Bill requiring musical instrument sterilization lacks Somerville support

[The Straight Story]

Bill requiring musical instrument sterilization lacks Somerville support

Somerville (MA) —

School music programs could soon find themselves on the chopping block if legislation passes that would require both public and private schools to have their musical wind instruments professionally sterilized, some local music educators warned.

The controversial legislation, which proposes requiring medical-grade sterilization before instruments pass from one student to the next, would be a death sentence for many urban and rural music programs already struggling with budget cuts, according to some local music educators.

“This is fear mongering,” Somerville Public Schools K-12 Music Director Rick Saunders said. “This is totally unnecessary and is not in the best interest of our students.”

The bill was introduced last year by Rep. Paul Donato, D-Medford, after a special commission of legislators, educators and health officials recommended that the state establish a protocol for wind instrument hygiene. Only one company, the Andover-based MaestroMD, currently offers wind instrument sterilization for the New England area.

Sterilization for a band the size of Somerville’s would cost anywhere between $4,000 and $6,000, or about $20 to $30 per instrument, MaestroMD founder and Medford dentist Dr. Lorenzo Lepore said.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x560179476/Bill-requiring-musical-instrument-sterilization-lacks-Somerville-support

[dipsydoodle]

1. Only in America...............

:rofl:

[old mark]

2. Ain't nobody gonna sterilize my Les Paul Custom.....

nobody!!!!


mark

[jmowreader]

13. I didn't know your Les Paul Custom was a horn, and that's what they're talking about

Imagine having to sterilize the bass drum between students! (You'd fuck it up, for one thing--wooden instruments don't do well when they're autoclaved.)

Back to the point: this is kinda idiotic--as someone else on this thread said, the only part of a horn that needs sterilized is the mouthpiece, and you can cover that by either storing the mouthpieces in a germicidal fluid or having students provide their own mouthpieces.

[old mark]

15. I once bought an old King cornet and had it cleaned an re-padded in order to sell it.

Cost as much as I paid for the horn and case, and I took a loss on it.

Horn players are taught to clean out their instruments and the have "spit keys" to facilitate this.

It's bullshit legislation, like so many laws before it.
(I was making a joke about my guitar.....)
mark

[Staph]

3. This is ludicrous!

As an old saxophone player, I know that the only part that you need to worry about is the mouthpiece. Have each student supply their only mouthpiece and you're good to go.

Worried about touching an instrument that someone else's germy hands have touched? First, get a life. Second, if there are real health issues (like students with compromised immune systems, institute a regimen of hand-washing before using the shared instruments. Don't use hand sanitizers! You will ruin the finish (and sound quality) of the horn!

[Berry Cool]

5. We're supposed to take the word of someone named "Staph" on this?

:rofl: Just kiddin'.

I would think the oboe and bassoon players wouldn't have to worry at all about this, so long as they don't share reeds.

[Karenina]

8. We share reeds

AND the water we soak them in. EWWWWW!!! :rofl:

[Berry Cool]

12. Better get some vodka to sterilize those babies with.

Not only would it kill the germs, it could make rehearsals more interesting.

[Karenina]

14. Been there, done that.

But the vodka destroys them, so only third string candidates get the treatment. You might get an hour or so. Hydrogen peroxide can get you through the concert but at the end the reed is DEAD. Kinda like that parrot. ;-)

[MineralMan]

4. Given the frequency of saliva exchange that goes on among

band geeks, away from their instruments, this seems pretty silly. Those who were in the band know what I'm talking about. The rest of you...you missed out.

Embouchure exercise!

:bounce:

[Berry Cool]

7. Insert obligatory "this one time, at band camp..." joke here. n/t

[The Straight Story]

9. I was in chess club, was not quite as exciting in that regards

But I got to use the word mate a lot :)

[Staph]

10. Oh, my....

such wonderful memories....


:pals:

[MineralMan]

11. Indeed!

[ddeclue]

6. How will they ever reproduce?

Does this apply only to feral clarinets?

:rofl:

[Le Taz Hot]

16. Wait.

What school music program? You guys actually offer music? In schools? Woah! What a concept! But I digress. Carry on.