A significant number of people experience hearing loss over
the years, and that can affect how you hear and play the piano – and consider
how Beethoven composed music when he became deaf!
Performing music can lead to hearing loss, depending on the piano
size, brightness and whether it is opened or closed. Probably more important is
the size of the room, the acoustics, and amplification equipment (and
direction). Playing with several other instruments can also affect hearing over
time.
Hearing aids then may be needed, but they can be problematic
for the music performer – and music listener. Hearing aids are usually set to
optimize vocal sounds, which have a smaller range of frequencies and volume. In
contrast, the piano has about a forty percent bigger range than a female voice.
It may seem logical to turn up the volume in order to hear music better, but
that can actually make hearing loss worse. It’s actually better to turn down the
music volume and turn up the hearing aid volume. In addition, some hearing aids
can have different settings, depending on the type of sound and the
environment. Noise-cancelling headphones are another good solution; they can be
worn over hearing aids to make it easier to listen to music at home. Some
public venues such as churches and theaters can provide a hearing loop, which
emits a wireless signal that can be picked up on a T (Telecoil) setting of a
mobile phone.
Hearing aids alter the sound of the piano for the pianist:
an effect called occlusion. Sometimes using just one hearing aid helps. It is
also possible to have a more open ear piece or a hollow earmold, both of which
lower low frequency amplifications. The
audiologist can also make adjustments to the hearing aid to align with the
instrument’s sound characteristics.
As for Beethoven, he could “hear” the music in his mind.
