Re: Can Musicians practice with hearing protectors?

[Andy Vermiglio <avermiglio@xxxxxxx>]

In light of Alex Galembo's note about "real time control" of the feedback
from the instrument, I have a question.

When a musician uses a midi instrument with a slight delay, it is apparently
possible for the brain to compensate for this delay and to subsequently
produce an acceptable performance.  Anecdotally, I have experienced and have
heard from others the unfortunate situation where a musician switches from a
midi instrument (with a delay of up to 3-4ms for Roland's V-drums for
example) to playing on an acoustic instrument.  There appears to be a period
of adaptation before the musician regains comfort playing in real time.

Are there any reports in the literature on this?

Best,

Andy Vermiglio

-----Original Message-----
From:   AUDITORY  Research in Auditory Perception
[mailto:AUDITORY@LISTS.MCGILL.CA] On Behalf Of Alex Galembo, PhD
Sent:   Wednesday, September 11, 2002 2:55 AM
To:     AUDITORY@LISTS.MCGILL.CA
Subject:        Can Musicians practice with hearing protectors?

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/