[Trombone-l] Altitude vs Lung Capacity?

[Daryl Burch]

Reno shows always kill me. The ska/punk/funk bands I play in somehow  
always end up playing in Reno (7100ft.), NV.

Being a sea-level lovin' Bay Area boy, I noticed every time I got on  
stage in Reno--if I'd had a beer--within the first 2 or 3 songs I'd  
always get severe side cramps (like from running a race). Now, I have  
to let on that the bands I've played with that make that trip are  
pretty aggressive--lots of jumpin' around, screamin' on pitch, and  
playing at 105db to overpower the shreddin' guitar.

On top of that, I'd also notice that when I'd set out for home with a  
full tank of gas and fresh bottle of water for the drive, by the time  
I'd get to Sacramento (elev: 52ft.) my check engine light would come  
on every time and the water bottle would be bloated like a balloon  
filled to capacity.

It wasn't until I talked to a friend who goes to the annual "Hot  
August Nights" on his Harley who told me about his gas tank expanding  
from the altitude change. He said once his gets down out of the  
mountains he always pulls over and pops the gas cap to normalize the  
pressure.

So after that insightful conversation, now when I play Reno, I  
supplement my onstage antics with Makers Mark (so the beer doesn't  
expand).... and on the way back, stop in Roseville to "normalize my  
tank" so to speak.

I strongly recommend this libation compensation method to all my  
'bone, beer-swillin' brethren (and sistren).

Cheers!
-D-


On Dec 10, 2008, at 9:22 PM, Daniel Pliskin wrote:




I used to do a lot of high-altitude skiing, in The Rockies.   
Normally, my rule of thumb is that if you lose your breath up high,  
you'll just need to ski, out of breath, down to 9000 feet, where  
you'll be able to catch your breath again.

But one year the altitude was getting to me so bad that I needed to  
take a nap at the top lodge, at 11000 feet.  After that, about an  
hour of sleep, the altitude didn't bother me at all.

As for the air at higher altitudes, yes, there's less oxygen.  But  
there's also less air, because it's at lower pressure.  On the other  
hand, there's also lower pressure everywhere else, including inside  
the trombone.  With less air pressure, it may be harder to play as  
loud, but I can't see how higher altitude might effect anything else.

DanP

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