The smell of cigarette smoke has always made my allergies worse, and I’ve never understood the pleasure smoking seems to be for smokers. I’ve been THRILLED that our city recently banned smoking in restaurants, pubs, etc. Now, I can actually breathe during the session. I don’t know how long this ban will hold up, but while it does, I’m a happy camper. It’s just the best thing for everyone’s health.
My grandmother died of emphesema (sp?). She was never a smoker, but lived with my grandfather who smoked their entire married life. Second-hand smoke can defintely kill as well as first hand.
I used to work with schizophrenics. Those guys smoke a lot. I got used to being indoors with people smokers. Once we scrubbed the apartment top-to-bottom. It was really gross the liquid goo that slowly drips down any metal surface in a heavy-smokers home. Cooties. Yep. But I was and still am against all the heavy taxes they keep putting on cigarettes. Too much burden on those poor folks with mental illnesses. But I do like the ban on smoking in public places. It’s nice to be able to taste your food and breathe while you eat.
Quit smoking. The effect of smoking on lung capacity is well documented, so its logical to conclude that getting off the butts will help to improve your playing. Of course there are very accomplished flute players who smoke like tilts (Peter Horan for example), but they do so in spite of their habit.
I kicked a pack & a half a day habit two years ago. It was really hard (and still is sometimes). I loved to smoke and if i was told tommorow that I had six months to live, the first thing I’d do is go out an buy a carton of smokes. However, the health benefits aside, just the positive effect that quitting has had on my playing has been enough to keep me off the butts.
The research says that most people will notice some improvement in their breathing almost immediately after quitting, and then gradually improve over 6-12 months. That’s about what i experienced.
I managed to quit for about six months a year ago and did notice a difference in my playing. Just didn’t need as many breaths; my fella thought my tone was better, too.
My mother died of complications from emphysema, yet here I am, still at it. Stupid, stupid, stupid … addicted. They say it’s worse than cocaine. Don’t know about that, but I haven’t had a drink in 10 years yet I still struggle with the smokes.
i had a pack and a half habit a day since i was 16 yrs. old. (20 yrs.) tried everything to quit. finally 15 yrs. ago i saw this woman and hadn’t had any desire to smoke since:
proper exercise definitely will build stamina, it’s never too late too start. in one year’s time of consistent effort, you will be amazed at the results, you will feel like a completely new person.
Actually, lung “capacity” is less affected than the ability to exchange oxygen w/ carbon dioxide. The actual capacity of the lungs is affected less than their compliance and ability to maintain adequate gas exchange. Not everyone’s gas exchange is affected in the same way, hence the abilities of McGoldrick, Horan et al. Plus they have killer embouchures I’m sure.
Well, I tried putting a coffee bag in my wooden whistle, and left it in for a while (about 1 to 1 1/2 hours) in the mouthpiece, then the same in the tone hole section. It worked! Now my whistle smells like coffee, and even though I’m not an avid coffee drinker, this smell is so much better than cigarette smell. Thank you, Kevin!
A suggestion/request to smokers: If you want to try someone’s whistle /flute, be curteous, and don’t ask to do it while you’re smoking. Wait a while, take a breath mint, chew gum or whatever. Just be aware that this offensive smell is left in the instrument, and is not good for anyone to breathe, especially if you have a pulmonary disease…I have asthma. If you’re selling a whistle or flute, be honest and tell the buyer you smoke.
I am most grateful that there is “no smoking” now in restaurants, public buildings etc.. where I live. I couldn’t go anywhere before, because I would end up having an asthma attack from cigarette smoke. Now, I can go out without worring if I’ll be able to breathe or if I’ll have an asthma attack.
The next time I buy a used whistle or flute (especially wooden), I will ask if the person smokes.
At the end of the day, perhaps what makes a flute such a pleasure to play, and so unique, could be described as an ability to play the wind, literally. Now, apparently there are some well known players who do smoke, but perhaps it could be seen that tobacco smoke (including whatever else goes into it, additives and the like) in general appears to be a negative, in terms of lung capacity. That is, that lungs without tobacco residue could have a greater capacity than those with such residue.
I have known many who have managed to cease smoking, and I have heard enough to be convinced that it can be a difficult process. So, to those who do make such a choice, I wish you success.
Further to previous comments/tips here, anyone fancy de-coking this? It’s certainly a novel (well, actually quite old, by the looks of it) adaptation… Almost as scream-worthy as the flute/table-lamp that has popped up on e-bay simultaneously! (see “SCREAM!!!” thread!)
