Are school bands so loud they’re causing hearing loss in students? MENC members point to various culprits, “The percussion section,” “The amplified instruments,” “The piccolos!” MENC Band mentor Ron Meers also blames “iPods and car stereos.”

Both the amount of noise and the length of time you are exposed determine its ability to damage your hearing. Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB). The higher the decibel level, the louder the noise. Sounds louder than 80 decibels are considered potentially hazardous. Decibel examples include:

• Painful - Rock music peak (150 dB), Jackhammer (130dB), Band practice (120dB)
• Extremely Loud - Timpani & Bass drum rolls (106dB), Lawnmower (90dB)
• Very Loud - Alarm clock (80dB), Vacuum cleaner (70dB)
• Moderate - Moderate rainfall (50dB), Quiet room (40dB)
• Faint - Whisper or quiet library (30dB)

While helping students develop knowledge and skills in music, music educators can adopt the following practices to protect their students’ hearing health (inside and outside of the classroom) and educate them on the dangers of noise that’s too loud: 

• Wear hearing protection when exposed to any loud or potentially damaging noise. Cotton or swimming earplugs don’t work, only earplugs that are specifically (and sometimes custom made) for hearing protection will.
• Monitor decibel levels in your band room. Sound level meters are available at a reasonable cost.
• Actively monitor your students for physical problems and insist that students adopt good practices to prevent severe problems.
• Limit periods of exposure to noise. Whether in a rehearsal or at a rock concert, give your ears a break.
• Turn down the volume when listening with stereo headsets or listening to amplified music in a confined place.
• Educate yourself and others about the damaging effects of noise and what you can do to prevent your exposure. Your students will learn from and follow your example.

Information compiled from MENC: The National Association for Music Education’s Health in Music Education Position Statement, which includes reference to the topic of the negative health consequences of excessive music volume levels, and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), which has educational information for consumers and educators.

--Becky Spray, May 21, 2008, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education (www.menc.org)