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Re: Isolation...

Posted by BrassTeacher (A) on March 2, 2007 at 06:34:34

In Reply to: Isolation... posted by nubz on March 1, 2007 at 21:11:28:

There could be many reasons...I won't waste time posting all the drummer jokes that just ran through my head :)...and i'm sure many people will hit most of them, but one big one is this:

How many of you guys have had to stand or sit near a drumset, or almost any other percussion instrument, and perform on your own? The heck with the mics, I wanna be able to hear what I'M playing! I guess a lot of people that haven't experienced it up close don't realize just how LOUD acoustic percussion instruments are. I mean, "It needs more cowbell!" might be funny, unless you gotta sit next to that guy! Hell hath no fury like the heavy metal (or funk) cowbell! Well, unless it's a China cymbal. Or EIGHT! drumcorps-tuned marching snaredrums...

...so yes, it may be for the mics, but in a lot of instances, it's to shield the other performer's hearing/ability to hear themselves.

It's not just drummers/percussionists who use those kind of shields on stage either. The viola section of the orchestra I used to play in would bring what looked like clear music stands to rehearsals, and depending on the program, to performances. These would be set up behind their chairs, in between their heads and Greg's, Mark's, my trumpet bells. Nothing in college prepared me for just how LOUD an orchestral trumpet player has to play to keep up with 30+ strings. Especially if you're the 3rd trumpet as I was. I'm sure most of you know in an orchestra the woodwinds, brass, and percussion are all one player to a part, except for VERY rare instances.

It's crazy if you haven't experienced it. I remember many times that for some reason or other the strings would not have their "shields" up, and you could see them cowering down in front of us in some of the heavier passages, and the conductor would be motioning to us for more sound! I can honestly say I felt for those guys, because we would often be set up with the trombone section directly behind us! I probably know the bass trombone part to a lot of works better than my own, because that's often all that I could hear! (at least Sam was a good player).

So, I'll stop rambling and reminiscing now, and put in that sometimes those shields on stage are for ear protection. If you are a professional player, those ears earn you just as much money as your technique and musicianship do, so you learn to take care of them.

BT

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