[TPIN] earplugs/musician hearing/

[Glenn Bengry]

MA,
 
     I'm not sure you'll find this much of a solution but perhaps a perspective. Please 
bear with me, its a little long.
 
I've been stone deaf(not tone deaf, you knuckleheads, who are already thinking of that joke)
in my right ear since I was 9.  It doesn't help me if somebody is right behind my head, but I
 often use it to my advantage.  Since most of the situations I play in are not too rigid
 regarding such requests and the tpts can fit on eith side 
of the center, or in the center, AND since it doesnt usually matter which order the tpt section
sets up in I can request that we try adjusting the section placement(I only do this occasionally)
  
Since it doesnt matter it the 1st player is on the left of the 2nd or vice versa, I will have the 2nd
 on my left ifthe 2nd is a good player, if 2nd is not good, THAT guy is going on the deaf side. 
 If I am the 2nd I will usually request to sit on the right side of the first, unless of course,
the first player sucks:)
 
      If I am conducting, I always put the violas on the deaf side, trombones too.hehe..
If I am in a band situation I will put my principal players in the center so I can hear them and
they can hear each other.  Usually the flutes are on my deaf side.
 
    If any of you find yourself in such situations, you could earplug the appropriate ear.hehehehehe
I bet you never thought of THAT before.
 
    I am now fully realizing that I have a little jet lag in a big room especially if the players are 
on my left.  Most of the time I manage fine but if I only hear the reverb sound, I really have
 to overcompensate for this.  I also find myself turning my head and cupping my ear to check
on what is happening everywhere else and how loud it is.  I think now, that I play a quarter of
a dynamic level, maybe half of one, louder than necessary.  In talking to people I am realizing
 that I speak louder than necessary. It has affected my choices of equipment.
 
  I am just finally putting together all these observations, especially hearing recordings  where 
I occasionally have jet lag.  I want to go back to all those zillions of people to beg their forgiveness
 for being so much like a trombone player.  I am considering getting some kind of device to 
help me compensate.  I know some of you guys will have some things that you know about
to suggest.  Listening to concerts, I sit there with my head turned cupping my ear all the time.
 
I do realize that some of you will now go stick a wine cork or a yamaha silent brass mute in 
your ear.  It looks kinda cool.  Everyone will love it.  But when you sit next to a lame player
or an irritating individual, just think of what a lucky guy I am, as you reach for your wine 
cork.
 
ONE FINAL THING.  If you are at my table at the ITG hang, and I'm hollering at you spewing 
pickle particles forth from my mouth, cut me some slack.  And if you come up behind me or 
on my right side, start talking to me, and I do not respond, its because I can't hear you.
I am not ignoring you and being rude(most of the time :)
 
    I know that I just solved all MA's problems.  But seriously,  if it is REALLY necessary, you 
can function well in a performance by blocking all the sound on one side, you just have to
learn to compensate.  There are musicians who are more deaf than me who do well. Actually,
they do weller than me.
 
 
glenn, stick it in your ear, bengry
 
PS  Being a malcontent is not so bad
Michael.  I think its kind a cool that
no one can stand me;-)
    
 
 
> > I sit next to the timps all the time and even with a shield they are> doing some serious damage. My ears are twice as sensitive than they> were when I moved here 3 years ago. I just can't take any loud> sounds without pain anymore.> > Playing orchestral music with ear plugs on trumpet is not an option> you just can't do it with a quality sound and intonation. Yes, I> invested in the best ear protection. They are useless while you are> playing.> > I'm considering making it an issue with management and seeing if> they will consider a change in setup to help the situation, but I> don't want to come off as a malcontent either. Anyone else deal> with this issue in their orch?> > MA> >