Injury prevention for instrumentalists | Voice care | Locate a medical specialist | General health | Counteracting substance abuse | Alexander technique | Feldenkrais method | Ergonomics | Reference | 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.” Bronwen Ackermann, Ph.D., describes how exercise benefits musicians.
"Looking at Musicians' Health through the Ages." Ralph Manchester, M.D., discusses the prevalence and incidence of playing-related injuries.
"Return to play schedule following injury." From Musicians' Health Scotland.
"Things Are Seldom What They Seem." Alice Brandfonbrener, M.D., advises musicians how to get help when injury symptoms arise (April, 2006).
"Musician, Heal Thyself." Stories about injured musicians and their journeys back to health; from Peabody Magazine.
AthletesandtheArts.com. Integrating the science of sports medicine and music.
“Musculoskeletal Disorders Affecting Musicians and Considerations for their Prevention.” A 75-slide presentation by physiotherapist Patrice Berque; includes anatomical drawings and photos. From Musicians’ Health Scotland.
“Musicians and Musculoskeletal Injuries,” by physiotherapist Cynthia C. Carsley. A 77-slide presentation highlighting causes, prevention, and treatment of common musicians’ injures; includes descriptions, photographs, drawings.
“What Studying Musicians Tells Us about Motor Control of the Hand.” A 25-page article by Alan Watson, Ph.D. (2006).
Books about injury prevention for musicians
The Musician’s Body, by Llobet, Odam (Ashgate 2007). Buy from AbeBooks.com.
The Musician's Survival Manual, by Richard Norris, M.D. E-book edition (2011).
Playing (less) Hurt by Janet Horvath (2009 edition).
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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.
Vocal hygiene tips. Dos and Don'ts from the Canadian Voice Care Foundation.
Advice for Care of the Voice, from the Texas Voice Center.
Self-Help for Vocal Health. From The National Center for Voice and Speech.
Tips for Performers. From the Duke Voice Care Center.
Effects of Medications on Voice and Speech, from the National Center for Voice and Speech (a list of more than 200 medications and their effects).
Adele's Vocal Challenge. John Mayer's Vocal Challenge. Vivid case examples of vocal cord hemorrhage and granuloma. Also prevention tips.
American Academy of Otolaryngology. Global directory to locate a voice doctor.
Vocal health resources from the National Center for Voice and Speech.
Vocal health guidelines from the Lions Voice Clinic of the Univ. of Minnesota.
Vocal Process. "Training and resources for healthy voice use."
Articles and tips for singers by Anthony Jahn, M.D.
Voice Academy. Vocal health & advice for school teachers.
Tips from The Voice Foundation (click on the “Voice Problems” tab).
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.
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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.
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General Health and Wellness
See Part III of The Musician's Way.
Self-Help. Wellness resources compiled by the Counseling Services Staff at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
ULifeline. “An online resource center for college student mental health.”
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. Free trial.
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.
Artists' Health Insurance Resource Center (U.S.). Health insurance plans also available through many professional organizations such as ASTA and MTNA.
Ash.org. "America's first antismoking organization." Articles, tips for quitting.
Health Promotion in Schools of Music. Recommendations for educators.
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). Purchase from AbeBooks.com.
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).
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Counteracting Substance Abuse
See p. 307-309 of The Musician's Way.
FactsOnTap.org. Drug and alcohol use prevention for students.
Be Responsible about Drinking. Resources, facts, and links about alcohol use.
Guidelines for moderate drinking. From the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
How to Cut Down on Drinking, from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA, 2001).
“College Alcohol Problems Exceed Previous Estimates,” from the NIAAA (2007).
College Drinking: Changing the Culture. A site created by the NIAAA.
Self-assessments and informational pamphlets. From Dr-Bob.org.
“Drug Abuse & Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, Effects and What You Can Do.”
“Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism: Signs, Symptoms, Effects and What You Can Do.” From HelpGuide.org.
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Alexander Technique
See p. 250-269 of The Musician's Way.
“The Alexander Technique.” A synopsis by Sara Cohoe.
"Balanced Shoulders, Open Heart." An article on The Musician's Way Blog.
AlexanderTechnique.com. Numerous resources including a page for musicians and a tool to locate ATteachers internationally.
AlexanderTech.org. American Society for AT; articles and a teacher-finder tool.
The American Center for AT. Also a tool to locate U.S. teachers.
"The Sum Total Value of Non-Doing." Bill Plake on how AT liberates artistry.
Alexander technique videos, by Eileen Troberman. Guidelines for sitting, breathing, using the arms, and more.
BodyMap.org, by Barbara Conable. Also see her Recommended Reading.
Alexander Technique for Musicians. A page with articles and links courtesy of the Alexander Technique Center.
Articles for musicians by Alexander technique teacher Pedro de Alcantara.
Selected books about AT
Indirect Procedures, Pedro de Alcantara (Oxford, 1997).
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).
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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.
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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 from WorkSafeBC.com; includes images, guidelines, checklists.
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.
“Typing Injury Frequently Asked Questions.” Avoid repetitive strain injury.
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Reference
PubMed. Search for articles in scientific and medical journals; a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
Performing Arts Medicine, 3rd edition (July 2010). "The definitive textbook." Print and e-book versions.
Search the Performing Arts Medical Association Bibliography.
Preview The Biology of Musical Performance and Performance-related Injury, by Alan H. D. Watson, Ph.D. (Scarecrow Press, 2009). Buy from AbeBooks.com.
For anatomical images, search Google Images.
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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." An 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.”
The American Academy of Audiologists. Locate audiologists worldwide.
“Sound Level Measurements in Music Practice Rooms,” by Susan Phillips and Sandra Mace. A 10-page article in 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).
“Are Your Medications Affecting Your Hearing?” A primer on ototoxicity.
The Hearing Review, March 2006 issue. Hearing issues of musicians. Includes "Volume levels of common portable music players" (scroll down to view a chart).
Hear the Music: Hearing Loss Prevention for Musicians, by Marshall Chasin, Ph.D. (Westone, 2001). A practical 93-page booklet.
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). An example of noise-at-work rules in action.
“Listen While You Work: Hearing Conservation for the Arts.” Free 60-page ebook by Safety and Health in Arts Production and Entertainment, (2001).
“How Hearing Works,” by Tom Harris. From HowStuffWorks.com.
ListentoYourBuds.org. "How to use personal audio technology safely."
Tinnitus and the brain. Discover magazine, October, 2010.
“Music-Related Hearing Loss.” Hearing conservation at UNC-Greensboro.
Audio Demonstrations. Simulations of hearing loss. Also “The Naked Truth about Noise Reduction Ratings.” By Elliott Berger, Ph.D.
Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention. Guidelines from NIOSH.
“Center Helps Prevent Hearing Loss Through Awareness,” by Ellen Rossetti, UNT Research 17 (2008).
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American Recorder Technologies Sound Level Meter. Highly recommended general-purpose device. Under $70 (US) at GuitarCenter.com.
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).
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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.
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.
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Musicians who rehearse and perform in high-volume settings should see an audiologist who works with musicians to obtain a comprehensive hearing exam 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 that there are two sizes.
Custom-fitted hi-fidelity plugs from Etymotic. Order from an audiologist.
Sensaphonics.com. Custom and universal-fit in-ear monitors for musicians.
Dynamic Ear Company. Filters and in-ear monitors to use with custom earplugs.
A quick start guide to musicians' in-ear monitors, by Westone.
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.
