 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Michael
Date: 2002-03-01 22:33
Hi, since I started playing in shows, I noticed that alot of the msucians in the pit wear ear plugs & I am quite embarrased to ask them lots of questions, like most importnatly do they really work? & what affect does it have on aural perception? & what are a "good pair" to purchase? & who uses these with great affect?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2002-03-02 03:01
Just a bit of advice for all young musicians who regularily perform in loud ensembles from one for whom it is too late--please use ear protection before your inner ears are permanetly damaged for life. I now have a ringing in my ears ALL THE TIME from a lifetime of playing infront of loud instruments and amplifiers, a ringing that is now interferring with my understanding of normal speech, much less enjoying listening to music. This damage, I am told by audiologists, could have been prevented by the use of ear plugs that are now available specifically for musicians. I have a set that I now use most of the time to prevent further deterioration, and while they take a little getting used to, they seem to work fairly well in letting me hear what I need to and blocking the loud sounds that do the damage. Fortunately, I am seeing more and more young players using these devices--but too many are still "too cool" and think that their ears are indestructable. I've got news--been there, thought that, myself!!! Now older and in auditory trouble, I know better--hope you are all listening to these words I am typing before it is too late for you to hear. Good Clarineting (with protected ears)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roger -- the other one
Date: 2002-03-02 09:31
Listen to William --- Hearing loss is something you dont notice, it is a gradual thing that progresses over many years --- About 3 years ago after telling my kids and lovely wife to speak up for as long as I can recall I had a hearing test and was told I had severe hearing loss. I now wear $6000-00 worth of hearing aids in both ears and now I hear sounds that I had forgotten about , like the wind rustling the leaves --- I can't ever remember hearing this before --- and my Clarinet and Piano have taken on new life for me, but I'm sure those without hearing loss and hearing aids still hear a whole lot better than I do. So listen to William and dont be silly and think you can handle the decibels -- you probably can, for a while --- but can you handle wearing hearing aids for the rest of your life?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-03-02 16:57
Roger, how about dropping me a line at <thearney@ncn.net>. I wear dual hearing aids and frequently wonder if what I am hearing is anything like "true" sound. Sure seems to amplify all the "whoosh" when I am working on my Bass. Do you turn them off to avoid the "stereo treble turned up too high" feeling? And how do you know when a reed is really performing correctly? What do others hear? Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken
Date: 2002-03-03 13:53
I can only echo the previous remarks. In the past 25 years as a regular performer I've played in large concert bands, jazz bands, quintets, nightclub combos and pop/rock groups. In that time, I've been forced to endure blasting trumpets and trombones, booming electric guitars and bass, overly-miked drum kits (that looked more like a village), screaming hot monitors at close range, outside/low-covered festival stages with hard floors and mountains of speaker stacks, and extremely poor rehearsal facilities (as well as many more injurious environments).
Being foolish and macho, I allowed my ears to be unprotected and exposed to the elements and have developed an annoying case of tinnitus in both ears ... for me, an incessantly high-pitched, audible ringing similar to a train whistle. Luckily, I've only sustained a small shift in two frequencies and minimal hearing loss. However, I have a slight case of the mumbles and must consciously speak up and enunciate my words to be understood.
5 years ago I finally wised-up and got fitted for a set of molded plugs I now use religiously. I'd recommend even if one is not a full-time musician, go see an ENT doctor and order a set. They take a bit of getting used to at first and not cheap ... mine cost over $100. If these are too pricey (although shouldn't be because you're hearing is worth every penny) pick-up a box of the cheap foam types.
v/r
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-03-03 21:31
When I played in a pit orchestra (that time on viola not clarinet) I was normally placed in front of the trumpets/trombones. To have not worn ear plugs would have made life horrendous.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jez
Date: 2002-03-04 13:55
An alternative to ear-plugs is to use screens placed behind your head to protect from noisy brass/percussion players behind you.
These are perspex so visibility is not affected and are either quite large and flat or smaller and curved so they fit round your head. They can either fit directly on to your chair or be free-standing on legs, like a music stand.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
