As a musician, your physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being is integral to enjoying career longevity and success. Student musicians should develop healthy procedures to maintain mental, neuromusculoskeletal, hearing, and vocal health.
It is important for musicians to understand how choices impact health and musical performance. These resources are intended to provide an introduction to health concerns of musicians. We encourage all faculty, staff and students to seek professional advice about specific concerns for health or well-being.
If you believe you are developing a performance injury, please confer with your studio instructor and ensemble director(s). Please also take advantage of resources and services available on campus to help you.
Campus Resources
Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services (CHWS)
Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services (CHWS), is our on-campus health clinic available to all students, located on the second floor of the Wheelock Student Center.
On-Campus Physical Therapy Clinic
The School of Physical Therapy’s onsite clinic is an amazing resource to Puget Sound students, faculty, and staff. This is a pro-bono clinic run by graduate students under the supervision of expert licensed clinicians. On their website, you will find information and a referral form, which can be either self-referral, or from a healthcare provider. They also host an exercise/wellness group in the fall, which is a great way to cultivate strength and injury prevention.
Yearly Musician Injury Prevention Screenings
The School of Music partners with the School of Physical Therapy every fall to provide Injury Prevention Screenings specific to musicians. Look out for information on this in September!
Students are encouraged to seek help from licensed medical professionals when appropriate, and consult with CHWS, Physical Therapists, or their private heath care providers if they need additional opinions or resources. The general health and prevention resources below do not qualify as professional medical advice.
Recommended Health & Wellness Resources
Musician’s Way is an excellent website for resources addressing musician health, providing information on health problems seen in musicians, self-care for the musician, nutritional issues, stretches and exercises and more.
Performing Arts Medicine Association works with and for the health of performing artists through education, research, networking, and a commitment to a deep understanding of the special needs associated with the performing arts.
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, and recommendations for faculty and staff in Schools of Music.
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
- Noise Induced Hearing Loss
- Noise and Hearing Loss
- 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.
How to Prevent and Repair Vocal Damage: A guide from Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences online speech pathology program which outlines the risks of vocal misuse or overuse, ways to practice better vocal hygiene, and how voice therapy can help.
More links on Vocal Health:
- Bastian Medical Media for Laryngology
- The National Center for Voice and Speech
- Singers Health
- Texas Voice Center
- The Voice Foundation
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 Fraces Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy
- The Feldenkrais Method
- For Pianists: Wristen, Brenda, et al. "Wellness Curriculum Outline."
- Horvath, Janet. Playing (less) Hurt. An invaluable resource for any musician who is concerned about injuries related to playing their instrument; includes prevention, warning signs, what to do when you get hurt, and important steps in the recovery process. See full review online. There is one copy available in the Music Office.
- Lieberman, Julie Lyonn. "The Importance of Setup." Strings Magazine. May/June 2000. This article, specific to violinists and violists, discusses the importance of a well-fitted chin and shoulder rest for comfortable playing.
- 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. Includes links to large quantity of different articles.
- 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. There is one copy available in the Music Office.
- What Makes Musicians Prone to Repetitive Strain Injuries?
- Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute
Psychological Health
- Music Performance Anxiety in Musicians - What We Know About What Works
- Performance Anxiety
- Navigating Generalized Anxiety as a Musician
- Mental Health Support for Musicians - Musician's Union
Books
Below is a nonexhaustive list of books that address mental performance and may offer some coping mechanisms for musicians. All books are available through the Collins Memorial Library on campus. You can check availability here.
- 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