Enforced Sterilization of your tuba?

[tubaguy9]

next thing you know, the new uniform will be a modified HAZMAT suit...

[bearphonium]

If they sterilize all the tubas, where will the new euphoniums come from?

[windshieldbug]

If they sterilize all the tubas, where will the new euphoniums come from?

Is that what's know as a "euphamism" ?

[lgb&dtuba]

This would be an impossible standard to keep or enforce.
You can't keep the students from putting their mouths on each others
mouthpieces.

Nuff Said.
GHB

Or each other!

[peter birch]

a glance on the forum read (in my mind, anyways)

"enforced sterilzation of tubists"


...and that was a bill I'd support. We don't need you people reproducing!

that would be by "TUBA"l ligation....

[TubaRay]

that would be by "TUBA"l ligation....

Which would probably lead to TUBAL litigation.

[sloan]

This would be an impossible standard to keep or enforce.
You can't keep the students from putting their mouths on each other

That, too.

[mammoth2ba]

According to the following Wikipedia page, brass is "naturally germicidal":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass" target="_blank" target="_blank

"Germicidal Properties: The copper in brass makes brass germicidal, via the oligodynamic effect. For example, brass doorknobs disinfect themselves of many bacteria within eight hours.[12] This effect is important in hospitals, but useful in many contexts."

If "self-disinfecting" within 8 hours (overnight), that should obviate any necessity to "sterilize" brass instruments.

[windshieldbug]

... and Wikipedia should be an accepted source for any debate...

(but what about the nickel slides!?)

[Kevin Hendrick]

(but what about the nickel slides!?)

They're an extra five cents each ...

[mammoth2ba]

... and Wikipedia should be an accepted source for any debate...

A quick search of "Oligodynamic effect" will yield numerous corroborating entries (though missing the "comedy" of impugning the source quoted initially), to wit:

http://en.allexperts.com/e/o/ol/oligodynamic_effect.htm" target="_blank

"Oligodynamic effect
The oligodynamic effect (greek oligos = few, dynamis = force ) was discovered in 1893 by the Swiss (Karl Wilhelm von Nägeli) as a toxic effect of metal-ions on living cells, algae, moulds, spores, fungi, virus, prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, even in relatively low concentrations. This antimicrobial effect is shown by ions of:mercury,silver,copper,iron,lead,zinc,bismuth,gold,aluminium and other metals.

Especially heavy metals show this effect. The exact mechanism of action is still unknown. Data from silver suggest that these ions denature proteins (enzymes) of the target cell or organism by binding to reactive groups resulting in their precipitation and inactivation."

I'll leave the additional research to interested members.......

[DavidK]

Rubbing alcohol and a scrubbing brush.
The quantity used and duration of dousing is up to you.

Most mouthpiece "sanitizers" are 50% isopropyl alcohol and 50% mouthwash. Ooooooo - the big secret is out!

More knee jerk reactions........sigh
If governments want to get involved in music programs, they can concentrate on the promotion and support of these programs. Not something that adds frustration and extra work and extra cost to programs that are already taking a huge financial hit.

[dentaltuba]

once some government bureaucrat gets involved ,hang on.common sense is a thing of the past!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OSHA is a nightmare in my profession of dentistry!

[MileMarkerZero]

this is crazy, medical grade sterilisation is a process that requires that the device (or instrument) is cleaned to an internationally accepted standard (if I remember correctly it is EN ISO 15883, which applies to the US as well as Europe) inside and out, and then tested for residual proteins to be sure that it is clean, and then wrapped and exposed to a sterilising agent under controlled conditions, such as steam at a temperature of 134 C and 2 atmosheres of pressure for 3 minutes, or to some noxious chemical such as peracetic acid, either way I don't think a tuba (never mind a clarinet or a bassoon) would survive such a process, not that there are many sterilising machines big enough to accomodate a tuba.
they would be better off suggesting that each student gets a new out of the box instrument, which is not sensible or a new mouthpiece which actually might be.

Apparently, they put the instrument into a, well...a gas chamber and flood it with something akin to an insect fogger. Only it's FDA-approved for sterilizing wind instruments. FDA: WOO-HOO!! I feel all safe and crap now.

[Tuba Guy]

When I was a freshman in hs, I shared a tuba with a senior...she had her own mouthpiece, and I had mine. In that respect, they were always kept clean. Except for the fact that I would always take mine home to practice, and the easiest way to do that was to stick it in my pocket. Which is a lot more sanitary than sharing mouthpieces (sarcasm)

[peter birch]

When I was a freshman in hs, I shared a tuba with a senior...she had her own mouthpiece, and I had mine. In that respect, they were always kept clean. Except for the fact that I would always take mine home to practice, and the easiest way to do that was to stick it in my pocket. Which is a lot more sanitary than sharing mouthpieces (sarcasm)

a good way to go, as far as I am concerned, my mouthpiece rates the same level of care as my toothbrush. I wouldn't want to share the one any more than the other.

[peter birch]

this is crazy, medical grade sterilisation is a process that requires that the device (or instrument) is cleaned to an internationally accepted standard (if I remember correctly it is EN ISO 15883, which applies to the US as well as Europe) inside and out, and then tested for residual proteins to be sure that it is clean, and then wrapped and exposed to a sterilising agent under controlled conditions, such as steam at a temperature of 134 C and 2 atmosheres of pressure for 3 minutes, or to some noxious chemical such as peracetic acid, either way I don't think a tuba (never mind a clarinet or a bassoon) would survive such a process, not that there are many sterilising machines big enough to accomodate a tuba.
they would be better off suggesting that each student gets a new out of the box instrument, which is not sensible or a new mouthpiece which actually might be.

Apparently, they put the instrument into a, well...a gas chamber and flood it with something akin to an insect fogger. Only it's FDA-approved for sterilizing wind instruments. FDA: WOO-HOO!! I feel all safe and crap now.

I think the process would still be too risky (to operators, players and the environment), too expensive and too time consuming.