Oh, yes, Christmas time and music seems idyllic. Violins and cellos playing in a toasty room with a lovely fire burning, as family and friends visit and enjoy the seasons festivities. Flute sounding forth angelic tones in church and recital halls.
Bah, humbug!
Those peaceful moments are brought to you after much turmoil and tears. Winter is the sworn enemy of instruments. It dries the wood. It alters the tone. It wreaks havoc with pegs that and they will loosen randomly or become immovably stuck. Strings pop as you try and try to tune to something that approximates the correct pitch. Flutes sound like dying ducks when they are cold. You must leave enough time to make sure they are brought to room temperature. Yes, winter is great fun for music.
So if you are fortunate enough to be in a setting with live music this winter season, please pat the musician on the back or give them a little hug. They (ahem, or their parents) have come a hair's breadth away from smashing that very instrument to pieces.
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