TINDALL'S graphic account of her 25 years spent playing the oboe in some of New York's greatest orchestras, together with a stint on Broadway, leaves no doubt that bad behaviour isn't the exclusive territory of rock musicians.

Sleeping with the right people to get a gig seems par for the course, while an insight into alcohol and drug abuse within the industry also plays a significant part in this candid memoir.

Further information about over-inflated fees to conductors and soloists, plus manifest financial mismanagement, provide additional food for thought.

Fortunately her mastery of the oboe and the joy of classical music isn't totally lost in the text, which occasionally lingers just a little too long on the seedy side of the music business.

When Tindall decided to switch horses and retrain as a professional journalist at the age of 40, it was one of her Stanford University professors who suggested she write this book.

The professor wasn't wrong. It really is a cracking read and a must for anyone seeking to expand their knowledge about the people behind the music.