So I’m just wondering if anyone else has had fall facial growth interfere with their (I was going to say, ‘his’, but didn’t want to exclude anyone 
) flute playing?
I’ve been growing a beard for the last couple weeks until I finally couldn’t stand it any longer and shaved it all off today (A relief to both my wife and I). But when I did I found that my embouchure and resulting sound were much crisper. Apparently, the growth had affected my playing. Anyone else?
Erik
Shhhhh… Don’t tell James Galway your secret 
Mary
Or Ian Anderson, Matt Malloy, me…
I don’t know about the beard problem, cause I’ve never grown one, but when I have a totally clean shaven face I have alot of problems. My tone disappears and the flute slides all around on my lip. I find having a little hair on the face, but not too much, is ideal for flute playing. But that’s just me.
Yeah, can you imagine if those guys shaved ? Seriously, I’m not suggesting that it was the beard, but rather the change. I’m sure that I would have become used to it (Mr. Galway in mind, of course). I just didn’t expect it to affect it at all. Loren was telling me that he had the opposite happen (he cleaned up his act and had tone problems). I hope that wasn’t a secret, Loren
Erik
I had a mustache for several years, and just recently shaved it off. No change in tone, or other stuff, but the funny smell went away.
Do you think baldness (in men) can affect the tone of a flute when played, like the sound could maybe be brighter, less muffled from a bald guy, than from a guy or gal with a full head of hair playing the same flute?
I can only say that in the years I’ve been playing flute, my hairline has eroded. Yes, I’ve gotten better, but then, maybe the lack of oxygen is doing a number on my scalp…
Still have a beard, though…
For me, it’s moving from my receding hairline to my ears. I’ve noticed now that the barber discreetly shaves my ears. I think gravity has the tendancy over time to pull our hair away from the tops of our heads and put it elsewhere.
E
Dipping one’s chin in molasses
keeps a flute well in place;
indeed, the flute tends to
follow you through the day, I’ve
found. Always there when I
want it but hazardous in revolving
doors.
LOL! Your posts always show as poetry on my screen… I love it
Thanks for the kind words! Much
appreciated.
Never mind sudden hair loss…
…what about teeth falling out..??
{is that a bad thing?}
Boyd
Only if they fall into the
flute while you’re playing.
Otherwise you can carry on
till the end of the tune.
On 2002-11-12 18:51, boyd wrote:
Never mind sudden hair loss……what about teeth falling out..??
{is that a bad thing?}
Boyd
Man, Boyd, I assume there’s a story behind this one? Last time I saw you, you had all of your teeth (Well at least the front ones)