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Honkie Veteran Member
Joined: 20 Apr 2013 Posts: 245
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 3:36 am Post subject: Facial hair |
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OK I am NOT a teenager -- I am a middle-aged man. But somehow, I've never had a moustache or beard, I've always shaved since puberty.
Well now this summer, I just let it grow for some reason, and it's very new and exciting and I don't know how to handle it.
So let's pretend I am a teenage trumpet player with his first facial hair.
Specific tips or strategies for grooming for trumpeters?
YEA or NAY on facial hair in general, for trumpeters? |
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Tuningbell Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Dec 2004 Posts: 521 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:30 am Post subject: |
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Ron Romm, Fred Mills, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, they were/are all OK players.. Seriously Ron Romm addressed this in a masterclass once. As long as it is trimmed above the red or you have a "notch" shaped in for your embouchure you should be good to go.
I have played with and without and as long I I keet ot trimmed above the "red" I am OK. |
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falado Heavyweight Member
Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 942 Location: Eastern NC
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:34 am Post subject: |
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Hi, I trim the area around the mouthpiece and use an electric razor to shave on the lip where the mouthpiece rests. _________________ FA LA DO (Ab: V/ii) MUCS, USN (Ret.)
Stomvi VR (Reeves) with VR II Bell
Bach 239 25A C, Blueprinted
Bach 37, Early Elkhart, Blueprinted
Kanstul Flugel
Getzen 4 valve Pic.
Yamaha D/Eb
Besson Cornet |
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crzytptman Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Sep 2003 Posts: 10124 Location: Escondido California
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:51 am Post subject: |
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I have had a mustache since after boot camp, about 40 years. I don't do any of the above. I trim to keep it out of my mouth. Trumpet mpc slides under, and I have a little cow lick from all the years. Trombone mpc just sits on top. _________________ Crazy Nate - Fine Yet Mellow Fellow
"so full of it I don't know where to start"
Horn: "just mismatched Kanstul spare parts"
- TH member and advertiser (name withheld) |
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starkadder Heavyweight Member
Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 542
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:50 am Post subject: |
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I have a beard and mustache and I do no special grooming for trumpet playing. If you can kiss your wife, you won't have any problem seating the mouthpiece.
Do trim if the beard gets long enough to get caught in the first valve slide (I've not gotten to that point). |
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mavrian22 Veteran Member
Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 147
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:55 am Post subject: |
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Another great trumpet playing stash is Charlie Geyer's. I have a beard, it doesn't require any special maintenance to play the trumpet. |
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Brad361 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 7080 Location: Houston, TX.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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I have had a beard and moustache, now just the moustache. Never had any difficulty, though I do trim above the red, as others have said. But even if I don't, as Nate said, the mouthpiece just slides in under the hair.
Brad _________________ When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval |
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Honkie Veteran Member
Joined: 20 Apr 2013 Posts: 245
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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Brothers, thanks for the replies. Trimming the stache make sense. I was sometimes getting bristles in the 'piece and a resulting "fuzzy" tone, haha. |
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Mike Sailors Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2012 Posts: 1838 Location: Austin/New York City
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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crzytptman wrote: | I have had a mustache since after boot camp, about 40 years. I don't do any of the above. I trim to keep it out of my mouth. Trumpet mpc slides under, and I have a little cow lick from all the years. Trombone mpc just sits on top. |
Same. _________________ www.mikesailors.com |
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crzytptman Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Sep 2003 Posts: 10124 Location: Escondido California
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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You must have been that hairy gleam in a fathers eye that joined The Corps back then. We were darn impressed. _________________ Crazy Nate - Fine Yet Mellow Fellow
"so full of it I don't know where to start"
Horn: "just mismatched Kanstul spare parts"
- TH member and advertiser (name withheld) |
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LakeTahoeTrpt Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Aug 2012 Posts: 120 Location: Portland Oregon
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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You know, the first "soul patch" I ever saw was on my first private trumpet teacher, who was in his 60's when I began studying with him. I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that lots of old-timers thought that shaving around the lips would weaken the chops. _________________ Burbank Benge Bb MLP
Kanstul 1510 C
Benge Eb/D
Benge Flugelhorn 3X
Buescher 400 Model 275 Cornet
Curry Precision Mouthpieces |
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auraaura New Member
Joined: 28 Nov 2019 Posts: 1
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Facial hair |
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Honkie wrote: | OK I am NOT a teenager -- I am a middle-aged man. But somehow, I've never had a moustache or beard, I've always shaved since puberty.
Well now this summer, I just let it grow for some reason, and it's very new and exciting and I don't know how to handle it.
So let's pretend I am a teenage trumpet player with his first facial hair.
Specific tips or strategies for grooming for trumpeters?
YEA or NAY on facial hair in general, for trumpeters? |
Beard growth is roughly divided into five stages. The most uncomfortable is the second stage, you will feel itchy beard and want to give them up. Don't worry, this is normal, use care products and stick to it. By the third stage, your beard will grow quickly.
Relax and understand how it grows: https://www.gearhunder.com/beard-growth-stages/ |
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zaferis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Nov 2011 Posts: 2327 Location: Beavercreek, OH
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 4:23 am Post subject: |
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Trim as you like to the look you're going for.. dealing with a little hair is way easier than dealing with shaving and raw/chapped skin.... _________________ Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman |
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THE BD Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 897 Location: Columbus, Oh-hi-uh
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 4:33 am Post subject: |
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It used to bother me and be very uncomfortable when hairs sat in the rim of the mouthpiece, but as I got used to it over the years it has really become a non issue. I can shave or not and it makes no difference. _________________ Martin D Williams
Yeah, I did that! |
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bean_counter Veteran Member
Joined: 21 Nov 2002 Posts: 125 Location: Oswego, IL
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 7:33 am Post subject: |
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I wear a handlebar moustache and chin strap/poof - aka a "Napoleon III". Lots of wax to keep the moustache in the right place, and the hair away from my mouth. _________________ Kevin Mc
Strad 180s37 (07 'True Bach'), Schilke 18 or 18B4
anon OTS Bb Saxhorn, Berliner valves c. 1860
Eclipse cornet (Yellow, Bauerfeind) DW 4B Heritage
Cousnon clairon Bb
'60s Besson tenor horn DW 3 |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9025 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2022 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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I've had a beard since '92 (End of military service +1). I haven't noticed its interfering with how I play. Like above, I keep it from going across my lips.
Oh, BTW about shaping the beard. If you let it grow long, the longer it gets the deeper and more resonating your low notes get. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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Tom LeCompte Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 3341 Location: Naperville, Illinois
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2022 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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Tuningbell wrote: | Ron Romm, Fred Mills, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, they were/are all OK players.. |
George Rabbai. |
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cbtj51 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Nov 2015 Posts: 725 Location: SE US
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2022 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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LakeTahoeTrpt wrote: | I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that lots of old-timers thought that shaving around the lips would weaken the chops. |
I remember hearing that way back in the late 60s. Can't dispute one way or the other...I grew my first mustache during the summer between high school and college 1969 (youthful vanity), added the "soul patch" after my Uncle Sam/Army Band time (rebellious? vanity) and eventually a beard (maybe onsetting insanity). My wife always hated the beard (I think that fact only encouraged me), but I still have it at 71 (definitely insanity). Does it have any effect on my playing? Honestly, I never thought about it but it does a very good job of hiding the very present mouthpiece induced topography (definitely misplaced vanity, did I mention that I'm 71)!
Life is Short, find the Joy in it!
Mike _________________ '71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces |
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steve0930 Veteran Member
Joined: 07 May 2018 Posts: 191
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 2:16 am Post subject: |
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Hello Trumpet players
An alternate view.
Clean shaven pretty much all my life but 2 months ago on the urging of my 23yr old Son I switched from electric shave to wet (Feather blade delivered by Mercur razor.) I tend to shave after my first 2or3 practices on the horn..somehow the ultra smoothness of skin then gives my playing a lift!
Cheers and stay safe
Steve in Helsinki.. _________________ My Number 1 supporter
http://langdons.com/images/langdon-image.jpg |
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Bill_Bumps Veteran Member
Joined: 07 May 2019 Posts: 157
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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I have a short beard and mustache (hey, it was the Seventies, and if you didn't have facial hair, you weren't "cool"). Lately I was having some embouchure problems with keeping my mouthpiece high enough on my upper lip. Then I noticed that Harry James trimmed a little circumflex "V" into his mustache, so I tried doing the same.
I can't say it instantly made me play like Harry James, but it definitely does help me keep the mouthpiece where it belongs. |
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