 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: dtclarinet ★2017
Date: 2009-03-10 21:01
I often need to use earplugs while playing in my orchestra, the Columbus Symphony. Our stage has extremely booming acoustics, meaning the sound bounces around in the box of our shell before getting off the stage.
It's tricky playing with earplugs, since you can't hear yourself very well, so I only do it when absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, that means I either forget to put them in or it's too late before a loud passage begins, leaving my (already damaged) eardrums suffering under extreme stress.
A few weeks ago I decided to practice a bit at home wearing earplugs to see if I could get used to doing so. I recorded myself playing with plugs, and was surprised at how good everything sounded. As long as I kept in mind the feel of basic technique, soft jaw, forward air, high tongue, etc, it wasn't a problem at all. Plugs only block the loudest sounds, so pitch is not a problem, either.
Last night, with plugs in, I played a few different mouthpieces and recorded myself while testing them. To my surprise, one MP which I thought was pretty good didn't sound as good as the others. (Playing with plugs, you don't "doctor" a sound as much, and, in fact, play more naturally, by feel)
I tried the same earplug test with barrels, and was able to identify the barrel most suited to facilitate my playing and sound.
Today I put this idea to a real test. I tried it with a student! And the result was a great success. After tutoring her on how to identify and play well by FEEL, she was able to thrive with plugs in. Then, when she removed the plugs to play some more, she was able to detach from reacting to what she heard, and continued to play by "feel", resulting in much freer, more consistent and more controlled playing.
I wrote about this in a blog post. You can see it at
http://blog.davidhthomas.net/2009/03/the-rewards-of-playing-with-earplugs/
(to answer some questions below, I'm adding text here.)
At work I use custom decibel reducing plugs, with a 15 DB reduction plug. I have found that I can learn to hear the other winds well after a period of adjustment. At home I just use regular foam plugs.
David Thomas
Principal Clarinetist
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Blog- TheBuzzingReed.com
Post Edited (2009-03-11 22:30)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-03-10 22:05
What kind of plugs were you using? I've occasionally used plain drug store earplugs for concerts that involved cannon fire (mostly 1812 Overture) and found the worst part, besides having to trust that the plugs weren't changing how I sounded, was that most of what I *did* hear was me. The difficulty wasn't so much what the plugs did to my perception of my own sound, but more that I couldn't hear others around me as well. I had no idea where the other winds' pitch was in passages that predictably needed tuning adjustment.
Have you found this to be true at all when you play in the orchestra with the plugs?
Karl
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Author: D
Date: 2009-03-10 22:22
I've never tried plugs when playing, but I have tried them for other things and found it difficult to get plugs which will fit in my very small ears, stay there and not hurt and also block some sound. I can't tolerate headphones either as these always seem to be too big or the wrong shape. No idea how children listen to ipods.
So yes, also interested in brands people have found comfortable, especially if they have small ears.
dt, did you find it hard to judge how loud you are playing in relation to what is going on around you?
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2009-03-11 03:00
D
I have a pair of 10db Etymotic Research earplugs which fit too loosely in my ears, which means this brand might work for you. I ordered them on-line.
As a bass clarinetist who sits in front of a very good trumpet player, I now use one -30db foam plug in whichever ear is closest to his trumpet. I also wear hearing aids as I did not start using the plugs soon enough.
I sit next to a bassoonist who has played professionally for many years and who uses plugs that look similar to my Etymotic's in both ears. She does not need hearing aids.
George L
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Author: D
Date: 2009-03-11 06:29
Thanks George, I'll bookmark that.
D
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Author: Ed
Date: 2009-03-11 14:37
Interesting. It is likely the same way we manage when we cannot hear ourselves in a large ensemble.
Of course the geek in me is intrigued by the mouthpiece, barrel dilemma. I would love to hear more about what you tried and found in such a blind, or should I say, deaf testing.
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Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2009-03-11 15:43
In my experience, the challenge with earplugs is to get them out quickly enough after loud passages, when there is immediately a soft passage with other winds where tuning with those winds is an issue.
Two examples that come to mind are:
1) The last movement of Pictures at an Exhibition where you segue from injurious volume from the brass and percussion to a quiet chorale of soft winds, without time to take out your earplugs.
2) Every Bruckner symphony. My orchestra is recording the Bruckner symphonies, one per year. Bruckner's shtick is to juxtapose baleful brass volume with immediate pp chords in the woodwinds. These soft chords usually contain a lot of open 5th and octaves, particularly beastly to tune. As a clarinetist sitting mere feet from three trumpets playing as loud as physically possible, the only option to going deaf is to plug your ears with your fingers without playing the loud passages and come in on the soft passages.
(A pox on Bruckner!)
------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Aldrich
Clarinet Faculty - McGill University
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre de l'Opera de Montreal
Artistic Director - Jeffery Summer Concerts
Clarinet - Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
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Author: ww.player
Date: 2009-03-11 17:26
When I was in a military band, OSHA got involved when many band members were showing significant hearing loss. After spending your tax dollars doing a study, they concluded that being in the band was damaging our hearing (big surprise).
We should all be wearing ear plugs, they concluded. They promptly issued us two pairs apiece.
When it was pointed out that we couldn't do our jobs wearing ear plugs, they suggested we wear them in one ear one day and the other ear the next. That way, we would only become deaf half as fast. Thanks for the help, guys. They didn't care, their job was done.
Anyway, I found that if I put them in only part way, so they were loose, they would block out some of the sound but still allow in enough to perform normally. It took a little getting used to and I still only used them occasionally.
They have developed hearing aids that function like ear plugs in that they allow in all sound below a certain decibel level (and can even amplify it, if desired) but block sounds above that level, called compression. Some sell for less than $100. It might be worth checking out for those suffering hearing damage since our hearing is so essential to our lives.
Post Edited (2009-03-11 18:56)
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2009-03-11 18:34
FWIW.....
I have worn an earplug when playing in band. That's right - I only use it in one ear, the side towards the trumpets/trombones. That helps as I can still hear what I need to hear yet block a good part of what I don't want to hear. I haven't been surrounded by the brass, which would render this idea a little less valuable.
MOO!
Matt
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Author: William
Date: 2009-03-11 18:41
My ear plugs are custom made by Westone from rubber molds taken of my ear canals by a local hospitol audiology lab. Pricey at about $180 for the set, the do work very well in blocking the loud, damaging sounds while also allowing the softer sounds to be heard. Tuning with them in is not a problem but blend and balance is, so I have them attached to a string which hangs around my neck for quick access as in the Bruckners LOL. Strangly enough, I also wear them when in loud social situations--ex. bar with loud music, etc--and I am able to hear conversation much more clearly than if listening without. But they do make your speech, like your clarinet playing, sound different to you and that is what is hardest about learning to use them regularily.
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Author: Rusty
Date: 2009-03-11 20:19
I play in two little bands and I might be prejudiced since I play clarinet and tennor sax but it seems to me that the trumpets are always blowing as hard as they can with the percussion not far behind them. You can rarely hear the flutes, clarinets or lower volume instruments.
I mentioned this to the conductor who isn`t aware of it, or prefers it this way.
Why is this? Is my hearing just more sensitive? I`m reluctant to go the earplug way.
Post Edited (2009-03-12 04:47)
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-03-11 21:31
There have been other posts about ear plugs.
I have had similar results. The sound quality with them in is not good. EAR, Etimotic, and custom made foam inserts all had similar results. With the plugs in, most of what I hear comes through my upper teeth, and is not very pleasant. A thick rubber mouthpiece patch helps, although I hate the thing. Have not tried over-the-ear protection - tonight (orchestra, reading) might be a good night for testing.
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Author: dtclarinet ★2017
Date: 2009-03-11 22:50
mouthpiece rejected- Chadash refaced by Lee Livengood- too bright and not enough sweet center
mouthpiece accepted- Zinner (A, I think, single ligature lines) refaced by Taimanov and Livengood- great focus and shape of sound, my best mouthpiece.
other mouthpiece accepted- old Strasser, (probably Lelandais Chedeville) refaced by Taimanov, excellent "old school" ping and sound, a bit bright and fussy with reeds, may have it touched up by Livengood.
barrels- Backun traditional cocobolo
David Thomas
Principal Clarinetist
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Blog- TheBuzzingReed.com
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Author: allencole
Date: 2009-03-12 17:08
Maybe something like Sonic II's which are designed for shooting ranges. They tend to block out hi-impact, lower pitched noises while allowing you to hear other things to a decent degree. I've used them playing in rock bands (standing in front of the drummer) and it does help.
However you're right about how unpleasant it makes you sound to yourself. Maybe this is a good challenge. Whatever it takes to make you able to stand yourself with earplugs may really open up your sound production in general.
I've had a similar experience writing in Sibelius. I find that a lot of charts sound fairly raucous on MIDI playback, but voice well with real instruments. Therefore, If I can get the voicings on MIDI so that I can even tolerate them, I have a pretty good arrangement for the live players.
Allen Cole
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2009-03-12 17:44
The ear plugs work great for concert band but I find in orchestra ear plugs do too much to perception...unless we are playing a loud pops concerts where it matters less.
Yes I did Bruckner with Eugen Jochum in the mid 80s... the wide dynamic range of this music can be as much a problem to play let alone hear.. Jochum did much to alleviate the problem by having the brass to the right side pointing at the cellos...poor cellos. But the distance was far enough not to make it too much a shock.
David Dow
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Author: dtclarinet ★2017
Date: 2009-03-12 21:37
To respond to the general tenor of the comments:
The point of my post is to suggest playing with plugs as a constructive exercise in dealing with unknown variables. In my opinion, it is quite possible to play very well with plugs in, any kind. After you get used to how it "feels" to sound good with plugs in, with the help of recording yourself to validate your sound, you'll feel more comfortable using them whenever necessary.
You can certainly hear yourself better, which means you should be more in tune in general. If your head is vibrating, you are probably biting too much. Back off, and you'll hear the "resonance" of your sound.
As far as balance and hearing others, if you play with a compact and clear sound, you don't need to play very loud, so you may balance better playing softer and listening for others.
No that I am confident of playing well with plugs, I don't fear those occasional moments when I don't have time to take them out before a soft passage right after a loud one.
@Allen Cole- Good suggestion about the Sonic ll's. And interesting analogy comparing midi blend to earplug blend. If you hear yourself sounding good with plugs, you must be sounding pretty good.
@David Dow- Try my suggestion of practicing with plugs to get used to how it "feels" to sound good. Record yourself to validate how you sound.
David Thomas
Principal Clarinetist
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Blog- TheBuzzingReed.com
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