Music may soften the blow, but it is not without risk to hearing and hearing health in the long term. According to a study carried out by the French Ministry of Labor in 2022, almost 50% of professionals in the music and entertainment sector in France suffer from hearing problems. And of course, musicians, whether solo or in an orchestra, are the first to be affected by these risks. As a musician, do you want to make the most of your hearing? Don't worry: there are some good tips for protecting your hearing on a daily basis!

Newzik takes a look at the risks associated with noise exposure and the techniques you can use to protect your ears. Here you'll find all our practical advice on how to look after your hearing while enjoying quality sound, both in rehearsal and on stage.

What are the dangers of sound for a musician's hearing?

Long-term hearing loss

It's no secret that prolonged exposure to sound or noise at high levels can lead to irreversible hearing loss. This phenomenon particularly affects musicians, whatever their musical genre, who are regularly exposed to sounds in excess of 85 decibels (dB). While listening to everyday music at low levels poses no major risk, too much exposure to high sound levels leads to memory impairment and increased fatigue. In short, the repercussions can be somewhat disabling for a professional musician rehearsing or touring with his or her orchestra.

The onset of tinnitus and other hearing disorders

Listening to sound at very high levels on a daily basis can cause unpleasant buzzing or whistling noises. This is more commonly known as "tinnitus". Often irreversible, these annoyances can become chronic and hinder the musician in his or her work. Other disorders can also be disruptive for musicians. Repeated exposure to bass or high-pitched sounds can make the ear more sensitive to certain frequencies, thus hindering musical performance. All the more reason for musicians to take good care of their precious hearing aids!

"Hearing disorders are also very much linked to mental health. There are cases of artists who didn't take the warning signs seriously, and ended up with irreversible hearing damage that forced them into professional retraining."

Marion GOUGEAT, communications manager at Agi-Son, an information platform on noise prevention.

Why is it important to protect your ears from sound when you're a musician?

The ear is the musician's main working tool. Protecting yourself against the inconveniences of sound should therefore be reflex No. 1 when rehearsing or playing music regularly.

In addition to outside noise, musicians are exposed to sound 7 days a week, in a variety of contexts:

• repeated personal listening on headphones,

• solo or group rehearsals in enclosed spaces with amplified sound,

• sound check before a concert,

• playing one or more instruments on stage, where sound levels frequently exceed 100 dB.

Taking care of your ears means preserving your ability to play music: the basis for every musician!

"The subject of hearing preservation is all the more topical today in our very noisy everyday noise environment. In fact, since 2018, a decree has made it compulsory for the public and artists in amplified music concert halls to have access to foam earplugs."

Marion GOUGEAT

Here are our 5 tips for developing your musical ear !

3 tips to protect your hearing on a daily basis

1. Take regular breaks during periods of sound exposure

The length of time we are exposed to sound is crucial to our hearing health. So it's a good idea to take breaks to reduce the impact of sound (even at low levels) on the ears.

💡 During a concert tour or long rehearsal sessions, a 5-minute break every hour can significantly reduce the risk of hearing fatigue for musicians.

2. Limit the intensity of daily sound exposure

Beyond duration, the intensity of noise and sound plays an important role in hearing hygiene. When a musician rehearses his music alongside his band, the intensity of the sound transmitted into the room is amplified. That's right: in addition to his own instrument, he hears the sounds of others emitting their sound waves simultaneously.

💡 Our advice: don't exceed a dose of 85 dB (the equivalent of moderate volume during a rehearsal) over an 8-hour period. To prolong a rehearsal without danger, musicians can set the sound of their instruments to a fairly low level. It's also a good idea to limit the number of instruments played at the same time, to reduce the level of sound amplification.

📢 Need to attenuate the volume of a piece of music or isolate an instrument when listening to a score in rehearsal? In the Newzik application, a mixer allows you to play files, isolate specific tracks and adjust their volume settings. You can also mute or solo a track!

3. Use earplugs to reduce sound intensity

Even if they only reduce the volume by a few dB, earplugs can still limit the risks to our hearing.

There are different types of earplugs, depending on the context and needs:

• Disposable foam earplugs: sold in pharmacies and inexpensive, these plugs are inserted into the ear canal and expand to adapt to the shape of the ear. They attenuate sound by between 20 and 30 dB.

⚠️ Please note that these plugs are not suitable for musicians who require precise sound reproduction. They can be a one-off solution for short rehearsals!

• Earplugs with universal acoustic filters: pre-formed and reusable, these earplugs incorporate an acoustic filter that reduces sound volume while preserving sound clarity. Their attenuation varies from 10 to 25 dB depending on the model. A good solution for amateurs.

• Custom-molded plugs: Designed from a precise mold of the ear canal, these protectors are made from silicone or flexible acrylic and fitted with interchangeable filters. The advantage? These plugs can be adjusted as needed (with filters ranging from 10 to 30 dB). Although more expensive, they are a good investment for professional musicians who are highly exposed to sound.

"Our mission is to make hearing protection accessible with equipment that we consider reliable. We set up molding sessions which are also times for advice. Our expert service providers ask musicians about their habits, whether they wear hearing protection on stage or during rehearsals. Depending on their needs, they suggest the acoustic filter best suited to reproduce the work played by the musician."

Marion GOUGEAT

🥁 Are you a beginner musician? Discover here the essential starter pack of must-have accessories for learning music well.

Our techniques for protecting your ears at concerts without sacrificing sound quality

Adjusting in-ear monitoring on stage

When a musician performs on stage with his band or orchestra, he is often equipped with a sound return system so that he can listen to his own instrument without being disturbed by outside noise. This type of protection is particularly useful duringsymphony orchestra concerts, where the sound intensity is very high. Adjusting your monitoring allows you to limit the sound levels from the stage, while still benefiting from clear, precise sound.

Adjusting sound levels during balances

Balances (sound adjustments before the concert) are essential to avoid over-amplification:

• Start with low volumes: for the first few scales, ask each instrumentalist to set his or her volume at a moderate level (between 70 and 85 dB). You can gradually increase the volume if necessary.

• Choose a balanced mix: for example, if your instrument covers vocals or keyboards, adjust the frequencies to allow each instrument to stand out without having to turn up the volume.

• Use a decibel meter to check that the sound level remains below the recommended limit (85 to 100 dB, depending on the context). Place it at different points on the stage to evaluate sound variations.

💡 Remember to avoid unnecessary repetitions: the shorter and more efficient the session, the less strain your ears will be put under. The rest of the time, switch to remote rehearsals! Thanks to Newzik, you can rehearse your music in collaboration with your band or orchestra from home.

🎼 Looking for an intuitive tool to record, annotate your compositions and interact with your scores while adjusting their volume? Musicians, theNewzik is made for you!