Fasten your seatbelts and block your eardrums. BBC official notification

[Guest]

Now I've seen it all. Look at what the BBC advises its orchestral members to do for their health and safety!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8726816/Chew-gum-and-sit-apart-BBCs-health-and-safety-warning-for-musicians.html

Will they be recruiting redundant airline staff as studio attendants?

VH

PS Will some kind host please correct the spelling of "official" in the title?

[salymap]

Good morning VH. If only Hoffnung were still here. A brass player choking on his chewing gum, a string player unable to hear the rest of his section because he wears earplugs, timpani put up by Sir Henry's bust.
There is an element of truth in in all,but overkill surely.

[amateur51]

Now I've seen it all. Look at what the BBC advises its orchestral members to do for their health and safety!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8726816/Chew-gum-and-sit-apart-BBCs-health-and-safety-warning-for-musicians.html

Will they be recruiting redundant airline staff as studio attendants?

VH

PS Will some kind host please correct the spelling of "official" in the title?

You'd never guess that it was August, would you?

[french frank]

In addition to the version by a Daily Telegraph journalist, you can read what the author of the report wrote on the Radio 3 blog. In this litigious age, I suspect it has as much to do with the BBC not wanting to be sued by musicians for a 'lack of care'.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

In principle, I think this does need discussing. I play in orchestras much less frequently than I did, with noise being a significant factor. But it isn't the trombonists or trumpeters who are at risk; the bells of their instruments point away from them towards players of quieter instruments.

[Tony Halstead]

it isn't the trombonists or trumpeters who are at risk; the bells of their instruments point away from them towards players of quieter instruments.

Exactly what I believe to be the case!
A Horn player is rather more 'at risk' as the bell of the instrument is anything from 12 to 18 inches from his/ her right ear.

[Ventilhorn]

Exactly what I believe to be the case!
A Horn player is rather more 'at risk' as the bell of the instrument is anything from 12 to 18 inches from his/ her right ear.

So pop an earplug in your right lug'ole and listen with the left!

It ain't rocket science, mate!

VH

[Roehre]

This research was (again) a waste of money, as in the 1990s two orchestras (the Berlin Phil and the The Hague Residentie Orkest ordered similar researches which -independetly from each other- came to the conclusion that with volumes going up to 110dB (climax of Zimmermann's Symphony in one movement e.g.) there exists a danger of musicians' hearing being affected, but that there isn't a way to avoid this, as any protective measure either would affect the music itself by being performed in a way not intended by the composer, or the music badly performed because the musicians cannot hear their colleagues properly, not to mention the quality of their own playing. In both cases: end of the discussion.

The BBC -situated on an Island- thinks in Britain music is performed diffferently from the continent , and orders that research to be re-done, of course at a cost

[MrGongGong]

I know of several orchestral musicians who use earplugs
not the foam ones you get in B&Q ! but ones that will attenuate the sound without changing the spectrum
there are , of course, the special ear defending seats (I think the CBSO have some for the Bassoons ) and many orchestras use screens in front of the brass etc etc
these things don't really affect how well musicians can hear each other (though in the "old" RFH being able to hear someone on the other side was unheard of !!)

[cavatina]

there exists a danger of musicians' hearing being affected, but that there isn't a way to avoid this, as any protective measure either would affect the music itself by being performed in a way not intended by the composer, or the music badly performed because the musicians cannot hear their colleagues properly, not to mention the quality of their own playing. In both cases: end of the discussion.
The BBC -situated on an Island- thinks in Britain music is performed diffferently from the continent , and orders that research to be re-done, of course at a cost

Maybe they didn't find that conclusion acceptable, especially given that new sound blocking technologies have come up in the last twenty years. I don't think hearing loss is any laughing matter...just because musicians have been affected by tinnitus in the past doesn't mean it needs to be a problem now. Why not make recommendations to help musicians help themselves?

[Roehre]

Maybe they didn't find that conclusion acceptable, especially given that new sound blocking technologies have come up in the last twenty years. I don't think hearing loss is any laughing matter...just because musicians have been affected by tinnitus in the past doesn't mean it needs to be a problem now. Why not make recommendations to help musicians help themselves?

The level of "noise" hasn't changed, and in that respect the by fat most expensive part of this research was completely superfluous. Based on the 1990s experiences simply new technologies (whatever available) could be applied.

Most definitely hearing loss and tinnitus are not a laughing matter, whatever the cause.

[salymap]

I know that hearing loss and tinnitus aren't funny as both have been troubling me very much within the last year. I have been listening to some music on headphones as the volume on iPlayer varies very much and that may be the cause.

I also know, because I and friends have researched it, that tinnitus cannot be prevented or cured although various websites promise immediate relief.

However,when the middle register disappears from a beloved piece of music and only high woodwind and bass instruments can be heard I really wish someone could find a cure

[cavatina]

Sorry your ears are bothering you, Sal. Have you asked your GP about niacin? My mother seemed to think it helped...just an over-the-counter 100 mg vitamin pill might make a difference for you. Still, I wouldn't take it without asking the doc in case it interferes with any medicines you're on. Hope something helps...cheers!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My own earplugs (appropriately called "Alpine") have a choice three levels of noise reduction, and I find them very helpful when I'm asked to perform in stage shows that use amplification. Deafness & tinnitus don't go away, so it's worth taking precautions.

[Bryn]

Deafness & tinnitus don't go away ...

That's what I feared following a road accident back in 1976. The medical team were mainly interested in my multiple skeletal injuries from top to toe (well cranium to tib. and fib. anyway) and my tunnel vision, but I was most concerned that I had gone almost deaf in my right ear. Turned out to be a blood blister in/on the ear drum. After week or so it healed and the scab dropped off with a "crack". Point about looking after your hearing well made, my good fortune on that particular instance notwithstanding.