This post is a tribute to the one and only true Prince of Darkness and his incredible contribution to the world of rock music that almost single-handedly inspired the creation of the heavy metal and other black metal genres.
Off stage, Ozzy (as he’s known to his adoring fans) stutters and struggles to string together a coherent sentence. But on stage, or in the recording studio, put a mic in his hands and his singing voice sparks up loud and clear. Bless you Ozzy for all of the inspirational music you’ve made throughout your career.
As a vocal coach, Ozzy deserves special mention as one of those singers that has explored every kind of excess that the rock and roll lifestyle can provide, yet somehow through it all, he has managed to maintain both his unique vocal tone and his vocal range for almost the entire duration of his career.
Due to numerous health issues, Ozzy is planning two final concerts as a farewell to his fans. Ozzy has announced that he will be retiring at the end of this tour.
Ozzy Osbourne has sold approximately 100 million records worldwide across both his solo career and as his days as the front man for Black Sabbath. Just because Ozzy has finished touring, don’t be surprised if the Prince of Darkness continues to release new music up until his last breath.
They broke the mold when they made Ozzy Osbourne. He truly is one of a kind and a hard act to follow.
To learn more about Ozzy Osbourne’s legendary music career and many of his most famous escapades/adventures, I highly recommend picking up a copy of his incredible biography. It’s well-written and the story flows amazingly well. It is 100% Ozzy, in his own words.
If you are a rock and metal music collector, and you love your music on vinyl, check out some of these legendary records by Ozzy. Somehow after all these years, Ozzy’s music on vinyl just sounds better than ever.
Disclaimer: If you make a purchase from one of the above links, a tiny commission goes to supporting the site. In keeping with my “No BS” policy, I only ever recommend products that I personally use or know are beneficial to my readers.
Today I’d like to answer the question: “Why do some older rock singers lose their vocal power and ability to sing high notes?”. We’ll also cover some steps you can take to reduce the chance of this happening to you.
The simple answer is that usually between the ages 50 and 60, the micro-muscles that support proper larynx and vocal cord function begin to naturally atrophy. This is in regard to both the reduction of physical mass and loss of flexibility of not only the vocal cords themselves, but also in the vital tendons, ligaments and micro-muscles responsible for efficiently operating your singing and speaking voice.
Rock singers like Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses), David Coverdale (White Snake), Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi) and Paul Stanley (KISS) have all suffered notable loss of vocal power and range, especially in their upper registers.
The average concert goer is just going to put this loss of vocal ability down to old age and partying to excess in younger years, or just plain old decades of live concert performances and punishing touring schedules. While some of these things may have played a part in their declining vocal abilities, there are other factors at play.
There are a few factors that can impact more significantly on a singer’s ability to deliver a good vocal performance and match those iconic high notes that made their songs such a high point of our personal music playlists. In this article, I’m going to shine a spotlight on some of the most obvious causes of vocal decline in older singers.
Collagen levels
Vocal cords are made up of individual strands of collagen. When you reach your 30s and 40s, both men and women start to produce significantly less collagen in their bodies. Collagen is essential for maintaining not only healthy skin and cartilage, but also the natural mass in your vocal cords.
Once you have lost a significant amount of your natural collagen levels, a strict healthy eating regime is required to be able to replenish most of what was lost. It is not possible to naturally reclaim all of your diminished collagen levels as you age.
My recommendation for thirty year old singers and upwards is to consider purchasing a respected, reputable collagen supplement product like this one from Vital Vitamins or this one from Ancestral Supplements. This will help to supplement your collagen levels, which is especially useful if you use your voice excessively or rely on your voice in any way to make a living. I believe that everyone, singer or not, should be using a collagen supplement to help maintain a healthy function of their voice as they age.
In keeping with my “No BS” policy, as a vocal coach that has logged thousands of hours working with singers, public speakers (and everything in between), I noticed that as soon as I hit my early 40s my voice would take slightly longer to recover after marathon coaching weeks.
Singing is like an athletic sport. Marathon coaching days are the vocal equivalent to competing in multiple back-to-back Iron Man events. The energy demand is very hard on the body and it’s important to have a good, healthy diet. Even the best diets can create gaps in vital nutrition, especially when it comes to essential minerals, vitamins, nutrients and peptides. This includes collagen.
I have been using a collagen supplement reliably for the past 10 years and I wish I had started taking them sooner! One of the biggest gains that I’ve noticed is that my voice recovers faster when I am using collagen supplements. My voice feels stronger and sounds like it too.
Inside your larynx, you have many connecting muscles, tendons and ligaments. As you get older, if you don’t use your voice correctly and maintain a healthy vocal exercise regime, you will experience decline and atrophy in the mass and the strength of the connecting supportive muscles that maintain a healthy larynx function. This of course includes your vocal cords, which are responsible for phonating (producing monotonal and melodic sounds).
As we age, we experience reduction in the size and the mass of the micro-muscles that anchor and support proper larynx function. This includes the aryepiglottic muscle, the thyroarytenoid muscle, the cricothyroid muscle, the oblique arytenoid muscle, the transverse arytenoid muscle, and both the lateral and posterior cricoarytenoid muscles.
These micro-muscle groups are prone to reducing in size as we age. The blood supply to these muscles is often reduced, which is going to speed up the amount of atrophy and shrinkage.
What does this mean for an aging singer?
It simply means that as these muscles atrophy and decline in size, you will experience a loss of strength in the larynx, making it harder for your larynx to naturally position itself to create the proper connection to your high notes. The larynx needs to be able to rely on the healthy function of tendons, ligaments and various micro-muscle groups to facilitate the larynx tilt or the thyroid tilt that allows us to access our higher register.
Depending on how significant the decline or atrophy is in these micro-muscle groups, it can be very difficult to rebuild these muscles back to achieve the required mass to function normally. A better idea is to adopt a regular vocal exercise regime that can correctly target these micro-muscle groups and help you to maintain healthy mass and function well into your 70s and beyond.
Shining examples of well maintained singing voices include Glenn Hughes (ex Deep Purple) and Rob Halford (Judas Priest) who are both well into their 70s (72 at the time of writing). They each understand the importance of regular vocal exercise sessions and using good vocal technique to maintain their glorious singing and screaming voices.
Glenn Hughes
Rob Halford
It’s worth mentioning that both Rob and Glenn were born with above average natural strength, flexibility and length of their vocal cords. Throughout their decades long careers in music, they have both encountered numerous vocal problems with their voices brought about by excess drugs, alcohol and other vices.
Both singers are well known for their belting ability, both in their middle and upper registers, but they have maintained their ability to perform at a high level by regularly going back to the basics of good technical foundations in their respective singing styles. This includes good vocal warmup routines, and maintaining overall fitness.
One of the best kept secrets among high profile singers is having access to world class ear, nose and throat specialists (ENTs) and vocal surgeons including Dr. Steven Zeitels, who has operated on many celebrity singers like Adele, Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Cher, Roger Daltrey (The Who), Lionel Richie, Keith Urban, Paul Stanley (Kiss), and James Taylor.
Unless you also have access to a world class vocal surgeon, I highly recommend adopting a regular vocal exercise programme in order to maintain healthy mass, function and flexibility to these essential micro-muscle groups. You should also learn the appropriate warm up and warm down exercises for your vocal style and age group. If you’re unsure on where to start with this, please don’t hesitate to contact me to set up a private coaching session.
Long breaks between recording and touring
For established rock stars, it is very normal to have a touring schedule of 250 or more shows in a year. They then come off the road and have extended breaks of up to 1-3 years, or sometimes even longer before the band finds themselves back in the studio to record a new album.
An example of this is the time between Def Leppard’s Pyromania album (20 January, 1983) and their Hysteria album (3 August, 1987) which meant that Def Leppard would have had at least two years off between touring and recording those albums. There was a good reason for this in Def Leppard’s case, given Rick Allen (their drummer) was in a catastrophic car accident in which he lost his left arm.
Another example is the gap between Guns N’ Roses’ Use Your Illusion (17 September, 1991) album and their Chinese Democracy tour (starting in January 2001) which is a gap of over 7 years, even factoring in two years of touring for the Use Your Illusion tour!
While it may look like an appealing lifestyle to work at a breakneck pace for 12 months on tour and then retire to an exotic location for a well-earned extended break, these long hiatuses can be hell on a singer’s vocal abilities.
Here’s why.
Many of your favourite rock singers are just guys and girls that are born with above average strength and mass in their voice. It’s very easy for someone that is born vocally stronger than their peers to take their singing voice for granted. It might surprise you that some of your favourite artists don’t have regular vocal exercise routines and through their 20s, 30s and even 40s, continue to rely on the natural strength of their singing voice to see them through.
However without exception, these singers are in for a rude shock as they approach their 40s, 50s and 60s. This is because this is the time that the voice naturally starts to change. These changes take place inside the larynx (as I mentioned earlier) through depleted levels of collagen. The vocal cords are losing mass and flexibility, and so are the micro-muscles that are responsible for supporting the larynx as we sing up and down through our range.
Poor vocal technique
Many of your favourite celebrity singers sound good because they were born with naturally big voices. Just because someone sounds good, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee that they are singing or screaming in a way that uses healthy vocal technique.
A perfect example of this is Axl Rose (vocalist for Guns N’ Roses). Throughout the 80s, Axl Rose was renowned for his incredibly powerful male tenor voice. Axl is actually a natural baritone but he was blessed with an anomaly in his voice that allowed him to also have an incredibly powerful tenor upper register.
Axl Rose
Axl developed his vocal style by listening to and closely replicating the singing style of Dan McCafferty (Nazareth) who was known for his big, gravelly, three octave vocal range. As a result, Axl can be heard applying excessive pressure to his vocal cords as early as the G N’ R Lies album (released 1988). By around 1991-1993, Axl Rose started to suffer serious vocal challenges during GNR’s Use Your Illusion tour.
His vocal cords started to develop either nodules, nodes, polyps or cists which seriously impacted his ability to sing high notes. This can be seen through any of the Use Your Illusion performance videos online where Axl’s voice would regularly break into a whistle register to hit some of his signature notes when he applied too much pressure to his cords.
Axl sacrificed his magnificent voice regularly to produce a stunning vocal effect at the beginning of Welcome to the Jungle which is a combination of a vocal pitch and a purpose-made whistle tone. Producing this whistle tone effect requires air passing through the vocal cords, drying them out. It also requires an excessive amount of tension to the vocal cords to be applied to produce this eerie, whistle tone effect. This results in the vocal cords producing excessive amounts of heat, which is a really good way to dry out your voice and remove the protective layer of mucosae (natural lubricant that protects your vocal cords from friction damage).
If we fast forward a decade to 2001, from the start of the Chinese Democracy tour, Axl is clearly struggling to hit any high notes with the same vocal power that he once possessed. There was a long break between the Use Your Illusion tour and the Chinese Democracy tour that will have resulted in natural atrophy and loss of strength in the vocal muscles if they were not being healthily worked out regularly. This, in combination with the excessive wear and tear that Axl places on his voice to achieve his signature vocal style and sound, has contributed to the ongoing decline of a once-magnificent singing voice.
I believe that Axl smoked his fair share of pot in his earlier years with Guns N’ Roses, and passing superheated smoke over the vocal cords is a very good way to dry them out in a hurry. When you combine this with Axl’s extreme singing style, it’s easy to understand how he’s managed to blow his voice out.
Based on my 30+ years of vocal coaching experience, it’s highly probable that Axl Rose has had surgery on his vocal cords, possibly multiple times, to remove vocal polyps or similar conditions. Axl has never publicly acknowledged any ties to surgery in his interviews, so this is pure speculation at this stage.
If Axl had used proper technique that complimented his voice throughout his career, he may still be hitting those high notes today.
About vocal surgeries
Some professional singers choose to attempt to combat vocal decline by going under the knife.
The most successful vocal surgeries that I know of have been on Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Sam Smith and Adele, who each used Dr. Steven Zeitels to repair their vocal cords.
In Steven Tyler’s case, Steven recounts this in well-documented interviews, where he admits to having gone under the knife in order to repair microtears in his vocal cords. The need for this was brought about through a combination of his once again well-documented drug and alcohol addictions. According to Steven, he had burst blood vessels in his vocal cords that prevented his vocal cords from functioning normally and being able to thin down correctly to access his iconic high notes.
Steven Tyler, age defying superhuman
Prior to this surgery, Steven had begun to struggle to hit his mid-range notes with power. His high notes were all but gone.
After the surgery, given the appropriate amount of recovery time and practicing regular vocal exercise workouts, Steven’s vocal recovery was nothing short of miraculous. It sounded to many of his fans, like Steven had discovered the proverbial vocal fountain of youth. That’s one very lucky singer!
On the other side of vocal surgeries, even as lately as 10 years ago singers were often left with permanent scarring on the vocal cords. This scarring significantly impacts on the ability of vocal cords to correctly thin down and make the appropriate voice level closures at the vocal cords to sing powerful high notes.
You are welcome to speculate on who these rock and roll casualties may include. Hint: Think about some of your favourite rock/metal singers from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s that are no longer able to hit the high notes and sound hoarse. These are usually positive indicators of permanent scarring on the vocal cords.
Rock and roll vices
Smoking cigarettes or vaping, excessive consumption of alcohol, weed/pot and other drugs are all known to significantly impact the healthy function of both your voice box (larynx) and your vocal cords. They also impair your ability to breath effectively from your diaphragm.
If you are a singer that smokes or vapes and you have noticed significant loss of vocal range, or it’s getting more difficult to hit higher notes, contact me now for an honest conversation about how to reclaim your singing voice.
Genetic and neurological conditions
Not everything is under our control. Genetic disorders or conditions can have a real impact on singers in later life. We’ll cover both genetic and neurological conditions in more detail in a future post.
Better information leads to better singing!
Disclaimer: If you make a purchase from one of the above links, a tiny commission goes to supporting the site. In keeping with my “No BS” policy, I only ever recommend products that I personally use or know are beneficial to my readers.
“Before meeting Paule I’d been writing, recording and performing music for almost 8 years as a singer/rapper and producer. My singing was all self taught and when I noticed that during live shows I would find my voice losing strength and pitch as my set progressed I knew I wanted to find a coach that could help me to improve my vocal stamina and if possible improve my range.
I was looking for someone who was more than a singing teacher and could be an all-round vocal and performance coach. So when I found the RVR page I decided to reach out. I wasn’t sure what to expect but from the first few sessions, I was all in. Paule’s approach is super genuine and no BS which I rate highly, and most importantly, it works.
I’ve now been doing weekly sessions with Paule for 6 months now and I can genuinely say that I’ve had huge improvements in my vocal freedom, ease and ability to sing comfortably. This along with working on RVR breathing has improved my lyric delivery and stamina in studio and live.
I’m excited to continue to work with Paule in 2024 and highly recommend anyone who wants to invest in their own vocal and performance growth to hit up Paule!”
Check out Luke-W’s Spotify, or subscribe to him on YouTube (sample below) to catch his next single release!
I had been singing since quite a young age, but it was something I hadn’t pursued as a potential career path alongside my other creative endeavours. That was, until I was given the opportunity for more major roles in musical theatre. I knew I had to up my game and actively sought out the best tutor I could find. After reading through reviews and watching some of the videos on the site, I decided to give Paule a try. I had never imagined that so much could be taught and put into practice in such a short space of time, and I had very little time to really get to grips with such a serious expansion of my vocal range and quality of sound. I had always struggled to reach the higher range without straining, and now can with ease.
There were inhibitions I knew existed, but had no idea just how deep they ran. After several weeks spent with Paule, I experienced a vocal breakthrough like no other. His vast expanse of knowledge on the mechanics are truly noteworthy. But far more than that, his ability to understand his student’s ways of learning, mental processing, and how to dig deeper so as to allow the release of whatever setbacks may have settled are absolutely phenomenal.
A huge part of the journey was learning how to give myself permission to project not only when in the role of a main character, but generally (I had always been very softly spoken).
About a month or two after I began with Paule, I auditioned for the role of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in an original adaptation with musical numbers. I do not think I would have landed this role if it weren’t for Paule. He has helped me with the singing aspect ever step of the way and continues to inspire me to give it the best I can. The show has received most excellent feedback, and I have been approached by a number of people from the audience who were extremely complimentary of my voice and singing!
I also find Paule’s sessions extremely therapeutic, and helpful in so many more ways than just the singing aspect (although that is the main). His mind movies, visual thinking stance (which he gaged I would benefit from the most almost immediately) and physical exercises all connect to allow for greater confidence and belief in the self, and understanding of how we can work with the voice to achieve the most desirable results.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Paule to anyone, whether a veteran or someone looking to take their passion for singing further! His absolute enthusiasm, commitment and support are all qualities that make his unique teaching style among the very best there are to offer!
Rapid Vocal Results is exactly what you get when you sign up with Paule.
I met Paule when I was on the lookout for a vocal coach with a difference. Someone who could take me to the next level. And Paule is that person.
In just three months my vocal range has improved, so has my breathing, placement and resonance. I can execute my varied repertoire of songs with ease. I can flow between jazz, pop, rock, R&B etc…
Paule uses unique and funny anecdotes and imagery which “stick” when I am out there singing.
We have “RVR breakthrough moments” every so often and that is deeply rewarding.
Paule shares his indepth knowledge of the workings of the respiratory and vocal functions and communicates really well.
His scales and drills which seem endless are very effective!
It’s great to have Paule in my corner knowing I can call on him whenever I need to.
After falling pregnant, I had formed vocal weakness due to my morning sickness and after 3 years of no improvement, I knew I needed to seek help to restore my vocals.
I came across RVR while searching for a coach that could get my vocals back on track quickly and efficiently.
Paule at RVR delivers clear and concise lessons that paint a detailed picture on how our vocals work and how to use them efficiently and effectively. After our first lesson we had already seen an improvement.
Paule delivers world class training and knowledge with ease while keeping the environment stress free and fun. If you are looking for a vocal coach, I highly recommend RVR.
I’d been to other vocal coaches but there always seemed to be something missing – until I found Paule from Rapid Vocal Results.
Apart from an increased register, Paule helped me to achieve more resonance and greater freedom.
When I had an upcoming gig and was still suffering from post laryngitis, I booked a session with Paule. It was like pouring oil on rusty cogs and I got through the entire performance without a hitch.
Working with Paule helped pave the way to leaning into my passion as a singer songwriter.
Performers channel energies, but it’s having the physical frameworks and the confidence in vulnerability to release that fully out in to the Universe.
I hired a world class vocal performance coach. It was a moment of courage. I couldn’t sing (that’s what I have believed for my whole life!).
But I became so curious, especially as I reflected on the spiritual “intelligence” I have received over the last three years.
I have had numerous people who don’t know me from all over the world, who have prayed and given me prophetic encouragement, sent me messages and words saying that I have a BIG powerful voice, that they see me SINGING, that I’m a great singer, that I will be leading a NEW Sound, speaking, entertaining, leading with my VOICE. It has become ridiculous how many people have said the same thing!
So I prayed about it and wondered whether this could this be true. It was always my total heart’s desire to sing! I decided to take the spiritual intel believing that I can sing and challenge this old belief I had that I COULD NOT SING.
I needed a professional though. Someone who trained REAL SINGERS, so I could discover whether I had any hope.
To have it confirmed, professionally by an expert. To prove this correctly once and for all and let me find the very best vocal singing teacher in New Zealand. I decided I will have one session. He can tell me officially and professionally that my school teacher maybe was right, was there any truth in their words when they said that I can’t sing? If he were to say the same thing, I could finally accept that I was maybe impaired in this area of vocals.
My first session with my singing vocal coach, Paule Enso, was over 3 months ago.
Paule is highly intuitive and dug into the “why” I wanted to learn to sing. I’m suddenly tearful, spilling the beans with him, telling him about having to LIP SYNC my role as the Sea Witch at 11 in the little mermaid play. That my voice was bound and robbed at that moment when my schoolteacher said I couldn’t sing the role and would need to mime it. This was such an old story.
On our first session he asked me to sing for him. I suddenly felt the spotlight on me and was wishing for the TRAP DOOR to open now so I could escape this humiliating moment that I had SIGNED UP for. I sang gingerly, and it sounded absolutely terrible. My cheeks went red. I did it though. First steps. Sing bad so I can be taught.
He encouraged me for being WILLING to be UNCOMFORTABLE also I could learn and grow. We have gone on to form a great coaching relationship.
He initially said on my third session it sounded like a constriction on my larynx. Like when a python wraps and constricts around a throat. That the air was not able to hit my vocal cords at the right speed to release the sound.
As he took me through the exercises week by week, and he helped me develop my breath and opening of my vocal cords so we could get breath/air to hit my big thick vocal cords I was absolutely SHOCKED to hear the pure loud sound that came out of me. It felt like this freedom to breathe and sing and make this amazing sound through me. This is practically what restoring your voice looks like!
My voice coach told me that I have “BIG THICK VOCAL CORDS”.
He excitedly told me “Bonnie, you have the raw vocal DNA potential to hit the MONEY NOTES”.
This is the major C female singing voice that Grammy award artists such as Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey possess!
On my tenth session he said it’s like someone who owns a V8 motorbike. It’s fast and powerful, but you need to learn how to ride it and control it so you don’t crash it. To learn the speed, tone of my voice, the foundational BREATH diaphragm set up, projection, pitch and most importantly to relax, “yawn”, and have my happy singer’s smile.
Now I am taking FULL ownership for the sound of my voice and the message I sensed resting in the shadows. It was like searching in a dark attic for something that had been forgotten and stored away.
MY VOICE. Re-awakening to the sound of my own voice. Taking ownership of the SOUND that comes forth when I stand in the authority of my VOICE and SPEAK. It was a booming declaration.
I’m curious if this resonates for you? Have you wondered if you can LEARN HOW TO SING? Have you been ashamed to sing or publicly speak?
There’s so much to this and I’m looking forward to unpacking it more and help others dismantle their blocks and beliefs that are lies and holding them back from doing what could be most enjoyable!
The best thing is when you sing did you know that it stimulates your pleasure centre in your BRAIN. Singing releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine – the ‘happy’ chemicals that boost your mood and make you feel good about yourself.
It’s so awesome to have an experienced, knowledgeable coach to guide me step by step through this exciting journey of discovering my singing voice.
A little background on me. I have been singing lead vocals in a local Covers Band in the Manawatu now for just on 10yrs. I always knew that I required a little help to correct some bad habits I had taught myself in my journey.
Fast track through to 9wks ago….
Rapid Vocal Results
I had heard great things about Rapid Vocal Results and this Paule Enso. I ummm’d and ahhhhhh’d for a few months on whether I should join up. Well anyway, I did. And he is ah-ma-zing!!!
Paule has been teaching me about how to better breathe through my diaphragm to get a better use of air to create my sound. Yeah I know, sounds complex, and it is. But he makes it easy. He is the absolute best.
Honestly if your singing needs a bit of help – Paule Enso is your man! If I was asked to rate his teaching ability on a scale of 1 to 10, and 10 being the absolute best, I would rate Paule a 9.5 (I don’t give anybody a 10!) but it just shows you how amazing Rapid Vocal Results really is.
Thanks heaps Paule for everything you have done and continue to do to educate me in my vocals journey.
As a musician, practicing is an essential part of honing your craft. However, the noise level of your instruments can lead to permanent hearing damage over time. That’s why attenuated earplugs have become an essential tool for musicians who want to protect their hearing without sacrificing the quality of their practice sessions.
What are attenuated earplugs?
Attenuated earplugs are a type of hearing protection device that are designed to reduce the volume of sound without distorting the quality of the sound. Unlike traditional earplugs, which can muffle the sound and make it difficult to hear, attenuated earplugs are designed to reduce the decibel level of the sound, while still allowing you to hear the full range of frequencies. This means that you can protect your hearing while still hearing the music clearly.
Musicians typically use attenuated earplugs when rehearsing at loud volume levels with a band, in an enclosed space. Attenuated earplugs come in a variety of dB reduction levels. From as little as nine through to 25 dB reduction.
Why musicians should use attenuated earplugs
Musicians are at a higher risk for hearing loss than the general population. This is because they are exposed to high decibel levels on a regular basis, both in practice sessions and during live performances. Over time, this exposure can lead to permanent hearing damage, including tinnitus and hearing loss. Attenuated earplugs are a simple and effective way to protect your hearing and prevent these issues.
Attenuated earplugs have several benefits for musicians:
They reduce the volume of sound without affecting the quality. This means you can still hear the nuances of the music, including the dynamics and tone.
They provide consistent protection, regardless of the environment. Whether you’re practicing in a quiet room or performing on a loud stage, attenuated earplugs can provide reliable protection for your hearing.
They are comfortable to wear. Attenuated earplugs are designed to fit comfortably in your ear, and they won’t fall out or cause discomfort during long practice sessions.
Tips for using attenuated earplugs
If you’re new to using attenuated earplugs, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Choose the right level of attenuation. Attenuated earplugs come in different levels of attenuation, so it’s important to choose the right level for your needs. A music store or audiologist can help you choose the right level of protection for your specific situation.
Use them consistently. Attenuated earplugs are only effective if you use them consistently, so make sure to wear them during all practice sessions and live performances.
Clean them regularly. Attenuated earplugs can accumulate wax and other debris over time, which can affect their effectiveness. Clean them regularly with soap and water or a specialized cleaning solution.
Attenuated earplugs are an essential tool for musicians who want to protect their hearing while practicing and performing. By reducing the volume of sound without affecting the quality, they provide reliable protection against permanent hearing damage. If you’re a musician, consider using attenuated earplugs in your practice sessions to protect your hearing and ensure that you can continue to make music for years to come.
Where to get attenuated earplugs
In keeping with my “No BS” policy, I personally invested in two sets of custom-made attenuated earplugs. One of these sets has a 10 dB noise reduction, which I use while coaching singers. The second set has a 21 dB noise reduction, which I use at any event where my ears are going to be subjected to loud noises for sustained periods of time. This includes any event where extreme noise levels could potentially affect my hearing, such as concerts or motor racing events, etc.
Nowadays, earplugs similar to the ones I use are readily available online, like these ones from Eargasm. If you don’t have the time, energy or desire to get some earplugs custom-made (this can take up to four weeks, or possibly longer), then I highly recommend the Eargasm earplugs sold on Amazon. 21 dB noise reduction is ideal for concerts and other events with extreme noise levels.
Better information leads to better singing! If you’re a singer or learning to sing and you’re affected by any kind of hearing loss, contact me today and let’s chat. I can help you develop your body as a tuner and help you to regain your vocal confidence.
Disclaimer: If you make a purchase from one of the above links, a tiny commission goes to supporting the site. In keeping with my “No BS” policy, I only ever recommend products that I personally use or know are beneficial to my readers.
