Vacation Beards and 2010 New Year Resolutions

Fuzzy chin, clean lip.

Irritation and humor.

During a week of vacation like this one I can boycott shaving. I let it all go for one whole week and see what happens.

Playing horn with a fuzzy lip however is unbearable. Even during vacation, I shave one small patch — a spot right between and a bit above the two crowning peaks of the upper lip — in order to keep playing comfortably.

Bristled hairs may look manly but inside the mouthpiece they irritate my vibrating lips – it feels like cactus needles.

Carefully shaving this small area helps prevents this irritation and any resulting swelling that can occur afterward. Not at all men need to do this, but I definitely must.

Even in my fuzzy-chin self-portrait above,  my upper lip is clean. Click the image for a larger view … if you must.

(Side note – compare this to Julia Rose’s lip from a few months ago – ouch!)

5 New Year Resolutions, 2010

While shaving this little patch yesterday, a list of resolutions for the New Year came to mind.

In the tradition of New Year Resolutions, a list is tabulated. This list — whether written, oral or just in your head — functions like a benchmark. The New Year Resolution list is a quest for long-term self-improvement, for putting oneself on a better path.

In this spirit, I firmly pledge:

1. To practice with more diligence and respect, the Kopprasch etudes (…except the long, boring ones).
2. To clean my mouthpiece more often (…before the crispy critters begin to appear and multiply).
3. To respect conductors more and not criticize them as much (…unless they really deserve it).
4. To observe and implement conscientious intonation towards other musicians around me (…unless they are wrong, of course).
5. To complain less about working conditions at music gigs (…only if they serve coffee and cookies).

Have a happy and prosperous New Year!