Choose Your Instrument Wisely

There are many considerations to be made when embarking on the path of learning to play a musical instrument. One rather neglected area of deliberation is the much maligned Health and Safety aspect. I am now going to speak about passive smoking - but that is lunacy I hear you say ? A random leap of insane dimension ? But please I implore , hear me out.

I have never been convinced about the dangers of passive smoking you know. Call me an ostrich if you will, but there is something rather dainty and fey I find, about all that disapproval from the tut-tutting, non-puffing, carrot munching health Gestapo.

The case of the late lamented Roy Castle ( a man who I hold in the highest of regard might I say ) is often cited when arguments about passive smoking go from embers into blazes.

Roy Castle's was a unique case. As a 'trumpeteer' in smoky night clubs for many years, he was particularly vulnerable.

(I apologise in advance for the highly technical nature of the following , but sometimes only pure science can win sway.)

The 'flare' at the end of his trumpet increased the 'suckage up of poison air ratio' by a massive 1000%.

The real tragedy is, if Roy had been a Piccolo player he'd still be alive today.