Tag: Brass Soak

Bagpipe (or trumpet!) Lung
Advice · Gear Review

Bagpipe (or trumpet!) Lung

Leslie Saidak1 Comment

A school year looming brings with it a fresh start, and a resolution to keep instruments clean and hygienic.  If you need any further confirmation of the importance of keeping your instrument clean, please read on!…

Back in August 2016, the BBC and numerous other news agencies were reporting on a journal article written by doctors at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Hospital.  They described a rare but fatal case of what they described as “bagpipe lung” in a 61-year-old patient.  The deceased man is thought to have developed a bad reaction to mould and fungi lurking inside the moist interior of his bagpipes.

The patient had been struggling with respiratory problems over a number of years, during which time doctors had ruled out all possible environmental causes that they could think of.  On a hunch, the doctors sent away the pipes for testing only to reveal that the instrument was riddled with damp-loving mould and fungi – the types that the doctors know can cause serious lung problems.

Sadly, the damage that had already occurred to the man’s lungs was irreversible.  His condition deteriorated and he tragically died some weeks later.

There have also been a number of other documented cases of this in the UK with Saxophone, Trombone and Trumpet players.  Fortunately in these cases, the cause was identified early enough for the patients to recover.

VISIT THE ‘EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES’ PAGE FOR FREE WORKSHEETS AND LINKS TO PUBLICATIONS

So what steps do we need to take to prevent the build of yeast and other harmful pathogens in our trumpets?

Fortunately the answer to this is nowhere near as complicated as the problems faced by this patient or his doctors.  Regular cleaning.  Whether an instrument is being used regularly or not, the damp environment is a perfect breeding ground for all sorts of nasties.

Woodwind instruments where the instrument can be easily swabbed after every playing to remove moisture are pretty straightforward to keep in a hygienic state.  Brass on the other hand is not so easily attended on a daily basis, so it is important that we flush them out and clean them thoroughly when we do make the time.  I generally suggest to students that this is done monthly.

Taking the instrument apart and soaking it in a hot bath with a mild detergent is generally the best starting point to help to loosen dirt and grime. 

I would then suggest a good quality brush pull-though and then a sponge pull-through to drag out the offending matter!  Finally a rinse through with hot (but not boiling) water should leave your trumpet clean.

The mouthpiece itself often gets overlooked but is the easiest to keep clean on a daily basis. A good all-natural sanitiser spray such is this one pictured again from Edgware is a ‘must’ for daily cleaning of brass instruments. It is alcohol free and kills 99.9999% of all germs in 60 seconds.

It is also worth making sure that you have a good quality mouthpiece brush. Many a mouthpiece has been damaged by the jagged and twisted wire.

VISIT THE ‘EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES’ PAGE FOR FREE WORKSHEETS AND LINKS TO PUBLICATIONS

SIGN UP HERE FOR NEW BLOG ARTICLES EMAILED DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX:

Edgware by BBICO
Gear Review

Edgware by BBICO

Leslie Saidak1 Comment

I was recently sent a range of new products to take through their paces from BBICO – the British Band Instrument Company. Their Edgware range (named after their North London home) encompasses an intriguing ethos of sustainability.

Many companies have adopted a toxin and/or petroleum free approach to their designs of cleaning products and brass instrument lubricants, but I am not aware of any others that have gone to as great lengths as BBICO to limit any negative environmental impact. As well as the utmost care in designing, sourcing and manufacturing the products themselves, the packaging is all biodegradable, compostable and recyclable. This even includes the ‘plastic’ bags that are in fact NatureFlex and made in the UK of wood-pulp from managed plantations.

As we move forward, it is surely (hopefully!) a matter of time before this kind of care and attention to packaging waste becomes mandatory across consumer industries, so the developers of the Edgware range deserve huge accolades for leading the way in this.

But of course, we need instrument care products that also do a great job… Here are a few products that really stood out to me:

Brass Soak : Just a small amount of this PH neutral soak mixed with warm water does a great job of degreasing and removing the bio-film from within the instrument and slides. I used this on an instrument that I thought to be pretty clean… but I was obviously wrong!

Valve Oil – Regular : This is a nice lightweight valve oil made from ‘food grade’ ingredients. The action on my newer instruments was nice and smooth and it is always reassuring to know that your valve oil is not poisoning you!

Valve Oil – Vintage : Now this is the oil that I have been seeking for some time! I have an old Cousenon flugel with valves that have seen better days. Until trying this Edgware oil, I had not found one that was thick enough to stay on the valves and provide adequate seal, yet flexible enough to give a smooth and consistent action.

Sanitiser Spray : This is a completely natural anti-bacterial spray, completely free from alcohol, fragrance and harmful chemicals. Particularly at the moment, this is a really important addition to any trumpet case as it can be used on skin as well as your mouthpieces!

Slide Grease : This is a great multi-purpose slide grease that does a good job around the instrument and is so safe that it can even be used as a lip balm!

Please click here to view the full range of brass instrument care products by Edgware.

SIGN UP HERE FOR NEW BLOG ARTICLES EMAILED DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX:

[jetpack_subscription_form show_subscribers_total=”false” button_on_newline=”false” custom_font_size=”16px” custom_border_radius=”0″ custom_border_weight=”1″ custom_padding=”15″ custom_spacing=”10″ submit_button_classes=”” email_field_classes=”” show_only_email_and_button=”true”]