No. Players may need to experiment with the exact positioning of the shield. The Goodear Acoustic Shield is designed to not interfere with your instrument or restrict your normal movement as a musician. See the Goodear Acoustic Shield Information Sheet for more detail.
The more “movable parts” on a product, the more likely it is that a player could position it incorrectly, thereby exposing themselves to damaging sound exposure. The Goodear Acoustic Shield was consciously designed by musicians and acousticians to have fixed flaps and when positioned correctly provides maximum protection.
You should be able to hear instruments with the same clarity as you would without the shield. You will however notice a reduction in volume or decibels you hear from the instruments behind you.
Just like black music stands, the Goodear Acoustic Shield blends into the overall setting. In fact, we have found that audience members rarely notice the shields. Clear plastic/acrylic screens and shields are prone to scratches and wear out over time and can stand out more than Goodear Acoustic Shields.
If positioned correctly, the Goodear Acoustic Shield should not affect sight lines either to the conductor or to other players. See the Goodear Acoustic Shield Information Sheet for more detail.
Occupational or workplace health and safety (OHS/WHS) legislation differs around the world. In some countries, particularly in Europe and the UK, employers are required to do everything “reasonably practicable” to reduce harm to employees. This can include noise reduction policies including options for protecting musicians’ hearing. Even when legislation doesn’t require employers to be proactive, looking after the hearing of your employees makes good sense. In this context, the Goodear Acoustic Shield is a valuable tool for protecting the hearing of orchestral and band musicians.
Prevention is better than cure! Protecting your hearing from an early age will reduce the likelihood of problems later on. Many youth orchestras and schools use the Goodear Acoustic Shield to protect developing ears. Similarly, adult musicians can minimise the likelihood of ongoing damage by using the Goodear Acoustic Shield. It’s never too late to introduce Goodear Acoustic Shields to your ensemble.
Most professional orchestras undertake their own monitoring using a device called a noise dosemeter or dosimeter, which measures sound levels. There are also apps that you can download on your phone to measure the decibel levels. As this is possibly not as accurate as a professional dosemeter, we recommend that orchestras discuss their needs with an audiologist before deciding how to proceed.
Most players will appreciate that their orchestral management wants to protect their health. There are however are many factors involved in using an acoustic shield. Our Information Sheet provides many helpful hints for introducing the shield sensitively.
This varies from ensemble to ensemble but most professional symphony orchestras use between 10 to 15 shields depending on their setup. Each shield is a personal protection unit for one player, often the back row of wind players and others exposed to noise from behind. We provide discounts for orders of 6 or more shields.
The Goodear Acoustic Shield is very robust and travels well. Some orchestras build travelling cases for the shields, but others simply transport them in the same way as they would transport music stands. Contact us for information about companies that make travelling cases. The shield and stand are relatively lightweight and the headpiece is designed to nestle one inside another. We recommend normal sensible handling while in transport, such as bubble wrap or other protective covering, to protect the headpiece and stand. See the Specifications page for complete details of dimensions and weights of the Goodear Acoustic Shield, Tripod and Plate Stands.
The Goodear Tripod Stand and Goodear Plate Stand are designed for mounting the Goodear Acoustic Shield. The collapsible Goodear Tripod Stand is suitable for all uses and is especially convenient if frequent transport and compact storage are required.
The Goodear Plate Stand is designed for setups where minimal footprint is desired as it can be slotted under risers. It is recommended that the pole not be unscrewed from the base after assembly. The Goodear Plate Stand is less suited to transportation. We recommend the Goodear Tripod Stand for orchestras and ensembles that travel regularly.
If the Goodear Tripod Stand is positioned behind your chair, when you sit normally to play your instrument you should be protected. There is usually around 100–200 mm (4–8 inches) gap between the back of your head and the shield. You should ensure the shield wraps around the centre of your head, so when someone stands back to look at you they can see some black shield above your head. If you are aware of a particularly loud passage coming up, you can lean your head back into the shield for additional protection (keeping all four legs of your chair on the ground). The Goodear Acoustic Shield is designed to protect your hearing if it is correctly positioned and you should not need to move around too much to receive maximum benefit.
The Goodear Acoustic Shield has a brace socket underneath the headpiece and a screw behind that provides enough flexibility to secure it to most commercial stands. However if your stands have a particularly wide gauge, they may not fit. The socket is square in shape and will fit stands with a diameter of 21–24 mm (0.8–0.9 in). The Goodear Plate Stand and Goodear Tripod Stand, available separately, are a perfect fit for the shield.
Positioning the shield so it works for all players is important. You may need to experiment a little, but ensembles that use risers rarely have a problem with sightlines. If your orchestra performs on a single level, you may need to try a few different positions. Generally ensembles are able to find a compromise that suits everyone. Remember that the Goodear Acoustic Shield is no blacker or more opaque than your music stands!
Although it looks simple, the Goodear Acoustic Shield has been carefully designed using acoustic foam and high quality materials. We have set our prices as low as possible to appeal to a wide market – as a not-for-profit company, our goal is to protect as many musicians as possible.
In order to minimise costs, Symphony Services International currently distributes the Goodear range directly to customers. We are happy to put you in touch with another ensemble in your locality who already owns Goodear Acoustic Shields. In certain circumstances, we may be able to arrange the loan of some shields while you make your decision. Customers located in Western Australia (WA) should direct enquiries to our distributor Tempest Music, who may be able to organise a visit to your organisation and provide a demonstration of our products.
Yes, schools and educational institutions as well as community and youth orchestras can receive a discount on the Goodear Acoustic Shield. In addition, bulk orders of 6 or more shields receive a further discount (for all customers). See the Pricing page for details.
We dispatch all orders of Goodear Acoustic Shields via air freight and delivery usually takes less than a week. After you send us your enquiry, we provide you with a freight quote prior to issuing the invoice. Most customers are pleasantly surprised by how economical the Goodear Acoustic Shield can be, particularly as the shield and stand cost less than many of our competitors’ products.
In certain circumstances, it may be possible for a professional orchestra to trial a set of shields. Please contact our helpful staff to discuss options.
Goodear Acoustic Shields have been sold since 2001 and to date we have not had any returns or complaints about quality. Some of the shields sold in the first few years are still being used. With no moving parts in the headpiece, there is little that can go wrong! If you look after your headpieces, particularly while in transit, they should last for many years.
Symphony Services International will replace any product that arrives damaged or if there are any manufacturing defects in the product within the relevant warranty period. Click here to view our product warranties.
We do not accept returns if you change your mind. However, if you discover manufacturing defects in the product within the relevant warranty period, we will replace, repair or provide a refund for the product in question. See our Product Warranty for full details.
Disclaimer: The images shown on this website are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the actual products due to minor variations in the manufacturing process.
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PO Box 142, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
Tel. +61 2 8014 7625
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