Taiko are extremely powerful instruments, and loud goes hand in hand with powerful. Taiko drums, and related instruments, can produce sounds loud enough to potentially damage your hearing.

Rolling Thunder highly recommends hearing protection when you play taiko drums. Here's why:

Being exposed to any sound above 80db (about the level of a noisy restaurant) runs the risk of damaging your hearing. Taiko drums have been recorded at 110db at the drum head (about the same loudness as a passing train!), and certain metallic instruments such as kane or cannon are probably higher.

OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) has established recommended exposure levels for various decibel levels. At 110db, you start risking damage to your hearing after only 30 minutes.

Source level (dB)	90	92	95	97	100	105	110	115	120
Allowable Daily Exposure (hours)	8	6	4	3	2	1	1/2	1/4	1/8

However, if you are wearing earplugs that attenuate 20db, such as the pair we sell below, you increase your exposure time to eight hours!

More information on protecting your hearing can be found at the H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers)'s website.