Health, Resources

A Vicious Cycle: Is It the Flu, COVID, or a Cold?

November 1, 2024

These days, feeling under the weather can raise all sorts of alarm bells. Is it COVID-19, a cold, or seasonal allergies? Determining the exact cause can be tricky because they share some of the same symptoms. Doctors are reporting a surge in COVID-19 as children return to school. Clearly not pandemic-level sickness, but new variants […]

When Anxiety Takes the Joy out of Performing

September 1, 2024

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a natural, emotional, and physiological response to the stress of public performance. Debilitating forms of MPA are severe reactions that go beyond the normal adaptive performance responses. They can have dire implications for a professional musician’s life. Studies show between 60% to 80% of professional musicians suffer from debilitating forms […]

Keys to Pain-Free Playing

August 1, 2024

The rigor of playing an instrument, performing complex and demanding physical movements on a daily basis, means musicians are at high risk for tendonitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive movement, especially for extended periods, can significantly strain muscles and joints. Back pain and pain of the upper extremities are common, whether it’s shoulder pain […]

Watch Out: Hot Weather Means More Ticks

July 1, 2024

This summer, whether it’s mowing your lawn, taking a hike, or at an outdoor festival, there’s a good chance you might encounter a tick or two. Tick populations cycle through the year and their numbers depend on a few factors. The first peak of tick season starts in spring and continues through summer, with most […]

To Avoid Back Pain, Straighten Up

June 1, 2024

Sitting for prolonged periods of time, as many musicians do, can be linked to a number of health concerns, chief among them, back issues. Around 80%-90% of people in the US will have back pain at some point in their lives.

Dental Care Should Be a Regular Gig

May 1, 2024

It’s not the first thing musicians think of when it comes to being healthy and fit to play, but regular dental checkups and professional teeth cleaning should happen every six months, or at least annually. Wind players, especially, must be mindful of any changes in the shape and position of their teeth and bite. Consider […]

When Dystonia Strikes

April 1, 2024

Among the most frustrating disorders for musicians to manage is task-specific focal dystonia. Dystonia causes muscles to contract, which makes them move involuntarily or get stuck in an abnormal position. It can affect the entire body or a certain part, and the movements can sometimes cause pain. Though there are a number of unknowns, dystonia […]

Tackling Migraines: Help for More Pain-Free Days

March 1, 2024

Those who suffer from migraines experience severe, debilitating throbbing pain, often occurring on one side of the head. Attacks frequently cause disabling symptoms. Visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, fainting, and severe sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and smell, are common. More than one billion people worldwide are affected by migraines, making it the third […]

Show Some Love for Your Heart 

February 1, 2024

After decades of decline, fatal coronary heart disease may rise again unless Americans modify three major risk factors: smoking, drinking, and obesity, according to a new study out of Rutgers University. For musicians, hectic schedules, late-night gigs, rehearsals, and touring often mean less time devoted to diet and exercise.  Between 1990 and 2019, the US […]

Reining in the Cheer 

January 1, 2024

January is usually the time to take stock of our health and personal growth, generally with a multitude of New Year’s resolutions. People often vow to take a break from liquid cheer in “dry January.” Whether you simply want to cleanse from overindulging during the holidays, or are looking to make a long-term change, drinking […]