The dangers of musicianship???

[School Councils UK <Jess...>]

Dear all,

About 6 months ago there was an exchange about Repetitive Strain Injury
(RSI), a problem experienced by some instrumentalists. Obviously our trade,
like any other, has certain associated dangers that it is useful to know
about so hopefully they can be avoided.

Well following a recent near miss I felt I ought to warn you about the
potential violent dangers of practicing your scales (vocal scaling) in
public areas.

Whilst waiting for busses I have developed the habit of giving my voice a
gentle work out. What else more useful is there to do in such a situation?
So I normally stand a little away from the bus stop so as not to disturb
the other waiters. And then up and down I go. Higher, higher, squeek,
squeek. Lower lower, growl, growl.

Anyway on the unfortunate afternoon in question, there I was minding my own
business, gently warbling away when from across the road came an abrupt,
angry and accentuated "Shut up". Disturbed and sensing conflict, I looked
up to see a young woman staring at me with a scary amount of hate, so I
stared back and then realised suddenly that this was not the most
appropriate response. "What are you looking at?" she hit out. "Nothing" was
my reply as I swiftly averted my gaze. I sneaked a quick glance to check
that the storm had subsided and fortunately she had continued on her way. I
took another look a couple of seconds later only to find that she was now
staring at two guys on her side of the road in their drive ways. "What are
you staring at?", she barked again. I think they were too close and
surprised to answer in an appropriately placatory manner and the next
minute she was up next to them and had lunged at one and had tempted blood
from his nose. The second guy went to help his mate and she seemed  willing
to take him on too for a minute but something made her withdraw and move
on.

By this point the people at my busstop on the safe side of the road had
become a little community. "Phew, that could have been me" I said and there
were sympathetic nods. We all agreed that she had problems that she was
probably attempting to deal with at the Family Probation office just up the
road that it is likely she had just come from.

So the most exciting event I had ever witnessed in my rather sleepy middle
class suburban neighbourhood.

So in future beware. I know that you can get knocked over by a car at any
time, but it probably is worth investing in a busstop scales silencer, any
of you who indulge in a similar practice to ensure safety of passage. At
the same time you might as well purchase a mask for anonymity purposes.

Yours vocally and Chanukah Sameach

Jess


P.S. On Rich's point, we had a long discussion, I think before you joined
us, about the copyright issue and essentially agreed with you. Correct me
if I'm wrong but I think the suggestion was that we might email chords
privately to individuals but not send them out for general consumption. It
was a long and complicated discussion. maybe someone more involved could
summarise it.