Musicians rock. Their songs bring us so much enjoyment. The drawback is that music is nearly always loud, in fact, many people like it better that way. The musicians themselves are at an even greater danger of hearing damage since they are exposed to loud music just about every day.
As you get older, you’ll still want to be able to enjoy your favorite songs whether you’re a musician or not. The key to having a lengthy successful career, for musicians, is protecting their ears. Ear protection is also key to a lifetime of musical enjoyment for everyone.
Music is surprisingly loud
Most people would say that a jet engine is really loud.
But what about music? If you ask somebody whether an acoustic guitar or a lone violin is noisy, they might not answer right away. Imagine their surprise when they discover the reality: That can also be very loud music! Even classical music can get to fairly high volumes that can easily harm your hearing.
A violin, for instance, can create sounds in excess of 90 dB. That’s about as noisy as a leaf blower. To put that into context, the European Union regulations stipulate that any workplace noisier than 85 dB will require the use of hearing protection.
And your hearing can be significantly damaged over time if you’re working with music every day, particularly if you don’t wear hearing protection.
Can you protect your ears from noise damage?
Okay, musicians who want to keep their hearing for years to come need to protect their ears. So what can musicians do to safeguard their ears and still take pleasure in the music they love so much?
Well, here are a couple of simple things musicians can do:
- Take breaks: Like any part of your body, your ears can become tired and may need to get a little rest. So give yourself “hearing breaks” frequently. In this way, noises won’t overpower and harm your ears. Duration is almost as important as volume with regard to hearing health. Taking breaks can be the difference between just enough stimulation and too much!
- Track your volume: Everyone knows the old saying “knowledge is power”. So being aware of volume levels of sounds around you will help you protect your hearing. Keeping track of the volume on amps and PA systems is one factor. But you can also purchase a decibel meter app for your cellphone to make it easy to track the real-world volume levels your ears are encountering from day-to-day. You will need to make some changes if the meter consistently detects volumes above 85 dB.
Ear protection is important
Needless to say, the single most beneficial thing you can do to protect your ears is simple: wearing ear protection of some kind. Many musicians are unwilling to use hearing protection because they’re concerned it will impact the quality of sound they hear, as well as dampening the volume. That isn’t always true, depending on which kind of hearing protection you choose.
- Ear plugs made mainly for musicians: Disposable earplugs are something that’s most likely very well known to most people. They’re pretty good at stopping a lot of sound though they sometimes don’t fit comfortably. They’re cheap, easy to find, and easy to throw away. And they aren’t ideal for musicians. But earplugs made just for musicians are also available for a little more money. These earplugs use cutting-edge manufacturing processes (mostly they’re made out of very specific materials and are designed to fit comfortably in the ear) to maintain audio fidelity while diminishing the noise you hear by something like 20dB. For musicians who require a moderate amount of protection on a budget, this option is perfect.
- Electronic earplugs: The same general functionality found in non-electronic earplugs can be found in electronic earplugs. The earplug itself will block out most of the sound. What you hear will instead be routed in by the earplug itself. This solution is perfect for individuals who work in particularly noisy settings, and who want more options in terms of volume control.
- In-ear monitors: The majority of music is electronic now, or at least amplified by electronics. An in-ear monitor takes those electronic signals and transmits them directly to a device placed inside of your ear (called an in-ear monitor). Most monitors are small speakers that fit tightly and block out the majority of sound while playing sounds you want to hear at less harmful volumes. This means you can hear exactly how you sound, at a volume you control. For musicians who electronically amplify their instruments these in-ear-monitors are the ideal answer.
Safeguard your career by protecting your hearing
It’s better to begin safeguarding your hearing early, before any substantial harm occurs. With solutions available at nearly every price point, there are easy ways for everyone to protect their hearing and their future. Remember that you’re investing in your career by using hearing protection for musicians. It’s one way to be certain you’ll be making amazing music for many years (maybe even decades) to come!
Don’t really know where to start? Call us today, we can help!
