Let’s talk about earplugs.
Do you wear them to church? To concerts? To rehearsals?
Until recently, I didn’t wear them – and I didn’t know that “musician’s earplugs” existed.
I was always careful about practicing organ at a quiet volume – better for my ears, and better for hearing room for improvement.
But I didn’t worry too much about the times I rehearsed with brass players and left with my ears ringing.
Then, last year I started working in a church where many of the organ pipes speak at the same level as my face. Usually, organ pipes are above the organist’s head, but on this organ, many are right there in front of me, and *it’s loud.* And it’s especially loud if I want to literally pull out all the stops for my postlude.
Around the same time I realized I had a volume problem, a friend shared that she had purchased off-the-shelf musician’s earplugs – and another friend told me he got custom made earplugs through his medical provider.
What Kind of Earplugs?
So I bought high fidelity earplugs, or, musician’s earplugs. Basically, these reduce the volume (decibels) without muffling the sound the way regular foam earplugs do.
I wish I had known these existed years ago – all those rehearsals with brass players and I could have avoided hurting my ears!
There are quite a few brands of high fidelity earplugs on the market. Here’s the kind I bought and here’s a review of six different brands if you want to read more.
I keep them on the console and put them in toward the end of the service when I’m about to play the closing hymn and postlude.
Other Things I Do to Care for My Ears (And the Clergy’s Ears)
Since I’ve begun paying closer attention to my hearing, I’ve started putting the brass musicians “behind” me (closer to the congregation) and away from the clergy and other people in the chancel.
For example, this past Easter, I moved all the clergy and readers to one side of the chancel (with their approval, of course). They sat on one side, while the trumpeters sat and played on the other side (where the pastor/preacher usually sits). I had to turn my head more to coordinate with the trumpeters than in the past, but it’s worth it. No ringing ears after the service for me or for anyone else serving in the chancel.
So, have you tried high fidelity earplugs? What do you think?
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