When you attend a concert or opera, are you really getting what it is that the players are putting out? The answer is most of it, but not all. Over the years, volume levels have become an increasing problem for musicians. Several have suffered from hearing loss, and in order to help mitigate this situation, several devices have been utilized to help the players avoid permanent damage to their eardrums.

But does this change what the listener receives or alter the acoustics on stage? The answer is yes. In this chapter, I attempt to help everyone understand the nature of the problem as well as offer possible solutions. Most certainly, pops concerts have had a lot to do with this, since these shows are often over-amplified. With monitors on the stage as well as loudspeakers, the concert hall is becoming ever more dangerous.

What can you suggest to keep the income flowing in but the aural dimension of the musicians undamaged? And what about the audience? Are they equally the unwilling victims of a sonic barrage, and what can we do about it? Please respond with questions or comments.