Boys and Bands.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20484, 10 December 1934, Page 6

Boys and Bands.

Is It Harmfull

Wind Instruments May Cause Injury. (Special to the “ Star.") AUCKLAND, This Day. J)0 BOYS AND GIRLS who play wind instruments bring health to their bodies, or may they unknowingly sow the seeds of future lung troubles? The question has been raised by the comment made by Major G. Miller, Musical Director of the Grenadier Guards Band, when addressing the Auckland Penwomen's Club yesterday. The Major said that it was not advisable for women, or even boys, to play wind instruments as such action was likely to bring on emphysema, the air cells becoming dilated, lungs losing their elasticity and players becoming liable to all kinds of lung troubles. The intention of going to see Major Miller and asking him for proof of his statement was expressed by Mr J. Kay, organiser of the Auckland Girls’ Brass Band. Mr Kay said thart he had been connected with bands for over thirty years and he had never heard of a boy or girl suffering an injury through playing a wind instrument. He recalled that in England 25 years ago he saw an Italian women’s band and that the members both “ played lovely and looked lovely.” Mr Kay said that his own daughter was “ a little whippet ” when she joined the Auckland band and that now she was a fine strapping girl. He questioned whether Major Miller had had any personal experience with girls’ bands. Advised by Doctor.

“An absolute lot of nonsense,” was the comment of Mr R. Francis, an official of the Ponsonbv Bovs’ Band. He said that he had had experience of boys with weak lungs and had obtained medical opinions as to whether playing a wind instrument would be harmful, or beneficial. He mentioned that one lad who was troubled with his lungs had been advised by his doctor to spend as much time as possible in the. country “ and to take his cornet with him.” Provided it was not overdone, the doctor had said that cornet-playing was the finest exercise the lad could take. The players, said Mr Francis, were taught how to breathe correctly when playing. The only possible chance of/trouble was by letting the instrument become dirty, and in the Ponsonbv Band the instruments were cleaned with soda water and no two boys were ever allowed to play the same instrument. He had three girls of his own in the girls’ band and five of his sons had passed through the boys’ band since his connection with the Ponsonbv Band. Over 400 boys had passed through it and he had never heard of a single one of them suffering any ill effects. In many instances service with the band had greatly improved the players’ physique. Conflicting Medical Views.

“It is no worse for girls to play wind instruments than for big, beer-drinking men to play them,” said an Auckland doctor. She did not agree that girls would suffer harm by playing in a band. They knew when to stop and as a rule did not play the largest instruments. She pointed out that nowadays girls indulged in all forms of sport which rendered them fit for such an exercise as playing a wind instrument.

A contrary opinion was expressed by a well-known Auckland medical man. It was a widely accepted view, he said, that people suffering from emphysema had played wind instruments, although the trouble could arise from other causes. Long and continued pressure of the lung tissues, such as was caused by playing a wind instrument, gradually caused the lung to become thinned out and to lose its elasticity. “ I would certainly not let any boy of mine play- a wind instrument in a band,” he said.