Part of the role of any professional is to remain in the best condition to practice the profession. As aspiring musicians, this involves safeguarding hearing health. Whatever a student’s plans are after graduation they owe it to themselves and to their fellow musicians to do everything possible to protect their hearing. Certain behaviors and exposure to certain sounds can, over time, damage hearing. In most cases, noise-related hearing loss does not develop overnight. If a student is serious about pursuing a career in music, they need to protect their hearing. The way you hear music, the way you recognize and differentiate pitch, the way you play music; all are directly connected to your hearing. NASM has published documentation regarding hearing health. All students are encouraged to read this information and to constantly take steps to protect their hearing health.