was about to kill me and I had to sit and
rest at the top of the hill. A year after I quit the smoking I told
the doc that my breathing was getting worse rather than better. He
referred me to a pulmonologist and after some tests, x-ray, MRI I
found that I had quit a few years too late ... emphysema. I could not
continue to play ... just had no breath to do it.
If you smoke ... QUIT!
Sermon's over. Tim! Would you take up the collection, please and
keep your usual 10%.
dd
David Clark
> John Philip Sousa that is.. (one "l")
Guys:
Unless we are using fuzzy math; anyone in John Phillips Souza Band
would be 110 years old wouldn't they?
Everyone seems like they smoke but my question was "Do you know any
University or Instituition that has ever done any studies that would
consider trumpet players health, either benefits or harm?
David Clark
Robert DeSavage
The San Francisco College of Mortuary Science 8-)
David Clark
Tommy:
Thanks, you gave a terrific answer but many of the guys on down went
off on smoking for some reason; I guess there are a lot of trumpet
players that smoke but I have never started the habit. I bet if I
looked in the right studies that they separated musicians by
occupation and it would show what I am asking.
I feel my lungs hurt a litte when i have played a lot so I have to
assume that he expands and helps the lungs, so it would have to help
the blood supply to the heart but thanks for your time and good
answer. If you read some of the answers past yours, you will forget
what the question was for sure.
David Clark
David Clark
Mike:
No one really mentioned to much in this thread about strokes. I was
reading a thread by someone a while back that said something about
straining playing high notes could cause strokes. Is that true? If
so, you guys better quit playing so high.
David Clark
Doc
> Guys:
> Unless we are using fuzzy math; anyone in John Phillips Souza Band
> would be 110 years old wouldn't they?
Sousa was the director of the Marine band until 1892. They would have
to have been old enough to be in the Marines, and playing long enough
to play really well. So they would have had to be at least around 18
or 20 years old in 1892.
111 years, plus 20 would make them 131.
Robert DeSavage
Back in those days you could be 14 and be in the military.
Does it count that I'm 58 and feel like I'm 131?
BOB
jazz...@hotmail.com
Are you sure it's your lungs and not your abdominals (and the muscles
surrounding the trunk)? Your lungs are basically just sacs that get
stretched open by the chest muscles and pushed closed by natural
contraction or muscular force.
jazz...@hotmail.com
>
> No one really mentioned to much in this thread about strokes. I was
> reading a thread by someone a while back that said something about
> straining playing high notes could cause strokes. Is that true? If
> so, you guys better quit playing so high.
I know guys who look like they'll stroke out playing a G above the
staff. What's your advice to them?
David Clark
Robert:
Are you kidding or serious? In reference to the other guys response
about them being in Sousa's Band, 131 years old wouldn't be very good
for your health, trumpet playing or not.
David Clark
David Clark
Bob:
Yeah, I heard that they were looking for someone that was in his band
but they were having a tough time finding anyone; I wonder where they
are?
Dave Cardarelli
Before that, I would have a little soreness which I guess was muscles. No
longer have I noticed that, so I appears that sit-ups have strengthened
these muscles somewhat.
Dave C.
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Robert DeSavage
At that age, I'd be more worried that I'd have to cut down my sexual
escapades to once a night.
I'm sure that a few trumpet players have 'matriculated' at the
College. Like they say, if they weren't dead when they got there,
they will be by the time they leave. 8-)
Doc
> >
> >111 years, plus 20 would make them 131.
>
> Back in those days you could be 14 and be in the military.
I doubt that anyone would be good enough to play under Sousa at age
14, I could be wrong though... Besides, , if they went in at 14,
assuming that then as now even bandsmen had to go through boot, by the
time they got through it they might have turned 15 or he might have
retired depending on when Sousa actually conducted his last Marine
Band concert. But hey! If some 14 year old were in his band in 1892,
they'd only be a spry 125!
> Does it count that I'm 58 and feel like I'm 131?
I have it on good authority you don't look a DAY over 103....
M Dennett
plating intact.
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William E. Graham
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bigtiny
them if I had)...
I think trumpet playing, for the most part, has to be VERY beneficial
to one's health:
- it's aerobic
- it fosters concentration
- to do it well, one must be (and stay) in pretty good shape
- and most of all, playing my horn just makes me FEEL good. I remember
reading an interview with Doc Cheatam where he said that he got up in
the morning and played his horn and he felt good all day, and NOTHING
else made him feel that way. He was doing into his nineties, so there
must have been something to it =:-)
I think what's far more detrimental is the musician's typical
lifestyle. I think it's sort of like being a heroin addict...the drug
itself doesn't degrade the body at all, but the accompanying lifestyle
kills you...same with music...the travelling, lack of insurance, bad
food, playing in smoky clubs, fatigue, etc. are what gets to you....
bigtiny
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Tommy T.
"bigtiny" <big...@mac.com> wrote > - it's aerobic
Only if you are adopting a meaning for "aerobic" that is not at all
consistent with how it is used by coaches, trainers, week-end athletes,
Olympic runners and mountaineers.
If you are getting an aerobic workout from trumpet playing, you need to buy
Roddy's book.
Tommy T.
Tommy T.
Ellis Workman of
TPIN for this
url to an article
by an MD on the
subject.
http://www.mmaonline.net/publications/MNMed2003/February/Meyer.html
Tommy T.
Donald L. Winters
Great article. Thanks for calling it to our attention. It should set
our collective mind at ease.
Don Winters
"Tommy T." <thomas....@att.net> wrote in message
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Ed Grant
read) KIDDING!!!! @,@
"Donald L. Winters" <Donald.L...@Vanderbilt.edu> wrote in message
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Steve Ricks
truly scientific studies on health and trumpet playing. Might make a good
Master's thesis. Hey, maybe we could charge more for lessons --not only are
you learning music, we are improving your health!
Years ago I had a high school student who investigated lung capacity of band
(wind) students vs. athletes vs. nonathletes non bands students. Students
were matched on a number of variables like age, sex, etc. The band students
and athletes showed similar lung capacities -significantly beating the non
athletes/non band students.
Lots of design problems with the study, but not bad for a high school
student.
Steve Ricks
"Tommy T." <thomas....@att.net> wrote in message
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