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Is Orchestra Drinking a Problem?

A recent article in the Guardian Newspaper about orchestra drinking has finally opened a HUGE can of worms that has been lying undiscovered for decades. The alcohol problem is prevalent in many of our top orchestras.

Read the article here To quote the article "inappropriate use of alcohol in Britain's great orchestras is, according to musicians, endemic - ranging from drinking a pint before a concert to steady the nerves, to full-blown inebriation on stage."What has YOUR experience been?

Reasons

So why do WE here in the UK drink when our fellows in other countries (the USA and Europe) not drink?

Maybe it's our peculiar attitude towards alcohol and drink in this country?

Maybe it's our inability to socialise without a drink in our hands at all times?

Another quote from the article:

"Jennifer Lisle, a public health physician, said: "For musicians drinking can be about handling underlying anxiety. In terms of their careers there's a huge amount of underlying stress. Their level of performance has to be good all the time and at a higher level than a person doing an ordinary job. You have to address that at an early stage - by suggesting that drinking is not the best way to handle that. Education is really important." So maybe this is the answer? Education.

My experience is that drinking in UK orchestra's is a self-perpetuating problem. The musician's first experience of professional life usually shows them that it's OK to drink before a performance and not wanting to be ostracized they join in. Now depending on which section of the orchestra they are in there is more or less pressure to fit this mould.

Is it time we found a different solution? Download this pdf from the British Association For Performing Arts Medicene to see if YOU have a problem..

It is quite common for people to drink to overcome their fears, (to learn more about stage fright click here) but actually there is a much better way to relax your body without the terrible side effects of drinking and the subsequent mineral and vitamin deficiencies that accompanies over doing it with alcohol. The solution is a glass of Calcium and Magnesium powder which will relax all your muscles and nerves in your body in a totally natural way. You can get it from here