Drummers. A rock guitarist. These are the kinds of musicians you’d expect to worry about hearing loss. But pianists?

For over 15 years, I played on an upright acoustic piano, working through Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven— music that demands power and intensity. I never really thought about the impact of all that sound. After all, compared to the booming speakers at festivals or clubs, a piano seemed harmless.

Then, I moved into an apartment and switched to a digital piano. Being able to control the volume was a game-changer. I could practice late at night without worrying about disturbing my neighbors. But when I finally sat down at an acoustic piano again, I was shocked. The sound felt overwhelming, almost too powerful. Had I really been exposing my ears to this level of noise for years? And more importantly, had my hearing been affected without me realizing it?

The sound environment of a pianist

Unlike electric guitarists or orchestral brass players, pianists aren’t constantly surrounded by extreme decibel levels. But that doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. A grand piano can produce sounds exceeding 90 dB, especially in fortissimo passages. This is about as loud as a lawnmower or a passing motorcycle. Now imagine being exposed to that volume for several hours a day, every day. Over time, that exposure adds up.

Research from Schink et al. (2014) found that professional musicians have a 45% higher risk of developing hearing loss compared to the general population. Rock musicians topped the list, but classical performers were not far behind.

Noise-induced hearing loss in musicians

The study also reported that musicians are nearly four times more likely to develop noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) than non-musicians. This risk isn’t just about volume—it’s about exposure time. Long-term exposure to even moderately loud music can damage the tiny hair cells in the inner ear, leading to irreversible hearing damage. The more you practice (without protection), the greater the risk.

How pianists are affected

A study by Boissinot et al. (2022) examined pianists specifically, looking at how hearing protection impacts their playing. When wearing foam earplugs, pianists played more loudly to compensate for sound attenuation, which might actually increase their risk of hearing strain. Musicians’ earplugs are a special type of earplug, which preserve sound fidelity while lowering volume, and they were found to be a more comfortable and effective solution. The study also found that acclimatization reduces the negative effects of earplugs over time, so if you hate how they feel at first, give it a few sessions.

Tinnitus

“Ear ringing”, or tinnitus, is a persistent ringing in the ears, and it’s a common issue among musicians. The Schink et al. study found that musicians are 57% more likely to develop tinnitus than the general population. While it’s often associated with loud rock concerts, prolonged exposure to even classical music at high volumes can trigger this condition.

So what can us pianists do?

If you’re a pianist, here’s how you can protect your hearing without compromising your playing:

• Use Musicians’ Earplugs – Unlike foam earplugs, these reduce volume without muffling sound quality.
  
• Control your environment – Playing in small, reverberant practice rooms can amplify sound levels. Using carpets or dampening materials can help reduce reflections.
  
• Lower the volume whenever possible – If you’re using digital pianos or keyboards, keep the volume at safe levels.
  
• Get regular hearing checkups – Catch potential issues early by seeing an audiologist.

Final Takeaways

Pianists are vulnerable to hearing loss. Protect your ears. Prolonged exposure to high decibel levels can take a toll over time, so taking precautions early on will help you continue enjoying music while safeguarding the very sense that makes it possible.

References

• Boissinot, E., Bogdanovitch, S., Bocksteal, A., & Guastavino, C. (2022). Effect of Hearing Protection Use on Pianists’ Performance and Experience: Comparing Foam and Musician Earplugs. Frontiers in Psychology.
• Schink, T., Kreutz, G., Busch, V., Pigeot, I., & Ahrens, W. (2014). Incidence and relative risk of hearing disorders in professional musicians. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 71(7), 472–476.