Musician's Health & Safety

In addition to direction received in private lessons, master classes, and guest lectures it is recommended that students involved with music performance stay abreast of current information and resources relating to musicians’ health and safety through familiarizing themselves with the information sources listed below. With the many hours of daily practice and rehearsals it is vital to be aware of preventative measures that musicians can take to avoid serious problems. Health and safety issues for musicians are organized within a number of areas:

Injury Prevention and Musicians' Health
Protecting Your Hearing Health

• Protect Your Hearing Every Day-Information and Recommendations for Student Musicians (quick reference version), National Association of Schools of Music
• Protect Your Hearing Every Day-Information and Recommendations for Student Musicians (full version), N.A.S.M. 
• Basic Information on Hearing Health-Information for Faculty and Staff in Schools of Music, N.A.S.M. 
• Advisories on Hearing Health I, N.A.S.M. and Performing Arts Medicine Association
• Occupational Noise Exposure, U.S. Department of Occupational Safety and Health
• Hearing Loss and Decibel Levels, New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic
• Noise and Hearing Loss, Oregon Symphony Players Association
• Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart

Musculoskeletal Health and Injury



• A Painful Melody: Repetitive Strain Injury Among Musicians by Tamara Mitchell 
• Five Tasks of Constructive Rest by Barbara Conable/College of Music/University of Colorado Boulder 
• What makes musicians prone to Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)? By Timothy Jameson 

Neuromusculoskeletal and Vocal Health

• A music student’s guide to protecting your neuromusculoskeletal and vocal health every day
• An informational sheet for students on protecting neuromusculoskeletal health
• An informational sheet for students on protecting vocal health

Psychological Health

• Performance Anxiety, Web MD 
• The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green and Timothy Gallwey 
• A Soprano on Her Head: Right-Side-Up Reflections on Life and Other Performances by Eloise Ristad 

Equipment and Technology Safety

Students employed as stage managers and audio technicians in the Singletary Center for the Arts must complete a training session on how to safely move pianos, procedures for electrical connections and running amplifiers, and other back-of-stage safety concerns. Contact S.C.F.A. Technical Director Tanya Harper for further information.
Students working as recording technicians for the School of Music must complete a training session relating to safe use of recording equipment. Contact Joel Crawford for further information.

UK Student Health Services

Information pertaining to services and access to UK Healthcare may be obtained at the following web site: http://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/UHS/Students

Further resources 
Performing Arts Medicine Association