Jazz Trombone F.A.Q.

 

13) In my school's jazz band, the trumpets are right behind the trombones

and I'm worried that I might be harming my hearing. Sometimes my ears even ring

for a while after band practice. If my ears ring, does that mean it’s too loud?

 
Sam Burtis: Yes.
 
   Learn to play w/earplugs.
 
   I use the cheap yellow  foam ones available at any drug store. They can
be adjusted in the ears for a whole spectrum of protection, from just a
little to totally deaf, depending on the needs of the moment.
 
   I call them ear condoms.
 
   What happens if you don't use regular condoms ???
 
   You run the risk of getting AIDS.
 
   What happens if you don't use ear condoms ???
 

   You run the risk of getting HEARING aids.

 

 
Jeff Adams: It is too loud!  Studies published in the January 1999 issue of the Trombone
Journal prove it.
 
Take it from someone who has lost some of his hearing, get some earplugs.
 
If you can't afford custom fitted musicians plugs then go to Wal*Mart and
pick up some children's travelers earplugs (children's because they are
smaller and much more comfortable).  These are distinctive in that they have
a center which is drilled-out with a little ceramic disc in the middle of the
drilled out section.  When you get them home, straighten out a paper-clip and
push the disc out of the center.  These  will save your hearing and you'll
still be able to hear nearly the full spectrum of sound but at about 20db
less volume.

 

Alex Iles: My wife is an audiologist and she cannot believe the amount of high end

destruction we bone players must endure. Many musicians develop tinnitus

[a permanent ringing in the ear that can be maddening-literally] and hearing loss.

"Musicians Plugs" are a good investment and you can get filters with different amounts

of atenuation. They take some getting used to, but are totally worth it. For extreme

situations; loud rock, some big bands and salsa acts, the sponge plugs are the only way

to go.

 

Chris Smith: I have some hearing damage too. From sitting in front of trumpets in big bands. For a long time, I tolerated having them blast high notes in my ears, thinking I could “take it”. Nope.

After ten years of this, my ears began to let me know that they couldn’t take any more. Now certain sounds, like the clinking of silverware or harsh bangs, give me pain. Not to mention most trumpet sounds. I need to use earplugs for protection from trumpet frequencies (as do my two fellow trombonists), and I have to refuse to play while sitting in front of trumpets. People act like I’m being a real pain in their butt when I do this, but I don’t let it bother me. Don’t let it bother you, either. Don’t continue to take the punishment.

This is something that still confounds me- why have trombonists always tolerated being blasted by trumpets? And why does no one else seem to care?

 

WHY? Why is it okay for trombonists to sit directly in front of the loudest, highest-frequency instruments, with the bells pointed directly at their heads, but this is not okay for anyone else?

 

 I’m not implying that there’s any malicious intent on the part of trumpeters, or anyone else, but there’s a lot of apathy on the subject from everyone else but the trombones themselves. Unless they’re suffering themselves, no one has any interest in changing the situation.

 

Once, in my big band, we switched up the seating arrangement so that the trombones were in back, behind the trumpets, who were behind the saxes. They both hated it. The trumpets thought it was too loud (!), they were getting blasted by the trombones and feared for their hearing (though we’re an octave lower than they are). The saxes said the same things about the trumpets- they were getting killed and didn’t like it at all. So the setup was quickly changed. But every now and then, I’m asked to sit in front of the trumpets again. Sometimes, we’re forced to. At that point I always make the point that since I’ll be playing with two earplugs in, I won’t be able to hear much, so people should not expect me to play with any nuance or at the proper volume level. How could I? Does anyone else in a big band have to play with 2 earplugs in? Would anyone else tolerate such a ridiculous situation?

 

To me, this is just another example of the trombones being the 3rd class citizens of the jazz band hierarchy.

 

I strongly urge anyone playing trombone in a big band to:

 

Avoid sitting in front of the trumpets. Make a single row of brass instruments, or fan everyone out as in a concert band situation.

Use hearing protection if you are in front of trumpets, even if you feel it’s not damaging your hearing. The damage is being done, whether you can feel it now or not.

Point out the ridiculousness (and danger) of the traditional seating arrangement to the proper people, and above all, stand up for your rights. There’s no reason for trombonists to continue to get tortured and hearing-damaged.

 

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