RE: [Harp-L] Is playing the harp well a health hazard?

[PINTO DIGITAL <pintodigital@xxxxxxx>]

I used to spit internal blood occasionally when I was rehearsing 4 to 6 hours a day
and playing 5 shows a week. Not sure if harp caused it. Doctor didn't know.
I've also had a hernia operation under the belly button (go to Shouldice hospital if you need one). 
Not sure if harp caused the hernia but I had lots of trouble playing harp when the hernia was at its peak.
I was in agony.
I think pretty well everything is bad for you including breathing air. 
Best thing to do is stay in shape, eat well, fight the toxins. Many great harp players have
died bloated and fat. These dudes started fit and skinny and years on the road killed them.
The road can kill harmonica players or any musician if you don't use your spare time
wisely. Stay away from junk food on the road, make your own stuff. Restaurants give you
oversized portions loaded with sodium, bad animal fats, sugar, and other crap. 
This shit will age you and kill you.  

Joe Pinto
Little Joe & the Werewolves 


  

> Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 07:54:52 -0800
> From: coast2coastmusic@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Is playing the harp well a health hazard?
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> CC: 
> 
> Not really what you had in mind when you asked the question, but Mike Stevens 
> (the Canadian bluegrass player) directly attributes his harmonica playing with 
> causing him to have multiple hernias over time and surgeries to correct them.
> 
> 
> Regards,
> John Watts, Coast to Coast Music
> http://coast2coastmusic.com
> http://tinyurl.com/c2cmusic-facebook
> Harmonicas & Accessories
> 800-776-5015
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Aongus Mac Cana <amaccana@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Sun, March 6, 2011 1:28:37 PM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Is playing the harp well a health hazard?
> 
> Throught the Harp-l list I have been introduced to a lot of gifted players
> (via YouTuble links and the like) that I had never heard of . Then before I
> get around to getting their CDs I hear (again through the list) that these
> players have passed on - and usually well before they have achieved "three
> score years and ten"
> In the Irish Traditional Music scene it can be difficult for performers with
> what we euphemistically call "a weakness for the drink". The typical venue
> for trad gigs - even on TV is pubs, where the booze flows freely. Very often
> members of the audience like to show their approval of a good performer by
> calling to the barman "give that man another drink on me" You can sometimes
> almost judge how well a session is going down by the number of full pints of
> beer accumulating in front of the musicians.
> Reading between the lines in the condolences expressed for harmonicists who
> have died I get a feeling that in the Blues Scene players may find
> themselves exposed to stimulants/depressants even more destructive than
> alcohol.
> Beannachtai
> Aongus Mac Cana