Can Musicians practice with hearing protectors?

["Alex Galembo, PhD" <alex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ole Juhl Pedersen wrote:

> For possible inclusion in the list:
>
> Subject:
> Can Musicians practice with hearing protectors?
>

Generally - it sounds senseless.

The music performer's feel and action are based on real time control of
dynamical feedback from the instrument, via both kinesthetic and
auditory perceptual channels. A performer permanently compares his
physical efforts with the tonal result produced and makes corrections to

achieve the musical result desired. If  to modify, change the sound  in
this chain, the performer will loose a proper and detailed information
about the musical result of playing, and will not be able to correct his

playing efforts  properly.
In most of industry, where, unlike in music, the sound is not a main
aim, object  and result of the activity, just  an undesired consequence,

harmful hindrance, hearing protectors  might be of use.
In  musical practicing it also can be, say in learning playing
mechanically (using a "silent" keyboard, for example), but it is not a
real music playing,  just training of muscles.

Read for more details
http://www.engineeringandmusic.de/individu/galealex/gaalproc.html

Alex Galembo

--

Alexander Galembo, Ph.D.
Visiting researcher
Dept. of Speech, Music and Hearing
Royal Inst. of Technology
Stockholm, Sweden

Tel.        46-8-7907856
Fax         46-8-7907854

E-mail:     alex@speech.kth.se

WEB:        http://www.geocities.com/galembo_alex/