A reminder to musicians...

[PetraDelphiki]

Please do be careful with your hearing...

www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43571144

A viola player who suffered a life-changing hearing injury at a rehearsal of Wagner's Die Walkure in 2012 has won a landmark High Court judgment against the Royal Opera House (ROH).
The case won by Chris Goldscheider has huge implications for the industry and the health and safety of musicians.
It is the first time a judge has scrutinised the music industry's legal obligations towards musicians' hearing.
The ROH said it was "surprised and disappointed" by the judgment.
It is also the first time 'acoustic shock' has been recognised as a condition which can be compensated by a court.

Do your DCs use earplugs? If yes, do they use only for orchestra sessions or even for individual practice? Suppose it'll depend on which instrument they play though. I know a few drummers who wear headphones.

Mine is a violinist. The orchestra he is in rehearses in a tiny room weekly. No one seems to be wearing any protection, even in the brass section. DS has earplugs made for musician but so far he doesn't bother wearing them. But if I insist he will probably wear. But I am not sure how much will be reacting overly and being too protective.

However, I was wondering if DS should wear the earplugs even for his individual practice. The other day I played some strings and was surprised how loud it was under the ear. I don't play violin (in fact, any instrument.... ) so I was not aware of the loudness.

Also, which age can they start wearing custom made earplugs? I know they can be made to order for the perfect fit. DS is only 10 so he will still keep growing, prob changing the shape of the ear (do they change???) so at the moment we have ones bought from Amazon only.

Ds doesn't currently wear any and it worries me - he can't have ones off the shelf because of an operation to repair his ear drum when he was younger . We were going to discuss getting some made when we went to see his surgeon again but I found out this week that the hospital won't see private under 16s anymore !?! So I'm currently investigating other options then we will get them . I think nco sometimes use screen to protect others from the trumpets !! I worry as Ds often sits in front of percussion and it's very loud

I believe you are ok practicing solo - it’s more a case of knowing that if you are in front of the brass in a big brass piece to be careful! Or percussion. Have a friend who is a viola player and she is very hot on this - she thinks all big Orchestras Should have sound baffles between brass/drums and rest of Orchestra.

I think if dd was playing in a vulnerable position in a big Orchestra I would be discussing it with her/conductor...dh has tinnitus so dd already knows you wear plugs to amplified concerts

Trumpet - dd also needs custom made; her surgeon will authorise but apparently there is an insurance disclaimer under 16. What op did ds have? Dd has had three mastoidectomies and two myringoplasties - hearing is better but some pitch levels are really painful.

Yes nco seem to use screens and always have off the shelf plugs at hand if the child asks

That’s good to know (even if dd not going to nco) - sets a great example! Will put some in music cases

He had a myringoplasty. Numerous problems as a very small child obviously couldn't hear ( learnt to talk late etc) repeated ear infections which led to him only having 20% of his ear drum left by the time he was 5 !! They eventually agreed to operate and so far its lasted and he never complains about it but I just like to keep an eye on it and it can get blocked because the shape of the ear canal has changed - not good for hearing or trumpet playing . His surgeon is great but now we can't pay to see him I need to find another way - or another clinic . Which will no doubt be £££ but hey . He may need the operation repeating as he grows but so far it's holding up well . I'm hoping we might be able to go back on yearly check ups with the NHS but they only really want to treat the ears when it's causing a problem which is understandable but especially because if the trumpet I just want to keep an eye on things.

String that's a lot of surgery glad to hear that it's mostly worked . that it hurts sometimes though

String a question have you got custom and plugs yet and where have you or are you going to get them from ?

Here are some useful links for those who may be interested;

www.musicianshearingservices.co.uk

www.laplaya.co.uk/knowledgebank/Musicians_guide_to_noise_and_hearing.pdf

www.soundadvice.info

Thanks Kutik in a panic I have ordered Ds over ear muscicians ones in case nco insist that they use them . Trumpet players ( including his teacher and tutors last year according to ds) hate all sorts of ear protection as so much of trumpet playing depends on accurately being able to hear the sound that your mouth is producing- apparently ear plugs get in the way of this . Ds will no doubt hate the ear defenders but I said they might insist on them using protection now so better that than not being able to go - something tells me they will stay in the case all week so I need to sort custom made in ear ones asap . He said he will use one in ear one ( in his normal ear !!)

Hi Trumpet - no we haven’t hit them yet; it’s in Harley St wherever durgeon was partly based - I can send details by pm

I am so fed up with autocorrect in this phone!

I was meaning to investigate this for ages but have been pushing it to the bottom of the list always. I finally book a GP. Is it the right first step? I basically like to have a regular check-up and also order custom made earplugs.

String yes please send the details if we draw a blank locally we will need to go to London thank you

Just to reassure you, I worked in an opera orchestra for 15 years and never needed to wear ear plugs, although screens were sometimes used. DH is a percussionist in the same orchestra and ear plugs are always available but I don't think many people use them.
I think the risk is probably less on the concert stage, but it's worth bring mindful.
It will be very interesting to see what the repercussions of this ruling are; I don't envy orchestral management having to deal with the logistics.

DS won't wear them in orchestra because he says he can't hear the soft playing in a slow strings section for example and it affects his counting as as a percussionist. This really worries me as sometimes he is standing next to the cymbals, but what can I do...