another good reason to clean your instrument

[sousaphone68]

Saw this tonight had never heard of saxophone lung until now.
I may have to increase the frequency of washing out my tubas from once a year to twice or three times a year.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4221368" target="_blank

[Closetgeek]

eewwww

(reminds me...I got a Sax out on loan...might have to ask the kid to have it sanitized...)

[bigtubby]

sousaphone68, love your six place tandem w/sousaphone. Puts me in mind of the Dutch Army Bicycle Band (wonder where one can acquire alto, tenor and baritone helicons?)

[bttmbow]

I feel for the snare drum player, and the glockenspiel player in this band; what a challenge! I wonder why there are no trombones... : /

[royjohn]

I have read about this in other forums and I believe there was one report of an infection from a trombone, but I don't think there was more than one. Most of the problems have evidently been in wooden instruments. IDK when the name saxophone lung was given to this syndrome, but it may have been when the mouthpieces or even the saxes themselves, had wooden parts.

Brass instruments are made of metal that is 70% or more copper. Recent research has focused on using copper in medical settings because it is germicidal. I believe brass door hardware is also, to some extent. While I haven't seen any studies on it, I would assume that the interior of brass instruments is somewhat protected from bacteria and fungi as long as the surface isn't completely and thickly covered with organic matter in which germs can grow. I think the trombone player let the horn get covered in the interior with gunk in which the bacteria and fungi grew.

Many parts of a tuba may dry out between playing sessions. I think as long as you take reasonable care of your instrument in not allowing it to get full of organic material or so wet that such breeds in the instrument, I don't think you're going to get respiratory diseases from it. Don't eat while playing enough to blow a lot of food into it. Cleaning it out to keep it reasonably smooth and unblocked in the interior should keep bacteria and mold and fungi from growing in the horn. A professional cleaning or a good soak with vinegar or something like Horn Flush once in a while should be all that is needed. Just use your head and examine the horn to see if there are places where water and debris collect and give those special attention if needed. If the horn is played a lot and stays wet and has crooks that don't drain, obviously you need to clean more often.

This is just my opinion, but I think it's a reasonable one based on the known facts. I'd be interested in any further info about this issue.

[bigbob]

[quote="bigtubby"]sousaphone68, love your six place tandem w/sousaphone. Puts me in mind of the Dutch Army Bicycle Band (wonder where one can acquire alto, tenor and baritone helicons?)
[Great stuff bigtubby... Is this a new group or is this an old clip?Why would you want a band like that?? They sounded pretty good but I feel they could be sooo much better..... I liked it......................................BB

[bort]

My best advice -- clean it before it stinks, not after.

[MikeW]

The trombonist's problem was fixed by judicious application of alcohol (duh..to the instrument).

Google "Farmer's lung" for a similar condition caused by exposure to mouldy hay; I guess those woodwinds must be getting fungus growing on their reeds ( "which in your case, you haven't got" - this is from "The Naming of Parts", by Henry Reed ) so as long as you keep your instrument reasonably clean, your major risk factor is demon lawn trimmings.

[sousaphone68]

I like the clean it before it stinks advice.

I think my cleaning routine suits the playing schedule that my tubas live under.
I saw the Huff Post article on my bands face book page and thought I would share it here as it's always nice to see musicians and their potential problems mentioned in non musician forums and media.

But thanks to Royjohn for his full post looking to re assure every one.

[bigtubby]

sousaphone68, love your six place tandem w/sousaphone. Puts me in mind of the Dutch Army Bicycle Band (wonder where one can acquire alto, tenor and baritone helicons?)
[Great stuff bigtubby... Is this a new group or is this an old clip?Why would you want a band like that?? They sounded pretty good but I feel they could be sooo much better..... I liked it......................................BB

I think it's pretty current. And RE: "Why?" I think it's an exhibition unit. Like color guards, Thunderbirds, Snow Birds, Blue Angels and the like.

The discipline impressed me. And they don't sound bad at all IMHO considering the circumstances.