Ear Plugs

[John Baird]

On the use of ear plugs, Conrad Hoffsommer asks those of us who may be
practicing "safe hearing":

>What form of protection do you find works best, cotton balls, rubber
>plugs,  wax plugs, muff-type external, or something else entirely?

There's a science to this...and a wide range of expense.  I just use foam
ear plugs.

But I certainly agree with their use.  The piano simply produces more
sound than I need to do approximate work during pitch raising and even
for much of the pounding in of fine work. If I am asked about using
earplugs, I sometimes draw the analogy of an airplane pilot wearing
sunglasses.  Technically, the sunglasses *impair* the pilot's vision, but
of course the pilot actually sees better because the sunglasses cut down
the glare.  Earplugs also cut down the "glare."
-----
On Feb. 2 Ron Torrella incorrectly credited me with hosting a fascinating
event which involves the creative destruction of piano shaped objects.
There are many "Johns" here in Central Illinois, but the credit for this
entertainment goes to the hospitality and genius of John Dewey.

John Baird, RPT         Gotti's Tax Tip: "You can deduct the whole
                        piano, even if you just bought it for the wire."
                        --Mafia gangster John Gotti