 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Stacey
Date: 2005-05-17 18:50
I've heard that playing the piccolo CAN cause ear damage and hearing loss. I was just wondering if anyone can tell me how much danger there is of this, and how much piccolo playing it would take to cause this. I know it does hurt my ears at times! Thanks.
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Author: Theboy_2
Date: 2005-05-18 04:00
i can't see there be any permanent ear damage to the sound of a piccolo. i've sat next to piccolo players in bands before and have never had any ear damage. the most that can happen is a ringing in the ears which usually goes away after a few hours. if you get hearing loss, which is unlikely, it would be on the higher frequencies. what happens is the cilia in the cochlea are moving so fast and break off. but the amount that are damaged and the amount total in the cochlea is insignificant. you would have to have the piccolo in your ear playing high altissimo at fortississimo(really really loud) for there to be any significant ear hearing damage. it is possible to have hearing damage, but only on continued exposure over a long period time. i have idiopathic tenitis, the condition of ringing in the ears 24 hours a day, and the piccolo did not cause any damage leading to this condition, nor has any instrument. hope this helps.
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Author: abc
Date: 2005-05-19 01:00
Well, there are professionals who are deaf in their right ear...like, just imagine it. such a high pitched instrument ringing by your ear whenever you play. doesn't it hurt? it hurts when i play altissimo on a flute...well, you can ask a doctor or your band teacher for a better answer
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Author: Flute472
Date: 2005-05-19 03:57
Playing the piccolo for a long period of time can be quite damaging to the ear.
One prevention that i have read on the internet is that what you can do is go out and but some special earplugs or just ordinary earplugs that would help protect your ear but not totally blocking out the sound of the piccolo, cause then you wouldn't be able to hear yourself play.
Also, it would be good if you can carry around extra earplugs to borrow to the people sitting next to you, ifthey need it that is.
Hope this helps.
ps: some professional piccolo players really do that.
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Author: so-fee
Date: 2005-05-22 01:00
Alot of music teachers wear earplugs aswell, I know my music teacher does on a regular occasion. When you have lots of instrumantalists who are just learning to play some high notes but really have no controll over the sound/pitch you really do need the earplugs.
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Author: like_u_care
Date: 2005-06-10 03:09
i dont think so. it causes short term ringing/stining in your ears but i play it and the high notes, even, have never bothered me much.
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Author: hannah
Date: 2005-06-15 00:18
lol. everyone likes to complain about us piccolos! i've never heard of any serious health problems relating to playing it though. just a little ringing in the ears, but i've never even had that last longer than band practice.
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Author: piccolo
Date: 2005-06-16 06:14
ya..
wat hannah says is true..
pple will just complain..
cant help if u hafta play ff
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