Monday, December 21, 2009

Music hath charms


The trombone section at our last concert (we do clean up nice, don't we?)

Music therapy has been shown to help cancer patients, though music therapists always issue two warnings -- first, that music doesn't take the place of traditional therapies, and second, that it should be carried out under the care of a qualified professional. I think they're saying "Don't try this at home." They don't say anything about school gyms, churches, community centers, or any of the other places we've played during our Christmas season.

And it's been wonderful.

Therapeutic, too. Who could ask for anything healthier than to make joyful noises with a bunch of people who don't wince when I accidentally miss an accidental, who make jokes at the right (and sometimes the wrong) moments, and who seem to be having as much fun as I am? Trombonists, or at least the ones I know, don't suffer from the competitiveness of trumpet players, the ego of flutists, or the nerves of double reed players.

Not all music-making is therapeutic, though. A Romanian high school student of mine once warned me that it is a well-known fact, in Romania at least, that all bassoon players eventually go mad. It's something about the way the vibrations hit the nerves in the chest. He told me that trombone players don't have to worry about going mad, because you have to be crazy to take up the trombone in the first place. Nice to have one less thing to worry about.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

You do look like you are having fun, making a joyful noise and all that. Have a very merry Christmas!

Uncle Jerry said...

Yeah, I've played bassoon for years and haven't noticed any madness madness madness madness

Blue Spruce said...

"The wedding guest then beat his breast, for he heard the loud bassoon." (Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

Keith Fiala said...

It's really funny what kind of ism's certain instruments cause players to hvae. Ego for trumpet and guitar for sure (I'm a trumpeter). I try to avoid the ism's as much as I can!

Great articles!

Sincerely,

Keith Fiala
www.brassplayersolution.com
www.trumpetresources.com

Katie :o) said...

Oh, Lucie! I love your blog! You have a great voice! (You play a pretty decent trombone, too!)

Arctic-mermaid said...

What a great thing for you to do and to be able to share the joy of music.
Happy Holidays.