MUSICIAN'S HEALTH
MUSICIAN'S HEALTH AND INJURY PREVENTION
Within the past decade the number — and seriousness — of performance injuries has grown. This is an issue all musicians in all fields need to take seriously. The information on this page is provided to offer you resources in avoiding performance injuries.
If you believe you are developing a performance injury, don’t hesitate to talk with your studio instructor and/or ensemble director. We also urge you to take advantage of resources and services available on campus to help you.
CAMPUS RESOURCES
Appointments can be made with the Student Counseling Center and Health Services, both located in Watson Hall.
GENERAL
Musician’s Health
This website is an excellent resource that encompasses Musician’s health, self-care for the musician, nutritional issues, stretches, and more.
More links on General Musician's Health:
• Performing Arts Medicine Association
HEARING
Basic Information on Hearing Health: This site was created by NASM and PAMA as an in-depth resource regarding Musician’s Hearing Health. It covers facts, basic information, information on protection of hearing for faculty and students alike.
More links on Musician’s Hearing Health:
• Decibel Loudness Comparison Chart
• Hearing Loss and Decibel Levels
•Music Induced Hearing Loss and Hearing Prevention
• NASM-PAMA Advisories on Hearing Health
•Study Finds Music Teachers at Risk of Hearing Loss
VOCAL HEALTH
Protecting Your Vocal Health: Student Information Sheet: This resource created by NASM and PAMA gives basic information and helpful tips for vocalists.
More links on Vocal Health:
• Bastian Medical Media for Laryngology
• The National Center for Voice and Speech
• Singers Health
MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALTH & PREVENTION
Musicians and MSI: Symptoms and Types of Injuries: An excellent description of the symptoms and pain levels associated with musculoskeletal injuries including detailed descriptions of tendon and muscle disorders, as well as nerve compression and entrapment.
More Links on Musculoskeletal Health:
• A Painful Melody: Repetitive Strain Injury Among Musicians
• Alexander Technique
• Body Map
• The Feldenkrias Method.
• NASM-PAMA Advisories on Neuromusculoskeletal and Vocal Health
• Rickover, Robert. The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique: Musicians and the Alexander Technique. A great guide to the Alexander Technique and its application to vocalists and instrumentalists.
• Rush, Michelle. Treatise. This composition gives an excellent introduction to musician injuries in string players and reviews a large quantity of books and articles for further research.
• What Makes Musicians Prone to Repetitive Strain Injuries?
PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH
Coping with Music Performance Anxiety: this website created by the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire covers the topic of performance anxiety. It gives a definition of anxiety disorders, ways to manage anxiety, and more resources on the subject.
More links on Psychological Health:
• Performance Anxiety
• Books: Inner Game of Tennis; Playing Your Best When It Counts; The Musician’s Way; Performance Success: Performing Your Best Under Pressure; Fight Your Fear and Win: Seven Skills for Performing Your Best Under Pressure—At Work, In Sports, On Stage; A Soprano on Her Head