Musician's Health and Safety

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 musicians’ health, self-care for the musician, nutritional issues, stretches, and more. 

More links on general musicians’ 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 musicians’ hearing health. It covers facts, basic information, information on protection of hearing for faculty and students alike.

More links on musicians’ hearing health:

• Decibel Loudness Comparison Chart
• Hearing Loss and Decibel Levels
• 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

Skeletal health and prevention

• 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.

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