From how to install acoustic sound panels to what to look for when buying your first drum set, Audimute Acoustic Specialists answer it all. With the holidays around the corner, our specialists created a buyer’s guide for beginner drum sets to make shopping for your new drummer a little easier.

Buying Your First Drum Set

When purchasing a new “beginner kit,” it’s important to understand it is unlikely to hold up throughout the rigors of new students who isn’t not well-versed in the “do’s and don’ts” of how to handle a kit yet. Ultimately, if this kit is ruined, the value of the instrument and its ability to function is ruined also.

Beginner kit resale value is important because your young drummer will either:

• graduate to a more sophisticated instrument

• lose interest in playing altogether

Either way, what to look for when buying your first drum set is a beginner kit that will net you an 80 to 100% return on investment, which isn’t an unreasonable goal if you’ve done you’re research and shopped smart. A good approach is to figure out just what you’re willing to shell out and look at the used market based on that figure.

Used Kit Shopping Guidelines:

Manufacturer: No buyer’s guide for beginner drum sets would be complete without mentioning the top drum brands. There are a lot of good companies out there making decent entry level stuff that sounds good, holds up well, & holds resale value (specifically, Pearl, Yamaha, Mapex, and Tampa). With any manufacture, make sure all drums have top and bottom heads – this is everything to do with sound quality and resale value.

Size: You want to make sure that the bass drum & toms can be of a size that will most comfortably fit your drummer. Really young – or height & reach-challenged students – will require smaller diameters & depths (mounted toms) to ensure the best practice & eliminate a lot of frustration.

 • Average sets found on display at your local stores will be;

Bass drums: 20” to 22”

Mounted toms from 10” to 13”, & depths from 8” to 11” or even 12”

When talking about size, what to look for when buying your first drum set is your child’s physical ability to “get around” it. This includes seat height, which may present a challenge depending upon how adjustable the drum throne is. This is where it all begins, so a wobbly, unstable seat will really mess up your student’s balance and control.

If your child is 4’ tall or under, make sure that when they sit, the upper legs are just above a 90% angle, with their feet solidly on the floor. This is when the real measuring begins. Next, and only after seating has been established, look at reach. Your student’s arm length should never have to be fully extended to reach any part of the set. They should be able to reach the furthest object (cymbal, tom, etc.) and easily get back to a position of (roughly) a 90% angle from the forearms being vertical with the upper body.

Sometimes it’s even advisable to consider “holding off” adding toms over the bass drum, which is where they’re usually positioned. Either have the means to offset the toms, via floor stand, or (in extreme circumstances) consider not adding any mounted toms for the time being. No kid wants to hear that, but a functional core set up is important enough that waiting a little while to grow into it is a better than getting their technique screwed up because they had to “adjust” themselves to an uncomfortable, unnatural posture to accommodate the other stuff.

Hardware: What to look for when buying your first drum set is five key stands and mounts properly hold a drum set together.

• Hi Hat Stand: No compromises here, your stand needs to be sturdy. It takes a lot of abuse, just by its nature, and a cheap, too light-weight, off-brand model will breakdown & a waste of money. If the Hi Hat stand doesn’t seem right, opt to exclude it from the total purchase or negotiate a price that will give you some head room to purchase a replacement, soon than later. Again, resale value will hold up better.

• Bass drum foot pedal: Shopping for this is similar to shopping for your Hi Hat stand. Your student will need something sturdy that can take a hit. If your kit doesn’t come with a strong enough foot pedal, be sure to find one as soon as possible, as learning on a weak one does neither your practice nor your drum any favors.

• Snare stand: Here you can get away with something less substantial. The drum sits on it – and unless it is subjected to brutal, foolish use, a light weight stand should suffice. As long as it’s in good, functional condition, you can save a few bucks here.

• Cymbal stands: Two stands are a very good start; one for the bigger ride cymbal and one for a smaller crash cymbal. Again, these don’t have to be heavy duty, but avoid off- brand pieces or any stands that appear unstable.

A good way to start is by setting one stand up in what is called a boom stand function. This is where the top tier of the stand has an attachment that allows the “arm” (where the cymbal mounts) to be able to “boom” over to a more comfortable position to play. The second stand certainly can benefit from this design, but generally isn’t as necessary, so what is called a straight stand is okay, and again potentially lowers the cost.

• Tom mounts: These hold the toms in place, either directly affixed to the top of the bass drum or on a separate stand. Your tom mounts should be reasonably heavy duty and adjustable for different position options. You can retrofit this item, sometimes very easily, or you may have to do some modifications.

Knowing what to look for when buying your first drum set ensures your student starts on the right track. Follow our buyer’s guide for beginner drum sets for the best equipment then check out some absorption sheets to soundproof your new practice space. We're happy to answer any of your acoustic questions - fill out a free room analysis form or call an Acoustic Specialist at (866) 505-MUTE for personalized advice about your practice space.

Q:           We are looking for ways to soundproof a kennel we run in Westchester, New York. Our ultimate goal is to acoustically treat the room enough to stop sound transfer from the animals into neighboring businesses. We have done some research into Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) and are interested in the highest NRC rating we can find. What are the sound absorption ratings of Audimute products that would be best for us?

A:            You are on the right track looking for solutions with high NRC ratings.  A lot of animal lovers come to Audimute looking for ways to soundproof a kennel, apartment, or home because of our sound absorption ratings. In a situation like this where the concern is loud, reflective noises like barking and ways to stop sound transfer, your solution is adding soft materials to the walls. The kennels we have worked with have found our absorption sheets, eco-C-tex™ panels, and fabric acoustic panels are the best ways to do this:

• Audimute Sound Absorption Sheets have an NRC of .65, meaning they absorb about 65% of the sound. Because of their size, absorption sheets also help to cover more surface area, reducing a greater amount of hard reflective surfaces.

• Eco-C-tex™ AcoustiColor™ flexible design acoustics have an NRC of .95, making this material a more effective option over the sheets. We’ve expanded the size and color options of our eco-C-tex™ line – and even include shapes and letters – making it easy to treat spaces of any size, and ceilings if needed.

• Fabric Sound Panels have an NRC of 1.0, absorbing 100% of the sound that hits them, and come in a few options. Original metal framed fabric acoustic panels are great to install in the first point of contact, meaning where the first place most of the sound hits the wall, to break up the hard surface. In a space such as a kennel you may need a larger, full coverage application, which is exactly what our new frameless fabric panels are designed for. These panels butt up next to each other for large scale, high traffic applications. These make it easy to build up your acoustic treatment until you reach your desired result, and can put on the ceiling if necessary.

Each of these products works by soaking up the majority of mid to high range frequencies, echoes, and reverberation before these sounds have a chance to transfer through your shared wall space. Our panels and sheets are hand crafted in the USA from fire rated, eco-friendly materials. Please keep in mind that they are not specifically designed to get wet, so we recommend placing them above crate level in the upper half of the wall.

Stop looking for ways to soundproof a kennel and take charge of your sound and space today by ordering your frameless soundproofing fabric panels. If you would like to discuss your space and the best acoustic approach, call an Acoustic Specialist today at (866) 505-MUTE for personalized advice, no strings attached.

Open, collaborative office space seems to be the new way of life for most businesses. With walls, cubicles, and partitions stripped away, the idea is that:

• Employees benefit from free-flowing brainstorming and communication with colleagues

• Business objectives and pursuits become more innovative

• Expenses tied to office equipment, construction, and utilities dwindle

What’s not to love? Heck, the offices of Google and Facebook basically pioneered this unfastened environment. The trend has caught fire and it seems as though (most) businesses around the world don’t believe in closed-door, work-place barriers anymore.

The downside? Noise.

Yes, the challenge that comes attached to an exposed environment is the acoustics. So, back to our initial question: What’s sound got to do with it? Well, quite a bit.

Conversations, phone calls, meetings – and that co-worker that always plays his music too loud – combine to create distractions and a clutter of noise in today’s open office. But before you decide this open office layout just ain’t workin’, look up. Your ceiling is about to become your solution.

Drown out echoes and excess noise with high-quality, eco-friendly acoustic ceiling baffles. A wide selection of cover material will help add style and customization to your sound absorption efforts. Choose from:

• Standard or designer acoustic baffle fabrics, which give your space a simple yet sophisticated look

• Custom color or custom image acoustic baffles, which are perfect to place company colors, logos & quotes on

• Acousticolor™ sound baffles, which match any Sherwin-Williams shade

At Audimute, we help businesses of all shapes and sizes find the right solution for their unique sound problem. Unsure which solution is best for your open office? Contact us today. In less than 15 minutes, one of our sound solution experts will be able to understand your space and recommend a solution.

Shop our vast selection of acoustic ceiling baffles. Here’s to your quieter open office environment.

Sound, as wonderful as it is, can be harmful to your hearing at high intensities. We bet you already knew this. But even sound that is extremely loud for a just a moment can be damaging. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), powerful, intense sounds can damage sensitive structures in your inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).¹ To bring awareness to this condition and other sound-related issues, we’re kicking off a three part series called Sound Health + You.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

While hearing loss is most commonly attributed to aging, noise induced hearing loss happens to children and adults. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 15% of adults between the ages of 20 and 69, and 16% of teens ages 12 to 19, have reported some degree of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) caused by exposure to loud noise without wearing proper hearing protection.²

Sound alarming? That’s because it is.

There is no grading scale for what can cause hearing loss; it can be a one-time exposure to an intense sound, such as an explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud sounds, such as working in a factory, working with power tools, or even listening to music through head phones at a high volume every day.

“It is the sum of all of your exposures to sound throughout the day and evening that add together to damage hearing when that total becomes excessive,” notes Janet Ehlers, RN, MSN, COHC and Pamela S. Graydon, MS, COHC of the CDC.²

NIHL is the only type of hearing loss that is completely preventable. Noise induced hearing loss in adults is commonly attributed to work environments. Understanding the health hazards of over exposure to loud noises is the first step to protecting your hearing.

Tips for Hearing Health

• Wear earplugs or sound cancelling headphones when involved in a loud activity

• If you can’t reduce a noise or volume, move away from it

• When listening to music, use the 60/60 rule: use 60% of the maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes a day

• Have earplugs on hand for your children when planning high-volume activities

• Talk to family, friends, and colleagues about the risks of loud noise exposure

Noise Induced Hearing Loss Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of noise induced hearing loss in adults and children may go away in minutes, hours, or days after the noise ends. It’s important to recognize the signs early so you are able to avoid exposure to other loud noises while your ears are already impaired, as this can cause more severe damage.

Symptoms of Noise Induced Hearing Loss

• Feeling of pressure or fullness in your ears

• Muffled or distorted hearing

• Ringing in the ears when in quiet places

• Difficulty understanding phone calls

• Inability to hear someone talking three feet away

If you’re experiencing trouble hearing in your home, or simply wish to improve sound quality, call an Audimute Acoustic Sound expert at (866) 505-MUTE for personalized advice on soundproofing and acoustic solutions for your space.

Resources: 1 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. “Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.” Retrieved on April 12, 2016. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss#1. 2 Ehlers, Janet, RN, MSN, COHC and Graydon, Pamela S. MS, COHC. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Even a Dummy Knows October is Protect Your Hearing Month.” Retrieved on April 12, 2016. http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2012/10/11/protect-hearing/.

Hospitals, emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, and other healthcare facilities are wild with activity at all hours. On top of this, healthcare settings are built to be sterile. This means that most surfaces are made of hard, non-porous materials, such as cement, concrete, ceramic, linoleum, vinyl, etc. All of these surfaces don’t play nice when it comes to acoustics, enabling sound travel, echo, and heightened noise levels.

But with the sensitive and stressful environment that healthcare facilities foster, it’s beneficial to staff, patients, and visitors alike that the acoustics are transformed into soothing, pleasant sounds.

The Importance of Acoustics in Healthcare Settings

A healthcare environment’s acoustics play a critical role in promoting:

     • Healing

     • Rest

     • Comfort

     • Safety

     • Well-being

     • Speech privacy

Poor acoustics have the power to negatively affect a patient’s and/or a patient’s family physiological and psychological state, according to Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association’s report on Acoustics in Healthcare Environments.¹

Designing a Better Acoustic Experience and Environment

Sound pressure, background noise, and reverberation time are all acoustic issues that plague most healthcare facilities. At Audimute Acoustic Panels, we’ve addressed all of these issues with healthcare approved fabrics.

What do we mean by this? HC fabrics are bleach-cleanable, a necessity in the healthcare environment. And while bleach-cleanable fabrics are great, it is truly the acoustics that make all the difference. Whichever sound solution you choose, we can help you blend it into your environment so it’s nearly invisible, or we can help you customize your baffles, clouds, tiles, or panels to fit your facility’s style.

• Take your sound solution up high and hang HC Acoustic Celling Clouds and baffles from the ceiling.

• Make your walls more aesthetically pleasing by adding Custom Image Acoustic Panels or tiles to patient rooms and hallways.

Not sure which solution is right for your healthcare facility? Contact us today to speak to one of our sound solution experts.

Shop our vast selection of acoustic ceiling baffles and clouds and acoustic panels and tiles.

Resources: 1 Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association. “Acoustics in Healthcare Environments.” Retrieved on April 14, 2016. http://www.cisca.org/files/public/Acoustics%20in%20Healthcare%20Environments_CISCA.pdf .

Age induced hearing loss is a serious life altering condition, where one in three people over the age of 60, and one in two people over the age of 85, experience some type of age induced hearing loss.

Although it’s common, it’s not an easy adjustment to make. Recognizing the symptoms right away can make for a smoother transition into managing hearing changes with age.

Because so many factors can contribute to hearing loss as you get older, it can be difficult to distinguish it from noise induced hearing loss. While there is no single cause, it is most notably caused by changes in the inner ear that occur as you grow older.

Common Causes of Age Induced Hearing Loss

• Diabetes

• Poor circulation

• Exposure to loud noises

• Use of certain medications

• Family history of hearing loss

• Smoking

Hearing Changes with Age

Many people who experience hearing changes with age feel like a burden to family and friends talking around them, and begin to isolate themselves. Adding acoustic treatments, such as fabric sound panels, in social spaces at home can diminish sound clutter for cleaner room acoustics and more intelligible conversation for everyone. Incorporating acoustic treatments into these spaces early after the first signs of hearing loss can make the transition easier for everyone.

Symptoms of Age Induced Hearing Loss

• Muffled or distorted hearing

• Difficulty understanding phone calls

• Increasing TV and radio volumes higher than normal

• Feeling of pressure or fullness in your ears

• Ringing in the ears when in quiet places

• Inability to hear someone talking three feet away

If you or someone you know is experiencing trouble hearing at home, or if you simply wish to improve sound quality, check out our fabric sound panels or call an Audimute Acoustic Specialist at (866) 505-MUTE for personalized advice on soundproofing and acoustic solutions for your space.

Did you know April is Jazz Appreciation Month? It was created at the National Museum of American History and is intended to stimulate and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz – to study the music, attend concerts, and listen to jazz on radio and recordings and more.1 In honor of jazz, we’re going to round out April with an interview from the company’s founder and president, Mitch Zlotnik, an avid jazz drummer, who gave us a candid look into his history with Jazz and how Audimute, and ultimately One Wish (Audimute's parent company), was born.

Q: How did you become interested in Jazz?

A: I’m a very passionate drummer. I have been playing the drums since the seventh grade. I was always interested in Rock music, but I started listening to a lot of Contemporary jazz. I moved back from college and needed to decide whether to rent a house or an apartment. I couldn’t have my drums in an apartment, so I went with the house. I started jamming with friends. People that we knew ended up asking us to play at events and One Wish was born.

Q: Why One Wish? Why that name?

A: Our Sax player named the band One Wish. It’s actually the name of a jazz song by Hiroshima.

Q: What do you love the most about Jazz?

A: The free form nature of the music. Jazz is funky, it only takes one note to impress someone. You can change the flavors of jazz in order to change the emotional impact of the song. Jazz music has standards, but, solos make the difference. One of my favorite things about the people of Jazz was their willingness to play together and teach fellow musicians. Jazz players are virtuosos with a strong discipline, but are always willing to teach and allow others to improve their skills. A group of jazz musicians that have never played together, but can play the same song, can come together and put their own spin on those standards to turn them into solos.

Q: What was your most memorable time in the band?

A: Playing with the band and other musicians was always a good time, but some of the most memorable times were opening up for George Benson and The Rippingtons. We also shared the stage with Michael McDonald and Fourplay with Bob James which was very cool.

Q: When did you become interested in acoustic solutions?

A: I needed to find a way to be quiet, to stop people from calling the cops so I started creating variations of the products that we have today at Audimute. These products gave me the clarity of sound and allowed me to perfect my form, ultimately making me a better musician. The products gave me anticipated results that were intentional & consistent.

Q: How is One Wish the band like One Wish the company?

A: An extraordinary focus on the customer and their experience is the underlying commonality between One Wish the band and the company today. A close second would be a work hard/ play hard value and remembering to add an element of FUN in everything you do. "This is life. It's not a dress rehearsal."

Mitch still plays the drums in his free time, but creating sound solutions for his customers is just as satisfying as playing for him. He considers it an art form, a creative process.

Resources: 1 The National Museum of American History. “Jazz Appreciation Month” Retrieved on April 17, 2016. http://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz/jazz-appreciation-month

Whether it’s noise induced hearing loss or hearing changes with age, sound intensity and volume plays a prominent role in maintaining or altering hearing health.

Our lives are noisy and undeniably surrounded by sound. With so many sound frequencies hitting our ear drums, it’s important to know at what level sound becomes damaging.

So how loud is too loud?

Everyone experiences sound differently, making pain from noise volumes subjective. However, just because a sound doesn’t initially hurt someone’s ears doesn’t mean it isn’t doing irreversible damage.

According to Hear the World Foundation, “even low noise levels can trigger the release of stress hormones, leading to increased blood pressure. This in turn can lead to aggressive behavior and tensions in interactions with other people, as well as an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and tinnitus.”¹

Bottom line, sound levels affect us in many ways – most of which are overlooked.

Common Sound Pressure Ratings:

Sound level intensity is measured in decibels (dB). When a sound increases by 10 dB, our ears perceive it as twice as loud, meaning 50 dB is twice as loud as 40dB. A normal conversation rating is 60dB. Here are eight common sound pressure ratings:

     • Normal conversation - 60 dB

     • Heavy city traffic - 85 dB

     • Motorcycles - 95 dB

     • Metal shop – 100 dB

     • MP3 player max volume - 105 dB

     • Chainsaw – 120 dB

     • Sirens – 120 dB

     • Firecrackers and firearms - 150 dB

Using an adapted example from Hear the World Foundation, imagine you and a friend are standing 3 feet apart:

     • At 70 dB, a conversation can be held at normal volume

     • At 90 dB, conversational voices must be raised

     • At 100 dB, a conversation must be shouted

     • From 105 dB and above, conversation is no longer possible¹

The maximum recommended sound level intensity time per day is 8 hours at 85 db, roughly the sound of a busy street. For every 3 dB noise pressure increase, that maximum exposure time is cut in half, meaning at 95 dB (around the recorded level of factory work) the recommendation is only 4 hours.

So how can your hearing be protected?

Protect Your Hearing

Wearing protective gear like ear muffs or installing soundproofing and acoustic treatments can make all the difference in the longevity of your hearing health.

Do you live in the city? Do you live near an airport, fire station, or factory? Do you work in a repair shop, manufacturing plant, or around loud machinery? You can block or absorb sound waves before they’re able to reach and injure your ears with powerful solutions like:

     • Acoustic panels

     • Acoustic tiles

     • Acoustic ceiling clouds and baffles

     All of these sound solutions can be completely customized to fit your space, style, and needs.

Want to incorporate soundproofing into a space you’re building? Check out Peacemaker^®, Audimute’s versatile sound barrier. Made from recycled rubber, Peacemaker offers both the professional and DIY builder an easy to install, reasonably light, and very effective noise barrier.

It’s impossible to always avoid dangerous sound level intensity, but it is possible to protect yourself from it.

If you’re ready to protect your hearing health at home or work, but you’re unsure where to start, call an Acoustic Specialist today at (866) 505-MUTE for personalized advice.

Resources:

¹ Hear the World Foundation. “How Loud is Too Loud? When Does Noise Become Dangerous?” Accessed April 26, 2016. http://www.hear-the-world.com/en/hearing-and-hearing-loss/noise-how-loud-is-too-loud.html.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we wanted to take the time to acknowledge the dedicated and impactful champions of our nation’s education.

Education is a foundational necessity to human growth and success. With so much on the line, educators and educational leaders are constantly trying to develop and employ new and effective ways of teaching and promoting academic success.

As sound solution experts, we’re particularly focused on classroom acoustics. It’s imperative that educators are able to convey their lessons in an environment that students of all ages are capable of hearing, focusing, and retaining information.

The sound quality in classrooms, lecture halls, and auditoriums matter.

In late 2014, the Wall Street Journal shared the results of a study that tested the effects of classroom soundproofing materials on students’ learning and understanding. The study, performed by Applied Acoustics, found that a classroom with effective, high-quality soundproofing, sound-absorbing materials will see positive changes in student learning.

     • 86% of students said they heard the teacher more clearly>

     • 66% of students said it was easier to concentrate on lessons

Overall, this study shows the positive changes acoustic tiles make in regards to echo, reverberation, and speech intelligibility. What it also does is bridge the gap between the effects of acoustic panels for classrooms on students and what they mean for teachers.¹

A powerful 2012 survey conducted by the Danish National Research Centre for the Working Environment showed 23% of teachers working in schools with poor acoustics were considering leaving their jobs. The most commonly cited reason is the additional stress caused by excessive noise and reverberation in the classroom.

Additionally, teachers found themselves continuously straining their voices to be heard over the high noise volumes. Because of this, teachers would experience long- and short-term voice issues, such as hoarseness and lower vocal ranges. By simply including acoustic treatments into the design and layout of classrooms, schools can show the responsibility they take over their employee’s health and safety and student learning.²

Acoustic panels for classrooms are designed to absorb the noise bouncing off hard surfaces like desks and chalkboards. This reduces both the sound pressure in the classroom and the volume at which a teacher must speak at in order to be heard. This creates a more cognitive classroom for students and a less stressful work environment for educators.

Every noise issue is different. Audimute Acoustic Panels offers a range of classroom soundproofing materials in:

• Customizable sizes

• Geometric shapes

• Various finishes, including image, fabric, and paint coatings to provide unique acoustic treatments for every application

We construct our panels from our signature eco-C-tex™ recycled material, the greenest sound absorption product on the market and safest alternative to competitor’s fiberglass fillers. Our panels are NRC rated for sound absorption capabilities and Class A fire rated for safety in commercial spaces.

We understand the positive change acoustic solution materials bring to a classroom.

Our Acoustic Specialists are here to answer any questions and offer personalized advice for your school or classroom today. Give us a call at (866)505-MUTE or fill out our free room analysis form.

From all of us at Audimute Acoustic Panels, thank you for all of your hard work at educating the minds of the future.

Resources:

¹ The Wall Street Journal. “Boosting Students’ Learning With Soundproofing.” Accessed April 26, 2016. http://www.wsj.com/articles/boosting-students-learning-with-soundproofing-1418061926.

² Nielsen, Mathias Hedegaard. ScienceNordic. “Poor classroom acoustics drive teachers away.” Accessed April 26, 2016. http://sciencenordic.com/poor-classroom-acoustics-drive-teachers-away.

A noisy classroom environment can limit the academic success of today’s students. Children are not as skilled as adults at staying focused when distractions of any kind ensure – especially sound distractions.

Children with normal hearing can miss as much as 1/3 of the words in a teacher’s message when they are listening in an environment with poor acoustics, according to ClassroomHearing.org.¹ An even greater percentage of the teacher’s message is lost when a child already suffers from hearing difficulties and loss.

To remedy a noisy, distracting classroom, effective sound-absorbing acoustic treatments can benefit all children and promote a thriving learning environment for both student and teacher.

Why do classrooms have poor acoustics? 

The acoustical problems found inside classrooms happen because of the hard, reflective surfaces and problematic background noise. Classrooms use hard surfaces, like desks and chalk boards, because they are easy to clean and care for. These hard surfaces cause excessive reverberations which can muffle a teacher’s speech, preventing children from clearly comprehending a teacher’s message.

Background noise can also be distracting in the classroom. Noise traveling through doors and windows, either from the street or neighboring classrooms, can be very distracting for young students. In addition the outside noise, HVAC systems and other service elements within the classroom can create more unwanted noise.

Both students and teachers suffer in classroom environments with excessive noise and reverberation. Teachers are forced to speak louder in these environments to ensure that the noise is not interfering with their students’ learning skills. Teachers suffer from voice fatigue and children suffer from an unproductive learning environment.

Sound Solutions for Classrooms

Classroom noise does not have to be something schools simply deal with. There are solutions, both big and small, that administrators can implement to reduce problematic classroom noise. Noise from reverberation is usually easy to fix; simply adding soft materials – like blankets and curtains – to the walls and ceilings will make a significant difference. For a reliable and effective acoustic solution, NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) rated products, like Audimute’s acoustic panels, acoustic tiles, and acoustic clouds and baffles will provide consistent sound absorption in the classroom.

Doors and windows can either be replaced entirely or sealed off with a product like Audimute’s door seal kit. Sound travels through the air gaps that surround the doors and windows. To check for these gaps turn off the lights in the hallways and leave the classroom lights on, the gaps will be then be apparent.

Treating the noise from an HVAC system is slightly more problematic. HVAC units can either be enclosed or replaced entirely with a quieter system. The goal is to have an HVAC system that produces an optimum noise level, which is typically 35 dBA in a classroom.

Classroom noise can inhibit students’ academic success and create unnecessary stress for teachers. If you are an administrator dealing with classroom noise, we can help. Give our sound solution experts a call at 866-505-MUTE, or check our resource center for classroom acoustics for additional noise reduction tips.