EU to pipers - Pipe down

[James MacMillan]

I love listening to my pipes with full unplugged clarity, although I am sure like everything if you play at a constant db level you will effect your hearing.
So perhaps it isnt a bad idea for players, but for spectators they may want to carry a pair of ear plugs any.

By the way to make a pair of earplugs I keep the foam peanuts from packing boxes and cut them into two.
Works well and you can still tune and play then throw away at the end of the performance.
Or send me $5.00 and I can make a set of twenty.

Sounds like a deal, how do you protect them for shipping?

I just love this board!

[mbhandy]

That's very similar to their approach to the construction of traditional wooden boats.
I wear hearing protection, but I have a set of (not inexpensive) musician's ear plugs with which I can tune. I know a couple of old pipers who are deaf as posts.

You can tune Pipes?
I thought they just sound that way.
WHAT?

MrBill

[auld argonian]

Hey...you...put a mute on that alpenhorn!

And SHUT THAT BLOODY BOUZOUKI UP!*

Best

AA


* Monty P...the cheese shop sketch.

[thanmuwa]

Typically, a pipe band played at full volume peaks at 111 decibels outdoors, roughly equivalent to the sound in a nightclub, rising to 116 decibels indoors, the level of a chainsaw.

The rules cap weekly average noise exposure at 85 decibels, meaning periods of loud play need to be cancelled out by quiet periods.

The idea is not to protect audiences at concerts but performers and other staff.

This is an article similar to the sort written in the UK by anti-EU pulp/sensationalist "journalists".
If the article is accurate and a fair reflection of the legislation, and I very much doubt it is, peak volumes are still not the same as average volumes, and the "journalist" also attempted to gloss over the fact that this is intended to protect the hearing of nightclub workers etc.
I reckon the only pipers this will actually affect will be the ones who accidentally superglued the pipe to their mouth and have to play it 24-7, whereas it could protect the hearing of an awful lot of performers & staff.

[auld argonian]

Seriously, I still hang out with all of my old rock band mates and we all went to the earplugs back in the eighties...and our hearing is still compromised because of exposure to high volume levels...and the level on the stage was never quite as loud as it was in the audience.

It is sort of "The Air You Breathe Can Kill You!" sort of sensationalist take on things but there is a lot to be said for hearing protection.

Best

AA

[beloitpiper]

I mean, I still practice with ear plugs. I want to still have hearing later in life, but legislating it is stupid.

[thanmuwa]

www.thechronicleherald.ca

I mean, I still practice with ear plugs. I want to still have hearing later in life, but legislating it is stupid.

It is just a different approach, IMHO. In Europe, the attitude is to protect people from bad stuff happening, whereas in the US it appears to be to compensate them (or encourage litigation) when bad stuff happens. European employers have a duty of care to their employees, US employers have a desire to avoid being sued. I personally would prefer the bad stuff not to happen to me (in this case damaged hearing) than to get a wodge of money after the fact but that is probably my European cultural background :-)

[Ozman1944]

Outrageous! Bunch of Phillistines!!!
How can we hear those stirring strains if the piper turns that little secret dial to kill the volume?
And of course puffing lightly instead of blowing will cause dizziness and we'll have poor Pipers passing out all over the place.

[highlander_Daz]

the science behind the article makes no sense, there are no distances stated for the sound level measurements x decibels at x metres, i sometimes use hearing protection, however when it suits me,

Im confused how an health and safety at work act rule could apply to an audience, they are there by choice, not compelled by employment.

performers are aware of the volume levels and can make an informed choice,

why are people wasting time on laws like this ?

[thanmuwa]

Outrageous! Bunch of Phillistines!!!
How can we hear those stirring strains if the piper turns that little secret dial to kill the volume?
And of course puffing lightly instead of blowing will cause dizziness and we'll have poor Pipers passing out all over the place.

"We have a piper doon, I repeat, a piper is doon!"
- Mike Myers as Stuart Mackenzie : "So I married an Axe Murderer"