Musician Health and Wellness
Per National Associations of School of Music Standards, students enrolled in music programs as well as faculty and staff within the Music Department must be provided basic information about maintenance of health and safety within the contexts of practice, performance, teaching, and listening.
For All Individuals
Health and Safety depend in large part on the personal decisions of informed individuals. Institutions have health and safety responsibilities, but the fulfillment of these responsibilities cannot and will not ensure any specific individual's health and safety. Too many factors beyond any institution's control are involved. Individuals have a critically important role and each is personally responsible for avoiding risk and preventing injuries to themselves before, during, and after study or employment at any institution.
Students
In-depth information regarding musician health and wellness will be presented in MUS 122 - Introduction to Music Studies and Careers. Resources will also be made available to students in all applied lesson, digital music, sound recording, and ensemble courses.
Students may not move pianos, choral risers, or any other heavy equipment without faculty supervision. Use of all department equipment, technology, and facilities requires permission of music faculty.
Music majors should be apprised that there are potential health and safety risks generally associated with, and inherent in music student practice, performance, teaching, and listening.
Questions?
Please consult your general health professional, the Weigel Health Center, academic adviser, University Police Department, Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, or applied lesson professor, if you have questions or concerns with respect to hearing, vocal, musculoskeletal health and injury prevention, and the use, proper handling, and operation of potentially dangerous materials, equipment, and technology, or other potential health and safety risks.
Health and Wellness Resources
Division of Sleep Medicine - Harvard Medical School
National Association for Music Education - Health in Music Education
? non-compliant PDF:
Nutrition and Healthy Eating - Dr. Carol DeNysschen, Buffalo State
Peabody Institute - The Art and Science of Healthy Performance
Peabody Institute - "Putting It All Together: A Musician's Guide to Day-to-Day Healthy Play"
Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA)
Stop Sports Injuries: Preventing Overuse Injuries in Instrumentalists
Alexander Technique - The Complete Guide
Conable, Barbara. What Every Musician Needs to Know about the Body
Malde, Melissa, et al. What Every Singer Needs to Know about the Body
Mark, Thomas. What Every Pianist Needs to Know about the Body
National Institute of Health - Neuromuscular & Musculoskeletal Problems in Instrumental Musicians
National Institute of Health - Playing-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Musicians
Green, Barry. The Inner Game of Music
American Psychological Association - Articles
The Art of Practicing Institute: Performing Beyond Fear
? noncompliant pdfs:
Weigel Health Center: Building Resilience
Weigel Health Center: Stress Management