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Thread: Facial hair affecting playing

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Vinton,VA
    Posts
    211

    Facial hair affecting playing

    Hey euphers -- I'm growing some facial hair, starting out with a goatee, stache, and soul patch. Not too far along yet, but I'm curious about any effect it could have on the embouchure. Certainly the chin whiskers shouldn't have any effect, but if the stache and soul patch get too bushy, will that have an effect? Since I'm not too far along, I haven't noticed anything yet. Am I overthinking this thing?

  2. #2
    I have hair all around my mouth, and I haven't had a problem.
    David Bjornstad

    1923 Conn New Wonder 86I, Bach 6 1/2 AL
    2018 Wessex EP100 Dolce, Denis Wick 4ABL
    2013 Jinbao JBEP-1111L, Denis Wick 4AM
    2015 Jinbao JBBR-1240, Denis Wick clone mouthpiece of unknown designation
    Cullman (AL) Community Band (Euph Section Leader)
    Brass Band of Huntsville (2nd Bari)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Hidden Valley, AZ
    Posts
    1,031
    I'm not about to shave and find out after 25 years of playing (this time).

    IOW, no big deal.

    Dennis

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Vinton,VA
    Posts
    211
    Thanks, that's all need to know.

  5. #5
    There are a gazillion brass players with lip hair, including many tuba and euphonium players (where the larger mouthpiece is more likely to rest on top of the hair). I'm sure it will take a little getting used to it, and you should prepare for having a little trouble as the whiskers are still short - you may get poked!

    In college I had a goatee, admittedly because it was the fad at U of Iowa right then. It didn't seem to cause any trouble.
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Summerfield, Florida Sturgis, SD (summers)
    Posts
    1,863
    I have had a mustache since I was about 20, so that is 50 plus years (minus the three weeks at Airborne school while a 2nd Lt. and being told on the first day that I would do a pushup for each hair in my mustache if I showed up for training with a mustache the next day - mustache gone for three weeks). Hasn't bothered me at all.
    Last edited by John Morgan; 08-20-2019 at 10:30 AM.
    John Morgan
    The U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) 1971-1976
    Adams E3 Custom Series Euphonium, 1956 B&H Imperial Euphonium,
    1973 F. E. Olds & Son Studio Model T-31 Baritone
    Adams TB1 Tenor Trombone, Yamaha YBL-822G Bass Trombone
    Year Round Except Summer:
    Kingdom of the Sun (KOS) Concert Band, Ocala, FL (Euphonium)
    KOS Brass Quintet (Trombone, Euphonium)
    Summer Only:
    Rapid City Municipal Band, Rapid City, SD (Euphonium)
    Rapid City New Horizons Band (Euphonium)

  7. #7
    It sure looks like you have your answer, but I also play with a beard the majority of the time and don't notice any ill affects compared to playing without a beard.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Vinton,VA
    Posts
    211
    Thanks to all. I'm convinced that "overthinking" is a genetic mutation I picked up many generations ago! Now if I can just master this darn beard trimmer.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    New Jersey, U.S.A.
    Posts
    155
    Try it out. For me, i just found it annoying to have facial hair around my lips in general, as well as when playing. It all depends on the person.
    Sterling / Perantucci 1065HGS Euphonium, 1952 B&H Imperial Eb Tuba, and a bunch of trombones.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    191
    It didn't bother me when I grew my goatee, stage and soulpatch. I had expected more getting used to than it turned out to be.

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