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  1. #1
    Join Date
    21st December 05
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    Does playing in a Pipe Band damage your ears?

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...ds/6402701.stm

    A Highland pipe band has been given a health warning after it was found to be making more noise than a jet engine.
    Members of the Wick Royal British Legion Scotland Pipe Band are being advised to wear ear protectors to prevent permanent hearing damage.

    The warning comes after an audiologist visited a recent band practice as part of Healthy Highland Week.

    The pipes were recorded at 108 decibels, but they were outdone by the snare drums which hit 122 decibels.

    The level is noisier than the sound produced by a jet engine at take-off.

    We were aware that the pipes and drums were loud which was why we contacted the audiology department at Raigmore Hospital

    Health and safety laws dictate action needs to be taken if noise levels exceed 90 decibels and the band has been warned that members face a serious risk of lasting hearing damage without ear protection.

    Band secretary John Bogle said they were concerned by the measurements.

    He said the 40 band members and piping and drumming pupils had been advised to consider buying ear plugs designed for musicians.

    However, since the story broke about the noise generated by the band, a health products company has offered to gift it specialised ear plugs.

    Mr Bogle said: "We were aware that the pipes and drums were loud which was why we contacted the audiology department at Raigmore Hospital."

    The jet engine was one of the examples the audiologist gave, he said.

    "Not one of the big Boeings, but one of your jets that would fly into Wick Airport. One of your smaller ones, but that's still pretty loud," he added.

    The band was established in 1919, when it was called the Wick Comrades of the Great War Pipe Band, and its uniform represents the original colours of the Seaforth Highlanders.
    Regional Director for Scotland for Clan Cunningham International, and a Scottish Armiger.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    26th February 07
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    Norristown, PA
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    Hmmmm? Pardon me?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    2nd July 06
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    I'm sure it does, but that won't stop me from piping!

    Hey, at least I'm not in some punk band with the amps to 11...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    4th September 05
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    It certainly can. I wear earplugs when I practice, and would especially suggest that anyone playing in a band do so. The sound in the circle is ... impressive.

  5. #5
    Kilted KT is offline Membership Revoked for repeated rule violations.
    Join Date
    4th March 06
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    A long time ago in a kilt far, far away
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    hmm..being that the "pipes of war" have been used in battle a great many times, I am sure they can really damage the ear drums.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    8th November 05
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    Actually, yes...the pipes (depending on how they are set up, the strength of the chanter reed etc) can come in just shy of the low end of hearing loss. That's mostly when played indoors. In that case, many of us wear hearing protection...actually ear plugs. They also make ear protection that can be adjusted so that you can hear clearly, but can filter out the more damaging frequencies. We don't generally wear hearing protectors when performing in public regardless of indoors or outdoors.

    We had Pipers Christmas here at the house (an annual party for my teaching partner and I and our piping students, their families and spouses (significant others)) My wife insisted on my purchasing those throw-away ear plugs you can purchase at the hardware store.

    All those that had kilts came kilted and all who had pipes brought them. It gets quite loud when you have 6 pipers all together in a 14 X14 foot room.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    26th February 07
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    Quote Originally Posted by beloitpiper View Post
    Hey, at least I'm not in some punk band with the amps to 11...

    You say that like its a bad thing.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    16th July 06
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    Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA
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    In the U.S. allowable expsure to this level of noise should not exceed .5 hours exposure/day. Your genetic predisposition and toxic effects of medications and industrial toxins should also be taken into account. O'Neille

  9. #9
    Join Date
    1st February 07
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    Podunk Mississippi
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    Can't be any worse than being at a rock concert.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    16th August 06
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    Salt Lake City, UT
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gary Krueger View Post
    It gets quite loud when you have 6 pipers all together in a 14 X14 foot room.

    HUH???? WHATTT???
    I can't even imagine that!
    It don't mean a thing, if you aint got that swing!!
    'S Rioghal Mo Dhream - a child of the mist

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