Klarinet Archive - Posting 000427.txt from 1995/06

From: Martin Brown MIS <brownm@-----.AU>
Subj: Coping with high volume from other band players
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 09:43:01 -0400

I have been having some problems recently with the volume level from brass
players imediately behind me in musical bands and orchestras. After doing
a show recently I had a ringing in one ear for two weeks. The next show I
did, there was a trumpet about a foot from my head who persisted in
blasting out several high notes in my ears.

Now the orchestra is playing a LOUD arrangement of a Wagner overture in
a very resonant rehearsal hall and I've taken to wearing ear plugs for the
final tuti section. Ear plugs make my own playing sound mighty weird and
in some cases inaudible. I can actually hear what the brass are playing
though, rather than just overload.

Has anyone had any success with baffles, plugs, muffs, hints to other
players, etc. ? I believe the Sydney Symphony experimented with seat mounted
sound deadeners. I really value my band and orchestra playing but I'm not
prepared to risk my hearing for it.

^~^~^~^~^~^~^^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
Martin Brown, Network and Systems Administrator
Phone: +61 2 325 1645 Fax: 325 1560 Email: martin.brown@-----.au
Stanilite Electronics P/L, Private Bag 2, North Ryde, Sydney NSW 2113 Australia