Cool Tools, Member Profiles, Products, Resources

New Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Agreement Adds Hearing Protection for Orchestra Musicians

Under the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra’s August 2021 collective bargaining agreement, audiology visits and custom earplugs are included for every musician. 

Regular Dental Checkups Keep Chops in Tip-Top Shape

October 1, 2022

Teeth grinding, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), muscle cramps, dry mouth, cold sores, and calluses are all potential problems for wind musicians, which may be aggravated by performance. Repetitive movement, excessive practice, and stress can cause dental and orofacial problems. It is not uncommon for musicians to experience TMJ, muscle strain, or focal dystonia (failure of […]

Practicing Yoga Makes for Perfect Technique

September 1, 2022

Beyond its physical health benefits, yoga does wonders for stress, concentration, and even performance anxiety. There’s no need for pretzel-like contortions to reap the benefits. Movements are accessible and every pose can be modified for ease and comfort. Performing creates stress, whether onstage or in an audition. Rehearsing for long periods, bending and stretching limbs […]

Don’t Overlook the Obvious: Keep an Eye on Your Vision

July 1, 2022

On average, most people spend over seven hours a day looking at a screen. All that screen time puts them at risk for digital eye strain (DES), a group of problems that include tired eyes and blurred vision. It’s also a typical complaint of professional musicians. The eyes are not meant to repetitively scan the […]

On the Stage or on the Court, Tennis Elbow Causes Pain

June 1, 2022

Tennis players may have earned the title for this painful condition, but tennis elbow is a common problem triggered by a tense grip on any tool or instrument. Combined with repetitive movement, the strain can cause swelling of the tendons that bend the wrist backward, away from the palm. Strenuous overuse, which results in tension […]

Releasing Tension and Becoming Balanced with the Alexander Technique

May 1, 2022

The Alexander Technique addresses inefficient habits of movement and patterns of accumulated tension that interfere with our innate ability to move easily. In his book, Body Learning, Michael J. Gelb notes that the technique itself is difficult to define because it involves a new experience. He says, “It’s like trying to explain music to someone who has never […]

Scents, Smells, and Ventilation in the Workplace

April 1, 2022

When we think of pollution, we think of outdoor air pollution. But most of our exposure to pollutants occurs indoors. For example, air fresheners may emit or cause the formation of numerous substances associated with harmful effects. Claims like “green” and “all natural” on packaging do not have legal or regulatory status.

Heart Health: Stay in Tune with Your Heart

March 1, 2022

Heart disease is a broad term that covers a number of heart conditions. Among the most common are congenital heart disease (heart defects), coronary artery disease (CAD), arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat), and heart valve disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US—an alarming one in every four deaths to be exact. That’s about 610,000 people each year.

The Five Biggest Tax Mistakes Musicians and Bands Make

February 28, 2022

by Alan Friedman, CPA, Partner, Friedman, Kannenberg & Company, P.C. As with most professions, there are two sides to the business of making music: the artist side and the business side. While most gigging musicians and bands possess the creative knowledge to make a living in the art of making music, some may lack the […]

New Initiatives Toward a Brighter 2022 for Freelance Musicians

January 1, 2022

by Wages Argott, AFM Director of Freelance Services and Membership Development Let’s talk about 2021, our first full calendar year under the shadow of COVID-19. I, like everyone else, finished 2020 grateful that my family and I were alive and healthy and we all still had roofs over our heads. I gave little thought to […]