I have a four year old son with CF. Last night we pulled out my brothers old trumpet and my son wanted to try it. After cleaning it a little and showing him how to blow, he gave it a try. It was awesome!!!!! He played it better than I ever could, and louder than I ever heard. we are thinking about signing hin up to take lessons. My question is so you think its a good form of therapy for his lungs? Have any of you played one or know someone with CF that has? It's got to be good for your lungs and breathing. thanks
trumpet
- Thread starter anonymous
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I used to play the flute. My docs always said it was such a great idea because it exersises the lungs. YOu have to learn how to control your breathing, and you have to breath certain ways (different instruments are played different) to get the notes right and you can play certain songs minutes at a time...My friend who also has cf and played the flute contributed the health she had to playing the flute for so long.
Amanda
Amanda
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Oh dude, this is SO my topic! I am happy to say that I play the flute and have played the flute for the past 8 years. When I first signed up for band one of the instructors told me that... "maybe I should find another instrument since the flute is one of the hardest instruments to play" as it deals with a lot of breathing, learning how to breathe properly, regulating the breathing pattern and keep up with everybody else! (which is true for ALL instruments... well except maybe percussion) Some of the higher notes on the flute, the breathing is similar to doing a PFT, it takes THAT kind of strength. I'd imagine it's the same for trumpet as well... though not as... hmm.. the flute it basically controlled primarily BY breathing and the rate/flow of the breathe while the trumpet I believe is different than that. I have to honestly say that band was one of the BEST things to ever happen to me. Not only did it help my lung functions I think it kept me alive long enough to get my transplant. I found that band was great and it's a GREAT group of people to get along with. For me it was basically one big group of friends. Hehehe, and funny thing is a year after my transplant (my senior year) the newly hired assistant band director had CF and a double lung transplant as well. Talk about weird. Ok sorry for going off on a tangent 
but it was just such a HUGE part of my life that I love I can't help but to rave about it.
but it was just such a HUGE part of my life that I love I can't help but to rave about it.Thanks Candice, I'm the original poster with the trumpet playing kiddo. I think that's awesome that you played so long and did so great! have you played since your transplant? How were you able to keep the flute clean? (I think my brother washed his once every three months or so) I have absolutely no musical talent at all, but my three brothers and my husband all played in the band, It would be great for my son to follow in their footsteps! My son begged me to play the trumpet again this morning and I swear he played the first few notes of "Taps" perfectly. When he was done he looked at me and said he playing like uncle Adam (my brother that's in the Navy) at Pawpaws funeral. My grandfathers funeral was over a year ago, in which Adam decked out in his Navy uniform played "Taps". I can't believe he remembered that, let alone tryed to play the same song!!! I'm so excited about my sons musical interest and I really want to encourage him, Thanks
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Wow that's pretty amazing, it sounds like you have a bright little boy! And so interested in playing <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
To answer your questions yes I have played since transplant, in my senior year (the year after transplant) I actually made it to honors band <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> Since college has started I haven't picked up my flute <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> since they really don't have a band here and I'd have no clue where to practice without bugging my roommates, though I have been looking for other places to play.
How I kept my flute clean. Directly after Transplant ( I was a bit paranoid ) I took my flute to the nearest music center and had it stripped, cleaned, repaired, repadded, the works. This can only be done a few times in an intstruments life because what they do is each time they clean it they remove a small layer from the inside the flute, if they do it too many times the sound changes way too much and the flute becomes brittle. Anyway, after that I just cleaned it out after practice and never let anybody play on it. The whole flute cannot be like... dunked under water and cleaned because of the pads on the flute are made out of, believe it or not, onion skin. (I'm not sure about trumpets because I think the pads are removable) Well... wow, I typed more than what I thought, I hope this helps <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">
To answer your questions yes I have played since transplant, in my senior year (the year after transplant) I actually made it to honors band <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> Since college has started I haven't picked up my flute <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> since they really don't have a band here and I'd have no clue where to practice without bugging my roommates, though I have been looking for other places to play.
How I kept my flute clean. Directly after Transplant ( I was a bit paranoid ) I took my flute to the nearest music center and had it stripped, cleaned, repaired, repadded, the works. This can only be done a few times in an intstruments life because what they do is each time they clean it they remove a small layer from the inside the flute, if they do it too many times the sound changes way too much and the flute becomes brittle. Anyway, after that I just cleaned it out after practice and never let anybody play on it. The whole flute cannot be like... dunked under water and cleaned because of the pads on the flute are made out of, believe it or not, onion skin. (I'm not sure about trumpets because I think the pads are removable) Well... wow, I typed more than what I thought, I hope this helps <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">
NoDayButToday
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I also play flute. I don't think I will make a career out of it or anything, but for that's not really the point. I enjoy being in school band (except for fall band and our football game uniforms <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">), and the flute is good respiratory exercise. My mom knew that it was the most beneficial instrument, and encouraged me to choose it when we chose our instrument (in the end, I only wanted to do flute anyway). Wind instruments are great for lungs.