Hi. A bit strange and perhaps very local question from a norwegian fluteplayer.. I have used “snus” (fine cut tobacco that you put under your upper lip.. very popular in Sweden and Norway.. USA has a variant also..) since I was about 16 years old. I am now 36. I started playing the flute a couple of years ago and although I do have some progress I am still having trouple getting my embouchure stable. I get good tone occasionally, but I am unable to maintain the tone very long. I remove the snus when I play, but are there anyone out there that have any experience with this?
I am trying to kick the bad habit, and if it improves my flute playing that may be the final motivation needed!
Hehe..not really helpful Andreas. You just won’t let me forget that the flute was in worse shape than you expected, won’t you… As mentioned above I remove the snus before playing, but I guess it doesn’t help the muscle memory in my lips, though..
I have a little experience with snus as my wife is scandinavian, and on my visits there I have known a few people to use it.
Apart from possibly giving you all sorts of horrible cancer, and the fact that it makes your gum shrink, it may very possibly numb your inner lips as a side effect, thus prohibiting a sensitive embouchure. This my not be so apparent right now, but after a while (after quitting, and please do) you may get the sensitivity back, and then you will know the difference.
In my family I had a number of relatives who worked in the shipyards of Maine during the 1800’s. Because of the flammability of the materials they worked with and around (pitch, glues, paints, varnish. shellac, and sawdust) they were constrained from smoking and so used ‘snoose’ or ‘chaw-tobacco’. I know of at least three who had horrific mouth, tongue, and facial cancers, suffering grotesque facial disfigurements because of the primitive state of surgery in that day.
Nicotine is an alkaloid often classed as a narcotic. It acts directly on the central nervous system and I have little doubt it would adversely effect your facial nerves. Please improve your fluting by quitting.
You may be familiar with a Scandinavian (probably Swedish) proverb that goes: The patient died, but his fever left him. . .Don’t let dying be the cause of your ceasing to use ‘snoose’.
While I wouldn’t want to promote use of any tobacco based products, snus is generally considered way safer, and ,less carciogenic, than cigarettes etc.
I suspect that the materials they worked with and around, with probably none of the protection (face masks, extraction fans etc) we’d have today, would likely have substantially contributed to those facial cancers.
I smoked on and off for a number of years when I was younger (until 28 I think). I also used “snus” for a brief period during college. However, “snus” was much more difficult to quit than smoking. For me at least. …and you’ve been at it for 16 years!
So good luck to you, my friend! And I would, as others have, recommend you stop. Maybe the use of nicotine gum, patch, or both will help. Hope the flute playing comes along as well.
“Ashtray” lid found on many snus tins, which snaps in and out of place. The small compartment is typically used for the temporary storage of used snus."
I can’t play (very well) with snus under my upper lip.. I use the ‘teabag’ variant so they’re pretty easily disposed of without leaving traces in the flute
I know that any tobacco or nicotine products are bad for me, and I know I should stop, and I am trying to! I was wondering if there are others out there with experience playing the flute and using snus. I’d like to know from other people what experience they had after giving it up regarding better tone control and embouchure.
Mr Blackwood; How long have you been using and how long have you played the flute? What came first? Flute or snus?
I have lots of good arguments and motivations to quit, but I was also hoping to hear from anyone saing that the playing will greatly benefit from quitting!
I have decided that when (not if) I quit I can put aside money for a new flute… That’s motivation:-)
Mmmm, I love snus. Probably a good thing that the real Swedish stuff is nonexistent in this area. I used to order it online… General and Ettan were my favorites.
I have been a snus (ab)user for more years than i care to remember.. my flute (ab)use have only been serious for around 7 months (since i got my Murray) for 15 years i had an old German flute that was nigh on unplayable, snus or no snus.
Unfortunately my willpower ended after quitting smoking, so for now/the foreseeable future, i will simply put my wee ‘teabag’ in the lid tray whilst playing the flute.
I am proud to announce that I am answering my own question. I have now been a non-snuser for one week! I was really motivated to stop and had decided that this year (after 20 years off tobacco/nicotine addiction) was the year to kick the habit!
As flute embouchure goes I really find it improving after only one week. I have much more sensivity in my upper lip and the muscle memory seems to be much better. It is much easier to find the sweet spot and hold it longer. Although it has been a rough week and I am prepared for a long period of the shakes I am really happy and motivated and convinced this is the right way for both my health and my fluteplaying!!
Just to let you know.. I have now been 44 days without any tobacco or nicotine and my embouchure har GREATLY improved! It is almost crazy how much my lips were affected when snusing. For the first time I can really hear how much honk there is in my M&E ebonite flute. I feel I have so much more control and the tone is fuller and with much more volume and intonation! Today I have been at it for several hours and it is a sheer joy to play!
My only regret is that I did’nt quit many years ago! Or never started in the first place.. snusing that is, not fluteplaying:-)
As mentioned above I remove the snus before playing, but I guess it doesn’t help the muscle memory in my lips, though..
