Musicians are awesome! They bring so much joy to our lives with their songs. But music is so much more powerful when it’s loud, and that can be a hearing hazard. Since musicians subject themselves to loud music frequently, their hearing is at greater risk of being damaged.
As you grow older, you’ll still want to be able to enjoy your favorite music whether you’re a musician or not. The key to having a long successful career, for musicians, is protecting their ears. Hearing protection is also key to a lifetime of musical enjoyment for everyone.
Music is surprisingly loud
If you ask the majority of individuals if a jet engine is loud, they’ll likely say yes.
Is music actually that loud? People might not be so quick to answer that question if you ask them if a violin or acoustic guitar is loud. Usually, when they hear the answer, they’re pretty surprised: That can also be very loud music! Even classical music can reach fairly high volumes that can easily harm your hearing.
Sounds louder than 90 dB can be produced by a violin, for example. That’s around as noisy as a leaf blower. In Europe, for instance, they have regulations that require ear 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 wear hearing protection.
Can you protect your ears from noise damage?
Okay, now you know that musicians need to protect their hearing (especially if they want to continue rocking out for many years). So how can musicians keep enjoying their music while also preserving their hearing?
Here are a couple of strategies:
- Track your volume: Knowledge is power, right? So being aware of volume levels of noises 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 buy a decibel meter app for your smartphone to make it easy to track the real-world volume levels your ears are experiencing day in and day out. You will want to make some changes if the meter consistently reads above 85 dB.
- Take breaks: Your ears are the same as any other part of your body: they can become exhausted and will frequently benefit from rest. So give yourself “hearing breaks” frequently. By doing this, noises won’t overpower and damage your ears. Regarding hearing, how long you’re exposed is nearly as important as how loud it is. Taking breaks can be the difference between just the right amount of stimulation and too much!
hearing protection is important
Using hearing protection is the single most effective way to safeguard your hearing. Many musicians are unwilling to use hearing protection because they’re worried it will impact the clarity of sound they hear, as well as dampening the volume. But depending on what type of hearing protection you use, that might not always be true.
- Ear plugs made specifically for musicians: Most individuals are most likely familiar with disposable ear plugs. They’re pretty good at stopping a lot of sound although they sometimes don’t fit comfortably. They aren’t hard to get, aren’t expensive, and can be thrown away easily. For musicians, they aren’t an ideal solution. However, by paying a little more, you can buy high-quality earplugs designed specifically for musicians. A specialized material and modern engineering are utilized to help these earplugs fit snuggly in the ear and reduce external noise by about 20% while maintaining the audio clarity. This option is perfect for musicians who require a light to moderate amount of protection (and who don’t have a ton of money to invest in earplugs, or are likely to misplace them).
- Electronic earplugs: Electronic earplugs work in pretty much the same way as high-quality, non-electronic earplugs. The earplug itself will block out the majority of the sound. What you hear will instead be piped in by the earplug itself. This option is perfect for those who work in particularly noisy settings, and who want more options when it comes to controlling volume.
- In-ear monitors: The majority of music is electronic nowadays, or at least amplified by electronics. An in-ear monitor takes those electronic signals and transmits them directly to a device placed in your ear (called an in-ear monitor). It’s like a specialized little speaker for your ear, and the majority of monitors can block out sound from the outside environment (thanks to a rather tight fit and special design). This means you can hear exactly how you sound, at a volume you control. In-ear monitors are practical for individuals who work mainly with electronically amplified instruments.
Safeguard your hearing, and protect your career
It’s better to start safeguarding your hearing early, before any substantial damage occurs. Everybody can safeguard their hearing and future with ear protection options for every budget. Remember that you’re investing in your career by using hearing protection for musicians. It’s one way to ensure you’ll be making incredible music for many years (maybe even decades) to come!
Contact us so we can help you get started.