What is the most important equipment for a rock, classical, jazz or bluegrass performance? Is it the mixing board, is it the amplifiers, is it the instruments? You might think for each genre the answer might change. In fact, you might think it even depends on the song. Well, I propose that the same equipment is the most important in each and every case and it isn’t even equipment that is for sale. That instrument is the musician’s ears.
A musician’s/soundman’s ears are what allow him or her to determine if what they are playing fits with the rest of the music in terms of volume, pitch, duration, rhythm, etc. So while many people get caught up in getting the best hardware equipment (guitars, amps, microphones, etc) in an endless quest for the “perfect sound”, don’t forget that you have been given the most sophisticated and delicate equipment there is. Make sure to listen to them at all times and train your ears for what to listen for (dynamic and tonal changes for example).
As a performer, there is nothing more frustrating than playing with a musician who isn’t listening carefully while he is playing. If a performer is oblivious to what is going on around him he could play something that doesn’t fit rhythmically, tonally and/or musically. Soundmen who listen to the whole soundscape and allow each instrument to be heard and have their own sonic space are my favorites. As you can see, in all cases the common denominator are the performer’s/soundmen’s ears.
Finally, please protect your ears. We all have been given them for a limited amount of time, so treat them well and don’t subject them to damaging volumes. In ear monitors have been wonderful for controlling what the performer hears, but they have other issues that will be explored in another post…
