What is an acceptable dB SPL for musicians ears?

Are drums loud…or are drummer's loud?  Is it inherent within the instrument…or is it in the dynamic ‘habit’ of the musician?

Sound above 85 dB is considered harmful to human hearing and can cause hearing damage or hearing loss.

 Normal sounds like that of a person talking, which is about 60-70 decibels, are considered safe for human hearing no matter how long you are exposed to them.

80dB SPL is equivalent to the loudest sections of a movie at the cinema.

Many drummer's practice and  play much louder than 85dB over a sustained period! 

These drummer's (and guitarists too) have the luxury of playing at these levels…ie: They have tolerant family, friends, fellow musicians and neighbours. The loud drummers are privileged, and fortunate…but drumming is for all not the few!

Not everyone has such advantages to clobber their instrument with impunity!…over years and years.

With that in mind….

There are two ways to reduce the damaging SPL for the drummers in question.

Ear plugs are the ‘go to’…but this ‘solution’ solves only one problem. Ears of the drummer. Neighbours, family, others, suffer. And…it's quite counter-intuitive  and contradictory for musicians to physically block their ears.

There is a better way.

Musicianship  provides a better option for family, friends. neighbours…and the actual musician. 85dB SPL is plenty to work with. Use 85dB as fff and work down to ppp…it's makes sense.

 At drum lessons Canberra, right here in Kambah/Tuggeranong in the ACT Australia … learning to utilise the dynamic range from 85dB SPL DOWNWARDS to silence is the objective…it takes time and regular practice to develop the finesse but it's worth the effort. 

Control is the key.

Stick control is about rudimentary patterns and sequences such as paradiddles, ratamacues, and pataflaflas.  These build  grooves and articulation.…

Stick control, however , is also crucially about dynamic range … it's about sound level mix from ghost notes to accents…ppp to fff. Pianississimo (that's not a typo…very very soft) to fortississimo…(again not typo).

In today's world of big sound, which is everywhere…the pressure is on to ‘compete’!

However,  it's finesse and musical articulation and choice that stands out to an audience….not bare faced ‘Boom’'! Despite the memes!

Using 85dB as your upper limit is the sustainable approach to lifelong drumming in the suburbs but is also the secret to musical drumming across the globe.

Tuning drums, fitting drum skins, and selecting sticks, mallets, brushes, hands,  to work with 85dB max is feasible. do-able. teachable, and attainable.

Playing your instrument with yours ears muted is contrary to musicianship.  It's like painting with a blindfold on! 

So…I implore you…Shun the ‘drums-are-loud’ habit of mind…play music not ‘boom-crash-wollap’ at head splitting volume…your body will thank you.

Learn to play like the well known Australian drummer (as far as drummer's go)… David Jones. David uses touch tone and texture at acceptable SPL to play exceptionally musically. 

Look up  David Jones…he's a an extremely musical player. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Jones_(drummer)

He posts regular snippets on ‘the- socials’ as well.

Therefore:

Drums can be punchy and full sounding and be no louder and have no more amplitude than a large cinema at full tilt….that's plenty of volume.

It's the habit of mind of SOME drummers and electric guitarists that creates dangerous SPL. Not their instruments!

The volume and amplitude is not inherent in the instruments. Drummer's are loud…drums are not…they are dynamically responsive…!

Music is based and founded in dynamic control, touch, tone, pitch, time timbre and texture…Boom/bash at 120dB is for mining and wars.

Bare faced SPL on its own is no measure of music or musicianship…or authority.

So…

What is the acceptable noise level in the workplace in Australia?
Workers must not be exposed to noise of 85 decibels or higher over the course of an 8-hour day or 40-hour week.

I hope to see you at Drum Lessons Canberra.

https://symmetricaldrummingaustralia.org/welcome

Many thanks.