Newsletter Vol. 5
July 2006

Irving Robbins Middle School band room

Countering Acoustic Chaos

Rising enrollment at Irving Robbins Middle School, Farmington, CT, quickly filled all three of the school's music rehearsal rooms to capacity. Before long, the 65-member marching band was forced to practice in a former art room that was not acoustically suitable for them.

With its glazed brick walls and a vaulted ceiling, it was easy to see how tests revealed that the room had an actual reverberation time of 4.59 seconds. No wonder rehearsals were chaotic and far from harmonious.


Using a combination of illbruck's Class 1 fire-rated SONEX® Panels and Baffles, the school's maintenance crew covered the walls and ceiling of the art room in six hours. The installation reduced the room's reverberation time by over 66% – from 4.59 seconds to 1.5 seconds.

" Now we have an excellent rehearsal room," says music teacher Robin Piertrick, "I can hear individual parts, the students can hear me, and I can even hear all the way to the drummers in the back row."

SONEX® Panels and Baffles are available in a wide range of thicknesses, patterns, painted surfaces or fabric coverings. They can be used in virtually any environment. Both are available with Hypalon™ coating for easy maintenance and cleaning with a damp cloth.

Home