Great news – music festival season is just around the corner! With SXSW kicking off today, and spring officially on its way (don’t forget Daylight Saving Time on Sunday!), music lovers have a lot to look forward to in the next several months.
Do you remember the first concert you ever attended? There’s nothing quite like the thrill of being surrounded by hundreds of fans like yourself, and hearing your favorite band live on stage. Now imagine that for three or four days straight. And with so many great festivals to choose from, fans all around the U.S. can join in on the fun. So take your pick – will you be drinking in the music, art, fashion and films at SXSW? Fending off the April showers at Coachella, or breaking out your cowboy boots for Stagecoach? Throwing up your umbrella for Seattle’s Sasquatch in May? Whatever makes your toe tap, music festivals are the ultimate experience as a music fan.
That being said, it’s also important to protect your most valuable asset: your ears. As a musician, your ears are important to your craft and your career, so it makes sense to take care of them. Earplugs may not be the coolest, but you may be thanking yourself in forty years when you still can recognize perfect pitch! And it’s important for everyone: not only as a fan in the audience, but when you’re performing on stage – whether you’re in a heavy metal band or a classical orchestra. Studies have shown that most musicians, after years of exposure, have at least one sign of hearing loss.
Read on for a few ideas to consider when it comes to protecting your hearing, as originally published over at Livestrong.com:
1. Earplugs for Musicians
Earplugs are a great way to reduce noise and protect against hearing damage. For the musician, though, it gets a bit complicated. If they just needed to block noise, a wad of toilet paper would do. But, the musician needs to reduce noise and still hear the quality of the music. Luckily, there’s an earplug for that. Special musician’s earplugs reduce the noise but retain the richness of the music. They do this by using unique filters that lower the overall sound level, but still capture the full range of musical notes. Musician’s earplugs can be bought in standard, one-size-fits-all models or can be custom made by an audiologist.
2. Drummer’s Headphones
Drummers are a special breed. With unstoppable rhythm, they’re constantly tapping on this or whacking on that. But a drummer’s ears are also taking a beating. Even in practice. So, a little prevention is in order. Practice headphones can reduce the noise level of drums by over 20 decibels. These headphones are made of a hard outer shell and a soft inner cushion, and they cover the entire ear. While no self-respecting drummer would be caught dead with these on stage, they’re the perfect answer for practice sessions.
3. Musical Mutes
You don’t have to be a rocker to ruin your hearing. Even classical musicians are at risk, with violins and violas being two of the worst offenders. Violin and viola players usually have hearing loss in their left ears, because they hold the instrument next to that side of their head while they play. But there’s help. Devices known as “mutes” help deaden the vibrations and soften the sounds. These devices usually fit over the bridge of the instrument and are made of metal, rubber or wood.
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Suzy S.