VOCALS
SAVE YOUR VOICE … HOW ABOUT YOUR EARS ? | Sheri Gould
Singing means many things to us as humans . Singing is a gift , given by the Creator to use for His glory , but it also doubles as a blessing to us in many ways . We need to be good stewards of this gift if we want to serve Him through singing or even just want to enjoy the personal benefits of raising our voice in song . If you read this column regularly or have seen me teach , you know that I have a strong message of the importance of vocal health . Typically , I limit the scope to actual vocal technique , but this month I ’ d like to tackle another facet of singing that needs to be cared for : Ears … our ability to hear . Without a strong and healthy sense of hearing , our ability to sing well is incredibly compromised . In light of the current musical situation found in so many churches today , I think we may need some reminders as well as some up-to-date information .
NOISE “ POLLUTION ” Have you ever thought about how much noise is around us from day to day ? In the 20 th century the average “ noise ” a person might hear in any given day rose exponentially . My grandparents were farmers . The primary noises they heard were in nature . In the 1920 ’ s it was rare to have an abundance of electric appliances but today almost everything we use makes a noise , and some of them make a lot of noise . From vacuum cleaners to blenders , our homes are filled with helpful tools that make life much easier — and louder . Rare are the quiet moments and almost never are moments of silence . Our ears need times of silence to recharge and stay healthy , and it ’ s not just our ears that need the quiet . Humans need quiet . Noise often equals a level of stress for us . Having time to sit quietly and reflect or recharge is a big part of our mental and spiritual health as well . It leaves one to question how , exactly , can we stay healthy in the midst of all this noise ? significantly more hearing loss at a significantly younger age than our predecessors . Hearing aids sales are at an all time high . The influence of loud music levels and earphones have played a substantial part in this increase . Loud music levels historically were associated with live concerts rather than music played at home or in church . But with the invention of ( wireless ) ear buds , now people can listen of music all day long , wherever they go and at any level without disturbing others . Between outside noise ( road traffic , power tools , air traffic , etc ), inside noise and in-ear listening devices , our ears get very little rest .
In-ear monitors ( IEM ) were designed , in part , to help save musician ’ s ears ( and singers ’ voices ) during live performances . When they are used correctly , they can help to lower the decibel level a musician hears . However , many singers and musicians do not have access to IEMs and when they do , they often use them incorrectly . Although these can be helpful for the folks on stage , they do very little for the audience in many cases . Having no monitors on stage can help to “ clean up ” the sound that goes to audience by eliminating much of the reflective sound that can come from wedge monitors . Theoretically , they can also help to lower the overall decibel level to the audience as well , however , in practice we rarely see this happen . Just like we so often see people misuse their IEM ’ s by pulling one ear out . This effectively undoes any benefit one might have had from the IEM and actually increases the chances for hearing damage .
PREVENTION Hearing loss can be a serious impediment to a singer . It can become increasingly more difficult to sing in tune as loss progresses . Take a look at the chart
I ’ ve posted for some ways to protect your hearing in your local environment and at home . There is a correlation between decibel level and duration that we all need to be aware of when it comes to protecting our hearing . I am continually astonished at the decibel levels worship musicians are exposed to , in church , on a regular basis . Singers need to speak up and take a stand for healthy hearing levels . If you can ’ t carry on a conversation on your platform while the band is performing , then it ’ s likely too loud . If you can ’ t hear the person next to you singing while in the congregation then the music is too loud and we miss one of the huge blessings of corporate worship . I know that ear plugs are often offered in many churches . Seriously ? That should give us pause . Sound levels need to come down . We need to be proactive in caring for our own hearing as well as our audience ’ s .
I make it a practice to carry ear plugs with me wherever I go . I often encounter situations where it becomes necessary to protect my hearing . Musician ’ s ear plugs can be very helpful for enjoying louder music without incurring damage or losing sound quality . Noise cancelling earphones are also very helpful in situations where you ’ d like to enjoy personal audio without being affected by the surrounding noise . If you use IEMs , please use them correctly . My prayer for you is that you will be mindful to protect the gift of hearing that God has given you , as well as be thoughtful of other ’ s hearing when you participate in live music .
Sheri Gould Sheri is an internationally acclaimed vocal coach . She ’ s been helping artists and worshipers find their voice for over 40 years . For help and resources visit her site . www . SheriGould . com
HEARING LOSS Adding electronically amplified music to lives , in addition to all the other noise in our world , has contributed to a dramatic increase in hearing loss . People in my generation are , overall , experiencing