Klarinet Archive - Posting 000446.txt from 1997/08

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Musician's Ear Plugs
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 12:28:12 -0400

John,
I went and was fitted for those special ear plugs that the
military musicians wear. I found that I couldn't play in orchestra because
they blocked out too much sound. I guess they would be fine in a marching
band where blending and taking your cue from a solo 'cello would not be a
factor, but in the orchestra they were a hinderance. As I sit in front of
the trumpets and we have a small stage, I need ear protection and I have
found that cotton is just fine because it mutes the trumpets enough that I
can deal with the sound (I don't need TOTAL noise reduction anyway - only
partial) and I can still hear everything else on stage (within
reason).

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Tue, 12 Aug 1997, John Reeks wrote:

> Does anyone have any experience playing clarinet while wearing
> specially-fitted musician's earplugs?
> John Reeks
>