Bronwyn Sindel, Mullumbimby
In last week’s Echo Jason van Tol poses the question as to what is the threat posed by the drumming circle? Thanks for asking Jason – I can only speak for myself, but I’m a very quiet person, live in a very quiet place by choice, and object strongly to having to listen to other people’s noise/music when I’m at home.
The problem with drums is that, unless they are struck very gently, the sound they make travels for quite a distance, under the right conditions – more than a kilometre.
The sound of a drum has quite a different beat to the beat of my heart and my preferred rhythm.
Why should I be subjected to someone else’s noise/music in the privacy of my own home? It’s more than annoying,
it’s actually distressing. Do I have to turn on the radio to drown out the sound?
That doesn’t seem fair.
And if I’m this sensitive, how much must it affect the ground dwelling [nocturnal] animals who are trying to rest while you play? It’s a matter of consideration for others Jason.
What’s good and enjoyable for you and your friends may be quite distressing for many others. I hope this helps you understand.
Either drum inside, where the sound can be completely blocked, or find a venue where no-one will be affected by your choice of enjoyment.
And I don’t mean the forest – there are many beings living in the forest.
While agreeing with most of the above, I would like to point out that many of us who have chosen to live in quiet areas have had appalling noise (and traffic chaos) imposed on us a by a multi-national corporation running the five day so-called Splendour in the Grass Festival at Yelgun, which many residents, particularly those whose properties border this ‘splendour’, find very distressing.
Despite a perfectly adequate festival site available at Tyagarah that is only used at Easter, the state government’s Regional Planning Panel ignored the many community concerns and objections and imposed another ‘festival’ on a quiet community and a nationally important wildlife corridor the same community had fought to protect for many years.
Compared to this a few locals drumming in a park for few hours-almost peaceful.