Facial Hair and Tuba

[Donn]

I suppose the answer may be, different people experience different things

Which stands to reason, seeing as mouthpiece placement varies from one player to another.

[Donn]

I have a mustache, and yet don't stick my mouthpiece on top of hair. There's a spot about a quarter inch wide at the center of my upper lip that I keep somewhat clear, mainly because once several years ago a hair there went on the rampage and left me with a bloody lip at the end of the show. I do shave below my lower lip. It's possible that my mustache interferes with pedal notes, from Bb an octave and a half below the staff on down - but never in my life has anyone ever wanted notes in that range from me, so it's a small loss if so.

[Donn]

Every tuba player is a celebrity.

[Tom B.]

There was a celebrity tubist. Pernell Roberts (who played Adam Cartwright and Trapper John on TV) played tuba in the Marine Band in the late 1940s. He was not a celebrity because he played tuba, but he was clean-shaven.

Tom
Meinl-Weston 2155 CC
Wessex Berg F

[MN_TimTuba]

Resurrecting an old thread, because I made the change.
I've had a beard and mustache for 30 years. I have noticed that my very low range (low F on down) were certainly not as clean and solid as my college days. I tried blaming the tuba (infamous 4th valve larger bore on the Holton), the mouthpiece (kept purchasing new ones to find that 'magic one'), lack of training/loss of previous training (thus went to see Dave Werden - which is always a good thing, btw). Finally gave in and shaved it all today. Picked up my BAT and swung - those pedal tones popped just like way back when. All the way down...wayyyyy down. Picked up my copy of Jupiter (all that optional octave down stuff) and it's there. As a bonus, the mid and high range seem to sound better. My upper lip definitely has more flexibility and things just sound "secure". I know a bunch of you have said the facial hair makes no difference; for me it absolutely did. I'm glad for the musical change; now, if I could just get my wife to stop laughing every time she sees me...
Hunker in yer bunker.
Tim

[Michael Grant]

Also, what kind of facial hair would be inconsequential to playing tuba? Thanks!

Eyebrows.

[cjk]

Also, what kind of facial hair would be inconsequential to playing tuba? Thanks!

Eyebrows.

Sideburns

[Michael Grant]

Also, what kind of facial hair would be inconsequential to playing tuba? Thanks!

Eyebrows.

Sideburns

I believe the scientific term is “mutton chops”.

Also that thing that some people wear on the very bottom of their chin. Not sure what it’s called. It’s not a full goatee or Van Dyke.

[Michael Grant]

[/quote]

Here's a rare photo of Elvis having grown a beard for a movie he made in 1969 when he played (yup) a tuba player...

I checked that out and it doesn’t mention anything about him playing the tuba. Said he was playing a doctor that falls for an incognito nun played by Mary Tyler Moore. The list of musicians that play in the movie (it says Elvis sings and plays guitar - no mention of tuba) has Roger Kellaway on piano. That’s pretty cool. Maybe Elvis said to him between takes something like (use your best Elvis voice hear) “Hey, Roger, Why don’t you write something really cool for tuba and piano? A crazy high part that sounds really jazzy and stuff. I think tuba players would really dig it. I’ll buy you Cadillac if you will”.

[Rick Denney]

Resurrecting an old thread, because I made the change.
I've had a beard and mustache for 30 years. I have noticed that my very low range (low F on down) were certainly not as clean and solid as my college days. I tried blaming the tuba (infamous 4th valve larger bore on the Holton), the mouthpiece (kept purchasing new ones to find that 'magic one'), lack of training/loss of previous training (thus went to see Dave Werden - which is always a good thing, btw). Finally gave in and shaved it all today. Picked up my BAT and swung - those pedal tones popped just like way back when. All the way down...wayyyyy down. Picked up my copy of Jupiter (all that optional octave down stuff) and it's there. As a bonus, the mid and high range seem to sound better. My upper lip definitely has more flexibility and things just sound "secure". I know a bunch of you have said the facial hair makes no difference; for me it absolutely did. I'm glad for the musical change; now, if I could just get my wife to stop laughing every time she sees me...
Hunker in yer bunker.
Tim

Yes, that's the part of the range I lack because of my beard. But I'd rather have (the illusion of) a chin than a pedal Bb.

Rick "who grew the beard in 1978" Denney

[eupho]

As a euphonium and tuba performer I found that shaving off my mustache and the area under my lower lip worked well. The shaved area fits both mouthpieces nicely. I keep an unshaved area from each lip corner around my chin. I like how it looks as well.

[MN_TimTuba]

Resurrecting an old thread, because I made the change.
I've had a beard and mustache for 30 years. I have noticed that my very low range (low F on down) were certainly not as clean and solid as my college days. I tried blaming the tuba (infamous 4th valve larger bore on the Holton), the mouthpiece (kept purchasing new ones to find that 'magic one'), lack of training/loss of previous training (thus went to see Dave Werden - which is always a good thing, btw). Finally gave in and shaved it all today. Picked up my BAT and swung - those pedal tones popped just like way back when. All the way down...wayyyyy down. Picked up my copy of Jupiter (all that optional octave down stuff) and it's there. As a bonus, the mid and high range seem to sound better. My upper lip definitely has more flexibility and things just sound "secure". I know a bunch of you have said the facial hair makes no difference; for me it absolutely did. I'm glad for the musical change; now, if I could just get my wife to stop laughing every time she sees me...
Hunker in yer bunker.
Tim

Yes, that's the part of the range I lack because of my beard. But I'd rather have (the illusion of) a chin than a pedal Bb.

Rick "who grew the beard in 1978" Denney

Rick,
Man, I hear ya. I'm getting a kick outta' the low range, but "yish!" when I pass a mirror. Still undecided on the trade-off. Then again, I've already snared my mate.
Tim "who couldn't grow a beard in '78 to save my soul" Fultz

[MN_TimTuba]

Also, what kind of facial hair would be inconsequential to playing tuba? Thanks!

Eyebrows.

Sideburns

The dewlap -

[bort]

How about a photo, Tim!

I usually do beard in the winter (for warmth) and shave in the summer (to keep cool).

Nearly the whole chin of my beard white already, and I guess I know what direction the rest of my head hair is going in (top = off, beard = white).

I much prefer to play tuba with no beard than with a beard. In college, I was obsessive about shaving and tuba playing. I sounded and played great in those years, although that's also because of spending hours and hours behind the horn each day.

The I met my wife, and she liked me in a beard... And so it goes...

[bort]

Also, I think the Mennonites have the perfect tuba facial hair.

[Rick Denney]

Also, I think the Mennonites have the perfect tuba facial hair.

Personally, I can't tolerate the idea of a beard with no mustache or chin hair. I just don't like the look.

But getting a seal through hair is tough, and the notes that suffer from the pressure required to do so are the low notes.

And I have also had problems with trimmed hair punching a hole in my lip, which is messy and disgusting.

Rick "vanity trumps all" Denney

[MN_TimTuba]

Also, I think the Mennonites have the perfect tuba facial hair.

And I have also had problems with trimmed hair punching a hole in my lip, which is messy and disgusting.

Rick "vanity trumps all" Denney

Same here. Most annoying to me is taking a quick deep breath and sucking in a loosened mustache hair which then gets lodged in the back of my throat. Uff-da.

[Donn]

And I have also had problems with trimmed hair punching a hole in my lip, which is messy and disgusting.

I seem to have resolved that by more thorough trimming. Arguably looks better too, if I manage to do it well. The very center needs a small clear space - for me it's one in the middle that will draw blood.

[ppalan]

...and then there's this guy...



...and of course him too...


Pete

[circusboy]

This sure is an evergreen discussion!

I think it's got a lot to do with the qualities of the facial hair, itself. I think that if you have thin, soft hair it won't affect your playing too much; but if you have thick, stiff hair, it will.

I have the latter and nevertheless sport a beard and moustache, anyway. I find that when I keep it trimmed very short (<3mm), it doesn't hurt my playing. Anything longer does. (Not that anyone would notice, given the overall consistency of my bad playing.)