Originally Posted by
lzajmom
... there isn't anything inherent to the job that deteriorates some aspect of one's being any faster than a normal job or normal aging.
I'm pretty sure that in general one's physical abilities degenerate at a faster rate than one's mental abilities. This certainly applies to the level of physical performance required in any sport or in any "job" that requires fine muscle tone, motor skills, and constant physical practice -- as in the case of fingering, slide manipulation, embouchure, breath capacity and control, and hearing. I avoid 6th and 7th position (and play a double-valve bass) in part because of the consequences of shoulder arthritis. Of course, it may not be the job that causes such deterioration, but the deterioration limits the ability to perform the job before (and sometimes significantly before) affecting other jobs that you would be able to perform quite competently -- which is, of course, a primary reason that people like the euphonium player stop playing and why the trumpet player should stop playing -- at least in certain organizations.
Also, Izajmom, I take it you've never "plugged into" a New Horizons band or you would have an entirely different perspective. While NH bands may vary in the capabilities of their players, most that I've encountered lean more toward collections of players along the lines of the trumpet player illustration -- often including players that have little or no experience as well, and that play primarily at a middle school level. A lot of people find it enjoyable to play in such ensembles, and I won't say that they shouldn't. But I don't.
Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)