Classical Music

Can too much classical music lead to hearing loss? Just ask the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Both the current lead percussion and the former principal percussion have hearing loss. A member the French horn section must wear two hearing aids. Many contemporary classical pieces are heavy on percussion and high volume. Many orchestras now use Plexiglas screens to protect musicians' ears from the direct impact of the sound. Some musicians wear ear plugs while performing on stage. In Europe, the sound level standards applied to factories is now being applied to orchestras.