Health & Safety Issues for Musicians

1. christopher baker
musicstudentinfo.com
Music Performance
Heath & Safety Issues for Musicians

2. 1. Performance Injuries
Anyone who practices, rehearses or performs instrumental or vocal music has
the potential to suffer injury related to that activity.
• repetitive motion injuries
• problems related to playing their instruments
• computer users
• injuries - carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and bursitis
• incorrect posture, non-ergonomic technique, excessive force,
overuse & stress
• cause pain, disability, end careers

3. 2. Neuromusculoskeletal & Vocal Health
• nueromusculoskeletal = muscles bones tendons, ligaments
and associated nerves and tissues
• allow us to move, speak and sing
• this system also supports our body’s structure
• could not listen, enjoy, sing, or play music without these
structures
• unconscious, poor habits should be replaced with healthy,
constructive, and coordinate movement choices

4. 3. Induced Hearing Loss
• you need protect your hearing
• if you are serious about pursuing a career in music
• to hear music, recognize pitch, the way you play music - all
connected to hearing
• a sound that it too loud, or too loud for too long, is dangerous
to hearing health
• music itself is not the issue
• loudness and its duration are the issues

5. 4. NIHL Cont’d
• noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)
• hair cells convert sound into electrical signals that travel to
the brain
• once damaged hair cells cannot grow back
• long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels
can cause hearing loss
• louder the sound, the shorter the time period before NIHL can
occur
• good rule is to avoid noises that are “too loud” and “too
close” or that last “too long”

6. 5. Safe Lifting and Carrying Techniques
• size up the load and check overall conditions
• don’t attempt the lift if too heavy or awkward
• feet should be shoulder width apart
• bend the knees; don’t stoop
• keep the back straight
• grip the load with the palms of your hands and your fingers

7. 5.1 Safe Lifting and Carrying Techniques
• the palm grip is much more secure
• use your body weight to start the load moving, then lift by
pushing up with the legs
• carry the load close to the body
• watch where you are going!
• to lower the object, bend the knees

8. 6. Keeping Instruments Clean
• sharing of instruments is routine in music schools
• basic recommendations are:
1. musicians or students should have their own instrument if possible
2. if instruments must be shared in class, alcohol wipes or sterisol
germicide solution should be used before sharing instruments
between different people