Musicians are cool! Their shows bring us so much enjoyment. But music is so much more powerful when it’s loud, and that can be a hearing risk. Since musicians subject themselves to loud music frequently, their hearing is at greater risk of being harmed.
Whether your living depends on music or not, you’ll still want to be able to hear your favorite songs when you’re pushing 60, 70, or 80. The key to having an extended successful career, for musicians, is protecting their ears. Ear protection is also key to a lifetime of musical enjoyment for everybody.
Sometimes it can be surprising how loud music can be
Most people would say that a jet engine is really loud.
Is music really that loud? If you ask somebody whether an acoustic guitar or a lone violin is noisy, they may not answer so quickly. Usually, when they hear the answer, they’re pretty surprised: That can also be very loud music! Your ears can even be harmed by classical music which can get to fairly high volumes.
A violin, for instance, can create sounds in excess of 90 dB. That’s around as noisy as a leaf blower. To put that into context, the European Union regulations dictate that any work environment noisier than 85 dB requires the use of hearing protection.
And your hearing can be significantly damaged over time if you’re working with music every day, especially if you don’t use hearing protection.
How can you safeguard your hearing?
Okay, now you recognize that musicians need to safeguard their hearing (particularly if they want to go on rocking out for years to come). So how can musicians continue to enjoy their music while also safeguarding their hearing?
Well, here are a couple of simple things musicians can do:
- Track your volume: Knowledge is power, right? So it follows that you should always be aware of what volume of sound you’re exposing your ears to. Sometimes, this is as easy as monitoring your volume settings on amps and receivers. But you can also keep track of day-to-day volume levels of environmental noises using a volume meter app that you can download on your cellphone. You will want to make a few changes if the meter regularly detects volumes above 85 dB.
- Take breaks: Like any part of your body, your ears can become fatigued and might need to get a little rest. So give yourself “hearing breaks” frequently. This will help prevent your ears from getting overwhelmed with sound (and damage). Regarding hearing, how long you’re exposed is nearly as significant as how loud it is. Taking breaks can be the difference between just enough stimulation and too much!
Wear ear protection
Of course, the single most effective thing you can do to protect your ears is simple: using hearing protection of some kind. A lot of musicians are concerned that ear protection will mute the sound and effects its overall sound quality. That’s not always true, depending on which kind of ear protection you use.
- Ear plugs made specifically for musicians: Most people are likely acquainted with disposable ear plugs. They’re fairly good at stopping a lot of sound though they sometimes don’t fit very well. They’re inexpensive, easy to come by, and easy to dispose of. For musicians, they aren’t a great solution. However, by paying a little more, you can purchase high-quality earplugs made specifically for musicians. These earplugs use fancy manufacturing processes (mostly they’re made out of very distinct materials and are designed to conform nicely to the ear) to maintain audio clarity while diminishing the noise you hear by around 20dB. This solution is perfect for musicians who need a light to moderate level of protection (and who don’t have a ton of money to invest in earplugs, or are likely to lose them).
- Electronic earplugs: Electronic earplugs work in pretty much the same way as high-quality, non-electronic earplugs. Most of the sound will be blocked by the earplug itself. What you hear will instead be routed in by the earplug itself. For individuals who work in very noisy environments and need better control of the volume, these earplugs are perfect.
- In-ear monitors: Electronics are a major part of modern music. A device, known as an in-ear-monitor, is placed inside of your ear and sends signals in electronically. It’s like a special little speaker for your ear, and most monitors can block out sound from the outside environment (thanks to a rather tight fit and specialized design). So you control the volume level and are able to hear sound in an accurate and clear way. In-ear monitors are useful for individuals who work mainly with electronically amplified instruments.
Safeguard your career by protecting your ears
It’s never too late to take steps to protect your hearing, but it’s definitely a good idea to begin sooner rather than later. Everyone can safeguard their hearing and future with hearing protection solutions for every budget. Keep in mind, hearing protection for a musician is an investment in your career. It’s one way to be certain you’ll be making incredible music for many years (maybe even decades) to come!
Contact us so we can help you get started.
