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To most people it is undetectable, to some it is horrifying, but to me it is a badge of honor. Yes, I have a purple lip. Well, an occasionally purple lower lip, I should say, and not the whole lip just a small part in the middle. What’s the cause of it? Other than the fact that it has something to do with playing the trumpet, I have no earthly clue.
I was reminded of this phenomenon this morning while checking on some breathing mechanics in the mirror. Sure enough, after removing the mouthpiece, there is my badge of honor, a trumpet player’s right of passage. I can see you there wincing. Really, it isn’t bad, and when I’m not playing you would be hard pressed to notice anything at all. But why, you may be thinking, would I be proud of it? The answer to that is quite simple: my teacher had one just like it.
Ray Crisara was my teacher and mentor through the most formative and delicate years of my trumpet playing life, my undergraduate years. I looked up to him for just about everything. Luckily, I had a wonderful model to look up to. He is a man with many extraordinary and inimitable qualities, but clearly one of the most inspiring of those was his playing. His ability was truly incredible: thoughtful musicality mixed with impeccable control, a true musician’s trumpet player. In the 4 years I spent watching him play and talk, I noticed that he had a small purple mark on his lower lip. I always wondered about that mark, I wondered if it hurt or not, if it affected his playing in anyway. My conclusion was that it had no impact on his playing and that it was merely a sign of many years of lips on metal. As time wore on, that mark became a kind of symbol of quality: if my lip looked like that, perhaps it might sound like that too.
Now, my lip does look like that. My playing, however, doesn’t sound like his and honestly, I don’t think I play at the level that he did. But I still work at it. I still hear his sound and his words in my mind everyday, and everyday I work to get closer to reaching my potential as a player and musician. The evidence of all that work is there for anyone to see; I have the lip to prove it.
Hi, Craig
In the Spring of 1986 prof. Crisara fell while
ice skating and broke his arm.
He still played just as well while battling through the pain.
Also, one lesson I brought my daughter, and
Prof. Crisara tried to feed her a bottle of
apple juice while holding her with his broken arm!
I will always remember how kind he was to me
even though my playing was hard to listen to
most of the time.
D.Wagnon
Craig,
I think this article is great because I too see this mark on my teacher’s lip in Chicago. I’ve always wondered about it and maybe one day, I too will be able to join the purple lip club.
Hey Craig,
I don’t have a purple lip! I don’t practice enough anymore with TWO kids and a full time college job! I do however have a scared upper lip and an indented lower lip!! Maybe I can start another club! I hope life is grand for you!
All my best,
Todd
Todd,
Great to hear from you! I’m sure if you start another club you will have many people interested in joining. I’m glad to hear you guys are doing well. Hopefully our paths will cross again soon.
Best,
Craig