 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William
Date: 2003-07-12 14:58
Reminds me of a recent Madison (WI) stage production of "Miss Saigon" done by a touring company, during which the amplification of the pit and vocals was sooo loud that I had to resort to my musicians ear plugs--or leave the theator. Not to mention the bone jarring sound systems of our local cinemas--yikes!!! Am I just getting "too old" or do others feel the same way???
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-07-12 15:32
Well said, Wm, with our seniors numbers increasing steadily, perhaps we can get SOME relief [attention!]. The "modern" sounds and music seem to be the opposite of "A soft answer turneth away wrath", doesn't it? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-07-12 22:50
Hi,
Funny who has responded to this thread; I suspect that our combined ages would total 260+.
Gentlemen, we are becoming the Older BB Gang!
HRL
PS I still enjoy cranking up my home stereo (oops, surround) and the one in the car. Remember HiFi?
Post Edited (2003-07-13 23:03)
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2003-07-13 13:42
Well, I am 39 for the first time, and I also think it is ridiculous when you feel you need earplugs at a musical or at the movies! It distracts from the performance because your ears and body are processing such sheer volume, not to mention the effect on one's hearing over time. We took the kids to see Sesame Street Live awhile back, and even that was too loud.
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-07-13 14:33
Hi Ken:
The excellent article on "Quiet!" you cited, has really caught on in the Broadway Theatre community. For years we have been at odds with the Sound Designers to help us play more acoustically, with less amplified mic sounds in the pit. In the big orchestras here in NYC, I almost always wear earplugs, the sound levels have achieved an all time high! Audience goers have often complained about the excessive levels of sound coming at them during the performance.
The Musician's Union has recently made available free custom fitted earplugs to members who are in dangerously loud musical situations, a good idea.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2003-07-13 16:25
Very interesting, John. I have only played in community productions that are light on the amplification. So, if the audiences and the musicians don't want it, why does the decibel level remain so high?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-07-13 17:47
clarinetwife asked:
>So, if the audiences and the musicians don't want it, why does the decibel level remain so >high?
Because most people still have the mind set that "bigger is better."
Bigger food portions, bigger autos, bigger boats, bigger families, etc...
Sadly, we now seem to be a society that favors excess, and the trend is escalating...GBK
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Author: george
Date: 2003-07-13 18:14
GBK has it. Everything is excessive and in your face--pop music, the visual arts, movies, you name it. There's no place for the slightest subtlety in today's culture.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-07-13 19:23
GBK - As George says, you are right, and with Hank L observing that we-elders are seemingly more concerned-alarmed with the "loud and haste" attitudes-practices of our ?youngers?, expressed in communication-advertising-speech and in sounds , TV, music etc, what to do?? In my small portion of our world, I frequently ask [tell?] the "fast-talkers" to slow down for my understanding. In our comm. band [avg. age about in 60's] I echo our conductor's quieting us down, where appropriate for better performance-effects, even softening myself! [and bari-sax playing-friend!]. Any thots on how to return to the "good ole days", perhaps the 50s-60s?? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-07-14 03:22
I think one answer might be; in today's Broadway pits there are fewer musicians (all the new shows will have fewer than 19 musicians).
This has been a trend for the last 15 years or more, fewer musicians=more amplification. Audiences are paying big bucks for shows these days (in excess of $100, and $240 in some special cases), therefore, the producers feel the need to give the audiences more sound and visual effects (smoke, gun shots, light effects, stage manipulations, etc.). We, the musicians and actors, all suffer from these "necessary" effects, and are constantly battling, with the help of our Union, to stop these excesses.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-07-14 15:47
Ken:
The ear plugs the Union pays for and recommends are:
Musician's Ear Plugs
Radio Partner
243 W. 30th St.
NYC 10001
212-967-7628
I personally use Westone Plugs.
They're a little more expensive, but have several noise isolation inserts for different sound levels, and are easy to play with.
The best inexpensive foam plugs are:
"Max 30" made by Howard Leight Hearing Protection
7828 Waterville Rd.
San Diego, CA 92173
619-661-8383
Ask for some free samples. I purchased a box of 100 to give out to my students. I believe in 20 yrs. they're still have good hearing.
Good luck, keep those ears protected,
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: msloss
Date: 2003-07-14 16:13
JJM, I use Etymotic Research ER-15s, which I have to say are fabulous because they don't screw with the spectrum of sound, they just drop the level 15dB. However, with all the earplugs I've ever tried, I can't get away from that kazoo-in-the-brain sensation playing clarinet/sax. Have any of the plugs you use been effective at taking the edge off, but still allow you to hear the instrument properly?
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-07-14 17:30
"Have any of the plugs you use been effective at taking the edge off, but still allow you to hear the instrument properly?"
Yes, msloss;
The inexpensive foam plugs I mentioned above work just fine for that application. You insert the compressed foam plug into your ear just a little, or at any depth, to partially block out any unwanted, (or unexpected!) loud sounds, and still maintain a good sense of your own sound.
I also advise you and all, protect those ears!
You only get two this time around.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-07-15 12:22
Actually, this is Mrs. Ken including my .02.
This is not a new phenomenon -- I remember complaining bitterly about the sound system for 42nd Street over 20 years ago and stating that the audio person should have been fired. They left the dialogue alone and then jacked up the band -- just the opposite of what should have been.
And we have not been in a movie theater in almost 20 years -- not only the decibel level but the schlocky music tracks as well. The joys of DVD is being able to control the sound levels -- even though I think Ken plays CDs and DVDs too loud! I'm a soft freak.
I find the Bose noise reduction headphones great for listening to music when the airconditioning is on, the playground in front of our apartment is in full blast or the idiot downstairs is being particularly obnoxious.
Best regards,
Mary Vinquist
(Mrs. Ken Shaw)
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Author: lyn
Date: 2003-07-17 21:18
One of my students (a boy, 8th grade) had operations this year on both his ear drums. One was totally blown out. The other was pretty mangled. And evidently somehow from the problems with the eardrums, bacteria was able to form inside his inner ear (not the middle, where kids usually get ear infections) and he lost 50% of his hearing in one ear.
I asked him what caused the blown ear drums to begin with, loud music in headphones? And he said yes......
Lynn
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