Recommendations for face masks.

[mbrooke]

Any recommendation for face masks? Our conductor bought masks, but while they might work for trumpet etc., they don't work well for euphonium. The hole is too small and the mask keeps getting under the mouthpiece.

Thanks,

Mike

[davewerden]

I have had no luck with the masks that have a hole and a flap or the one that has a zipper. But I have a large head (and nose) so that can stretch a mask a bit.

I have not yet tried one that I see some of my low brass friends use but I want to. It has an overlapped flap, rather like men's briefs.

[dsurkin]

[snip]I have not yet tried one that I see some of my low brass friends use but I want to. It has an overlapped flap, rather like men's briefs.

Dave, can you point me to that brand? I've got to get a mask for upcoming orchestra season (something that'll be comfortable to wear while the trombone section has an 85 bar rest until it gets to play another half note).

[davewerden]

It's been hard for me to track one down, so I don't have one yet. There is a good chat about it on a trombone forum here:

https://trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php?t=18826

It includes a link to the Selmer-Conn mask, which seems to be the right idea.

[davewerden]

Here is my Tuba player friend plays

https://www.grothmusic.com/p-80226.a...UaAqjbEALw_wcB

[mbrooke]

I have had no luck with the masks that have a hole and a flap or the one that has a zipper. But I have a large head (and nose) so that can stretch a mask a bit.

I have not yet tried one that I see some of my low brass friends use but I want to. It has an overlapped flap, rather like men's briefs.

This is the type that out conductor purchased. Found it hard to use. It's difficult to get the mouthpiece throughout the flap and the flap has a tendency to get between the mouthpiece and lip when you pull the mouthpiece away. I always play with the mouthpiece offset from center, so I am constantly pulling the mask off. Some this could be fit issues, as the mask seem quite small.

Mike

[RickF]

Our band is requiring us to mask up when we’re not playing rather than use a mask with an opening. Besides getting the mpc in the opening it would be difficult to catch a breath when playing I fear.

[John Morgan]

Our band is requiring us to mask up when we’re not playing rather than use a mask with an opening. Besides getting the mpc in the opening it would be difficult to catch a breath when playing I fear.

Now how does that work exactly? Wear a mask if you have no part (tacet) for a particular piece? Wear a mask during extended rests in a piece? Wear your mask in between pieces?

[RickF]

Well, we're supposed to pull it down to play and pull it back up when we have extended rests. We just had our first rehearsal last Monday night. Evidently all of us weren't doing a great job because our band president sent out an email reminding us how we should do it.

[John Morgan]

Well, I am from South Dakota, and I know you all have heard about South Dakota's approach to COVID, masks, etc. Linda and I are vaccinated, and we don't plan to play, then pull our masks back up on our face and then move them down and then move them up and then move them down, etc. Which would require me to park my horn in the stand every time I quit playing for a while, then move the mask up, count rests, then move the mask down, then pick up my horn, then play, then put down my horn in the stand, then pull up my mask, etc. And I suppose you have to hold your breath while you are in between any of these maneuvers. I would not attend band if we were required to go through that drill. Certainly no disrespect intended for any who are doing the procedure above (that may be your only recourse), but it is just entirely not for me, or Linda, or 95% of the people in the bands we play in. We either play somewhat normally, or we don't play at all.

Our New Horizons Band and Rapid City Municipal Band played all summer in normal rehearsal mode (inside in a band room or a small gym) and concert mode, and there were no problems that I am aware of.

[mbrooke]

Our band is requiring us to mask up when we’re not playing rather than use a mask with an opening. Besides getting the mpc in the opening it would be difficult to catch a breath when playing I fear.

I think even that would be better than dealing with a musicians mask. Getting the mouthpiece in the opening takes some fiddling around. So you need to leave the mouthpiece in the mask unless you have enough rest time. My community band is part of Northern VA Community College, so masks are mandated at all times indoors. The only positive thing is that the band has shrunk from 85 players pre-covid to about 55 now. Although somehow we still have 5 euphs and 6 tubas!

Mike

[RickF]

We had band rehearsal again last night. It’s not that hard to pull down my mask to play - pull it up again when resting. If I need two hands to pull it up just laying the horn on my lap works fine for that. Since we rehearse in a Palm Beach County school district band room, we have to follow the rules which is all on campus need to wear masks inside buildings... vaccinated or not. All in our band are required to be vaccinated.