Klarinet Archive - Posting 000608.txt from 1996/10

From: jjarvie@-----.nz
Subj: Re: What do you think of the following? I'm puzzled. (Da...
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996 00:53:08 -0400

Subject: re: What do you think of the following? I'm puzzled. (Dan Leeson)

Dan's comments remind me of an experience when I joined the British Army over 20
years ago.

I was 21 and had just finished a maths degree, I did very little physical
exercise except play the clarinet at least 4 hours a day and some forearm
development with glasses of Guinness. Although Guards bands were a privileged
bunch with few military duties, we did have to do basic training (boot camp).
In our first week, the physical education staff measured our fitness by having
us step up and down onto a gym bench at a fixed pace for a couple of music and
recording our pulse rates before and every few minutes afterwards. The
surprising thing was that of the 60 or so recruits, I had by far the best
recovery rate - despite the fact that I couldn't climb a rope to save myself! I
nearly got locked up for cheating.

This has convinced me that extended clarinet playing is great heart and lungs
exercise. However, I think there is a minimum threshold at maybe 2 hours a day.

John Jarvie

phone +64 (9) 303 0749
fax +64 (9) 309 4947
e-mail jjarvie@-----.nz
xtr180621@-----.nz