Musicians rock. They bring so much joy to our lives with their performances. The downside is that music is nearly always loud, in fact, many individuals like it better that way. The musicians themselves are at an even greater danger of hearing damage since they are exposed to loud music nearly every day.
Whether your livelihood relies on music or not, you’ll still want to be able to hear your favorite songs when you’re in your later years of life. For musicians, safeguarding their hearing is the key to a lengthy and successful career. For the rest of us, ear protection is the secret to a lifetime of musical enjoyment and enrichment.
Music is surprisingly loud
Most people would say that a jet engine is really loud.
Is music actually that loud? People may not be so fast to answer that question if you ask them if a violin or acoustic guitar is loud. Imagine their surprise when they discover the reality: That can also be loud music! Your ears can even be damaged by classical music which can get to relatively loud volumes.
Sounds higher than 90 dB can be created by a violin, for instance. A leaf blower is around this loud. In Europe, for instance, they have regulations that require hearing protection for anyone who works in a work environment where there is noise louder than 85 dB.
And your hearing can be seriously compromised over time if you’re working with music every day, especially if you don’t use hearing protection.
Can you protect your ears from noise damage?
Okay, musicians who want to maintain their hearing for years to come need to protect their hearing. So what can musicians do to safeguard their ears and still take pleasure in the music they enjoy so much?
Well, here are a couple of easy things musicians can do:
- Take breaks: Like any part of your body, your ears can become exhausted and might need to get a little rest. So take regular breaks from the noise. By doing this, noises won’t overwhelm and damage your ears. Regarding hearing, how long you’re exposed is almost as significant as how high the volume is. The difference between the perfect amount of stimulation and too much can come down to taking frequent breaks.
- Track your volume: Knowledge is power, right? So it follows that you should always be aware of what volume of sound you’re subjecting your ears to. Usually, this is as simple as tracking your volume settings on amps and receivers. But you can also track day-to-day volume levels of external noises using a decibel meter app that you can download on your cellphone. If the meter reads above 85dB regularly, you’ll want to do something about this.
Ear protection is important
Using hearing protection is the single most effective way to protect your hearing. A lot of musicians are concerned that hearing protection will mute the sound and impact its overall sound quality. That’s not always the case, depending on which type of hearing protection you choose.
- Ear plugs made specifically for musicians: Most people are most likely acquainted with disposable ear plugs. They don’t always fit well, but they do reliably stop a lot of sound. They aren’t hard to find, aren’t expensive, and can be disposed of easily. For musicians, they aren’t the best solution. However, by spending just a little more money, you can buy high-quality earplugs designed chiefly 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 decreasing the noise you hear by around 20dB. For musicians who need a moderate amount of protection on a budget, this option is perfect.
- Electronic earplugs: The same basic functionality found in non-electronic earplugs can be found in electronic earplugs. The earplug itself will block the majority of the sound. But the earplug itself will pipe in the sound you hear. For individuals who work in really loud settings and need better control of the volume, these earplugs are perfect.
- In-ear monitors: Electronics are a major part of modern music. An in-ear monitor takes those electronic signals and conveys them directly to a device placed inside of your ear (called an in-ear monitor). The majority of monitors are small speakers that fit snugly and block out the majority of sound while playing sounds you want to hear at safe volumes. This means you can hear exactly how you sound, at a volume you control. In-ear monitors are useful for those who work primarily with electronically amplified instruments.
Protect your career by protecting your ears
It’s better to start protecting your hearing early, before any significant damage occurs. Everyone can safeguard their hearing and future with hearing protection options at all price points. Remember, ear protection for a musician is an investment in your career. By doing so, you will be able to enjoy making music for as long as you want to.
Contact us so we can help you get started.
