Injury prevention for instrumentalists | Voice care | Locate a medical specialist | General health | Alexander technique | Feldenkrais method | Ergonomics | Reference | Counteracting substance abuse | Hearing protection | Blog
Injury Prevention for Instrumentalists
See p. 229-291 of The Musician's Way.
"Heeding the Signs of Injury" and other injury prevention articles for musicians on The Musician's Way Blog.
“Exercise for Musicians: Flay Fit, Not Flat.” How exercise benefits musicians,
by Bronwen Ackermann, Ph.D.
“Musculoskeletal Disorders Affecting Musicians and Considerations for their Prevention.” A slide presentation by physiotherapist Patrice Berque; includes anatomical drawings and photos.
"Things Are Seldom What They Seem." Alice Brandfonbrener, M.D., advises musicians how to get help when injury symptoms arise (April, 2006).
"Return to play schedule following injury." From Musicians' Health Scotland.
"Looking at Musicians' Health through the Ages." Ralph Manchester, M.D., discusses the prevalence and incidence of playing-related injuries.
AthletesandtheArts.com. Integrating the science of sports medicine and music.
"Musician, Heal Thyself." Stories about injured musicians and their journeys back to health; from Peabody Magazine.
“What Studying Musicians Tells Us about Motor Control of the Hand,” by Alan Watson, Ph.D. (2006).
Books about injury prevention for musicians
The Musician’s Body, by Llobet and Odam (Ashgate 2007).
The Musician's Survival Manual, by Richard Norris, M.D. E-book edition (2011).
Playing (less) Hurt, by Janet Horvath (2009 edition).
(to top)
Voice Care
See p. 268-277 of The Musician's Way as well as the For Singers page.
Fit to Sing. A factsheet from the British Assoc. of Performing Arts Medicine.
Advice for Care of the Voice, from the Texas Voice Center.
Vocal hygiene tips. Dos and Don'ts from the Canadian Voice Care Foundation.
Self-Help for Vocal Health. From The National Center for Voice and Speech.
Vocal health guidelines from the Lions Voice Clinic of the Univ. of Minnesota.
Tips for Performers. From the Duke Voice Care Center.
Vocal health resources from the National Center for Voice and Speech.
Vocal Process. "Training and resources for healthy voice use."
Effects of Medications on Voice and Speech, from the National Center for Voice and Speech. More than 200 medications and their effects.
American Academy of Otolaryngology. Global directory to locate a voice doctor.
Articles and tips for singers by Anthony Jahn, M.D.
Tips from The Voice Foundation (click on the “Voice Problems” tab).
Voice Academy. Vocal health & advice for school teachers.
Humidifiers and air purifiers: Amazon.com; Compact Appliance.
Entertainer's Secret. Throat relief spray.
Vocal Nodules by Sara Harris courtesy of the British Voice Association.
Photo gallery of throat disorders. From the Bastian Voice Institute.
Adele's Vocal Challenge. John Mayer's Vocal Challenge. Case examples of vocal cord hemorrhage and granuloma. Also prevention tips.
(to top)
Locate an Arts Medicine Specialist
See p. 246-249 of The Musician's Way.
The Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) international directory of its members. Also see the "referral desk" link.
The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine directory of performing arts medicine practitioners in the U.K.
Musicians' Clinics of Canada, Toronto.
(to top)
General Health and Wellness
See Part III of The Musician's Way.
Self-Help. Wellness resources compiled by the UNCSA Counseling Services Staff.
ULifeline. “An online resource center for college student mental health.”
Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center (U.S.). Health insurance plans also available via professional organizations such as ASTA, MTNA, Fractured Atlas.
Nutrition, exercise, and stress management. From Dr-Bob.org.
American Dietetic Association. Nutrition information, fact sheets, resources.
Tips for a Healthy Diet and Better Nutrition. From HelpGuide.org.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
PositivityRatio.com. Gauge your mental habits with a 2-minute test.
AuthenticHappiness.org. By Martin Seligman. Articles & self-evaluations.
Guided relaxation videos on YouTube.
Gaiam Yoga Club. Practice yoga at home.
Health Promotion in Schools of Music. Recommendations for educators.
Ash.org. "America's first antismoking organization." Articles; tips for quitting.
Preview "The Education of the Professional Musician: Its Psychological Demands and Outcomes," by Anthony Kemp, Ph.D., a chapter in Musical Performance, 2/3, edited by Froehlich and Chesky, 93-110 (Harwood, 2000). Buy from Amazon.
Preview “Starting a Music Degree at a University,” by Stephanie Pitts, in The Music Practitioner: Research for the Music Performer, Teacher and Listener, ed. Jane Davidson, 215-224 (Ashgate, 2004).
(to top)
Alexander Technique
See p. 250-269 of The Musician's Way.
“The Alexander Technique.” A synopsis by Sara Cohoe.
"Balanced Shoulders, Open Heart." "Sitting Tall." From The Musician's Way Blog.
AlexanderTechnique.com. Numerous resources plus a teacher-finder tool.
AlexanderTech.org. American Society for AT; articles and a teacher locator.
The American Center for AT.
Alexander technique videos, by Eileen Troberman.
BodyMap.org, by Barbara Conable. Also see her Recommended Reading.
Alexander Technique for Musicians. Articles and links from the AT Center.
Articles for musicians by AT teacher Pedro de Alcantara.
The Sum Total Value of Non-Doing. Bill Plake on how AT liberates artistry.
Selected books about AT
Indirect Procedures, 2nd Edition, Pedro de Alcantara (Oxford, 2013).
How You Stand, How You Move, How You Live, Missy Vineyard
(Da Capo, 2007).
What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body, Barbara Conable (2000).
(to top)
Feldenkrais Method
See p. 250-269 of The Musician's Way.
“An Overview of the Feldenkrais Method.” A 4-page article by Ralph Strauch.
The International Feldenkrais Federation.
The Feldenkrais Guild of North America.
The Feldenkrais Guild, U.K.
The Australian Feldenkrais Guild.
(to top)
Ergonomics and Computer Use
See p. 250-269 of The Musician's Way; see Instrument-Specific Resources for targeted ergonomic strategies.
"Balanced Shoulders, Open Heart." "Sitting Tall." From The Musician's Way Blog.
Workspace comfort guide from the 3M company.
Ergonomic solutions for computer workstations from OSHA.
How to Make Your Computer Workstation Fit You. A 40-page ebooklet.
Forward-sloping seat cushions: Tush Cush. Seat Mate (lowest cost).
Carex Memory Foam Lumbar Support Cushion, from WalMart.com.
Fellowes Office Suites Adjustable Foot Rest, from WalMart.com.
(to top)
Counteracting Substance Abuse
See p. 307-309 of The Musician's Way.
Alcohol Abuse: Signs, Symptoms, Effects & What You Can Do. Via HelpGuide.org
Drug Abuse & Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, Effects & What You Can Do.
FactsOnTap.org. Drug and alcohol abuse prevention for students.
College Drinking: Changing the Culture.
Guidelines for Moderate Drinking. From the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
Be Responsible about Drinking. Resources, facts, and links about alcohol use.
How to Cut Down on Drinking, from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA, 2001).
Self-assessments and informational pamphlets. From Dr-Bob.org.
(to top)
Reference
PubMed. Search for articles in scientific and medical journals.
Search the Performing Arts Medical Association Bibliography.
Performing Arts Medicine, 3rd edition (July 2010). "The definitive textbook."
The Biology of Musical Performance and Performance-related Injury, by Alan H. D. Watson, Ph.D. (Scarecrow Press, 2009).
For anatomical images, search Google Images.
(to top)
Hearing Protection for Musicians
See p. 277-291 of The Musician's Way.
Music-induced hearing loss may affect half of all professional musicians, so hearing conservation is a topic of concern for anyone who makes music.
Educational resources | Sound level meters | Environmental modifications | Hearing protection devices
"Hear Today. Hear Tomorrow." A widely read article on The Musician's Way Blog.
“Hearing Loss.” Hearing conservation tips from Musicians’ Clinics of Canada.
Sound Advice. Extensive resources for musicians, colleges, schools.
Hearnet.com. Hearing education and awareness.
Dangerous Decibels. “A public health partnership for prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.”
How Hearing Works, by Tom Harris. From HowStuffWorks.com.
The American Academy of Audiologists. Locate audiologists worldwide.
“Sound Level Measurements in Music Practice Rooms,” by Phillips and Mace, Music Performance Research (2008).
Sound levels during ensemble rehearsals, by Kris Chesky, Ph.D.
"Prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss in student musicians," by Phillips, Henrich, & Mace (International Journal of Audiology 49, 2010).
The Hearing Review, March 2006 issue. Hearing issues of musicians.
Hear the Music: Hearing Loss Prevention for Musicians, by Marshall Chasin, Ph.D. (Westone, 2001). A practical 93-page booklet.
"Volume levels of common portable music players" (scroll down to view a chart).
ListentoYourBuds.org. "How to use personal audio technology safely."
A Sound Ear II. Free ebooklet addressing “noise at work regulations and their impact on orchestras.” (Assoc. of British Orchestras, 2008)
"No fortissimo? Symphony told to keep it down," by Sarah Lyall, (The New York Times, April 20, 2008).
Music-Related Hearing Loss. Hearing conservation at UNC-Greensboro.
“Center Helps Prevent Hearing Loss Through Awareness,” by Ellen Rossetti, UNT Research 17 (2008).
Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention. Guidelines from NIOSH; broadly applicable.
Listen While You Work: Hearing Conservation for the Arts. Free ebook, (2001).
Audio Demonstrations. Simulations of hearing loss.
Tinnitus and the brain." Discover magazine, October, 2010.
“Are Your Medications Affecting Your Hearing?” A primer on ototoxicity.
(to top) (to hearing protection)
American Recorder Technologies Sound Level Meter. Highly recommended general-purpose device. Under $70 (US) at GuitarCenter.com.
SPL Pro. "A professional-grade sound level meter app for your iPhone."
Sound level meters from DAS Distribution. Professional and consumer models.
The Cirrus Research DoseBadge. A professional-grade device used to measure the sound exposure levels of musicians and workers (not for consumer use).
(to top) (to hearing conservation)
Acoustical Surfaces, Inc. An industry leader in sound control; also see their Links page, which includes information about classroom acoustics.
Concise acoustical and soundproofing glossary, from American Micro Industries.
Sound-absorbing rugs from SelectRugs.com.
Acoustic treatments and panels from Wenger, Auralex.
Portable sound-absorbing baffles from ClearSonic Manufacturing.
Acoustic shields from Wenger and Manhasset and Wilde & Spieth.
Caution: as described on p. 285 of The Musician’s Way, shields must be positioned within 7 inches [18 cm] of a musician's ears and be angled to deflect sound away from upwind players. Info about drum shields.
(to top) (to hearing protection)
Musicians who work in high-volume settings should see audiologists to obtain comprehensive hearing exams and receive guidance on using hearing protection devices (see p. 288-291 of The Musician's Way).
Premade musicians’ earplugs from Etymotic Research (manufacturer site). Purchase from Ear Plug Superstore. Note: there are two sizes.
Custom-fitted hi-fidelity plugs from Etymotic. Order from an audiologist. Useful for some but not all musicians.
A quick start guide to musicians' in-ear monitors, by Westone.
Sensaphonics.com. Custom and universal-fit in-ear monitors for musicians.
Dynamic Ear Company. Filters and in-ear monitors to use with custom earplugs.
Sennheiser EW 300 G3 wireless in-ear monitoring system (manufacturer site).
Shure personal monitor systems (manufacturer site). Purchase Shure and other wireless personal monitor systems at a discount from GuitarCenter.com.
