In his article, “Musicians Are Athletes, Too: The Physical Challenge of Being a Pro”, Jim Farber discusses the striking similarities between professional musicians and professional athletes. As orchestral musicians return to work following and during the venue closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these similarities have become more obvious and more significant to both musicians and to the public. Interviews and personal experiences of 3 career musicians accentuate this piece.
Read the complete article, posted September 14, 2021, on San …
Published on February 5, 2017
The Hearing Review
EXPERT ROUNDTABLE: Music & Hearing Loss | February 2017 Hearing Review
Introduction to Special Issue
By Marshall Chasin, AuD, Bethany Ewald Bultman, and Dan Beck, Guest-editors
On February 26, 1917, the first jazz recording was pressed for the Victor record label, featuring the Original Dixieland “Jass” Band’s Dixie Jass One Step and Livery Stable Blues. The record was released 3 months later, and …
View Permalink Share“The Role of Collegiate Faculty and Administrators in Addressing Musicians’ Health”
Shortly after our committee was established in 2015, the College Music Society’s Committee on Musicians’ Health was privileged to host eight webinars on the broad topic of musicians’ health, offering administrators, faculty and students a diverse range of practical strategies for addressing these important topics within the music curriculum. These take on special importance as the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), in collaboration with the Performing Arts …
There are basically two types of injuries: acute and overuse. Acute injuries are usually the result of a single, traumatic event. Overuse injuries, on the other hand, occur to tendons, muscles, joints, and other tissues as a result of repetitive activity that creates small amounts of trauma over time. Common examples include carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist tenosynovitis, and muscle/fascia pain syndrome. Instrumentalists often sustain overuse injuries in the hand, wrist, and arm muscles and tendons, as well as weakness and …
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The voice professional uses more than just his or her mouth, throat, vocal cords and lungs in producing sound. Although these organs are very important in making vocal sounds, the entire body is involved in the act of producing your voice. Your body is your instrument, and maintaining it in optimal condition goes a long way towards creating beautiful music. Here are some guidelines on keeping singers healthy.
Download the Keeping Your Voice Healthy one-page PDF fact sheet
Key References for Musician Medical Problems by Instrument / Voice Type
As suggested by Dr William Dawson (PAMA)
Piano / keyboards:
Bragge P, Bialocerkowski A, McMeeken J: Musculoskeletal injuries in elite pianists: Prevalence and associated risk factors. Aust J Mus Educ 2008;1:18-31
Brass instrumentalists:
Chesky K, Devroop K, Ford J III: Medical problems of brass instrumentalists: Prevalence rates for trumpet, trombone, French horn, and low brass.Med Probl Perform Art 2002;17(2):93-98
Woodwind instrumentalists (and all types):
Dawson WJ: Common problems of wind instrumentalists. Med …