I just caught the end of a piece on the Today programme by an Irish doctor and musician about the impact of smoking on traditional instruments. I never realised that the effect of smoke, especially on instruments with bellows, could be so damaging. He was explaining that the interior of the instrument, especially the reeds, can become so polluted with smoke particles that they go out of tune, and have to be repaired.

Those of you who are long-standing box or pipes players are probably well aware of this effect, but as a newbie I found it really interesting. Another reasn to be grateful for the smoking ban, methinks...