Musician Health

For a student musician, sometimes life gets tough, and you need help or someone to talk to. School of Music faculty and staff are here to help. However, sometimes students need professional help. 

University Health Services offers no-cost mental health services including individual, couple/partner, group counseling, outreach programming, and stress management.

Your Office of Student Assistance and Support is available to offer guidance and support to students dealing with personal problems, who need to report an incident, resolving a complaint, or finding someone to connect with.

The Center for Heathy Minds conducts scientific research to bring new insights to improve the well-being of people of all backgrounds and ages. They offer Well Being Tools as well as the Healthy Minds App.

• Any sound that is too loud or too loud for too long can damage your hearing. It doesn’t matter if it’s a lawn mower or band rehearsal.
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends that the maximum level for safe sound is 85 decibels. Above 85 decibels they recommend limiting your exposure and protecting your hearing.
• Some easy ways to quickly determine if sound is too loud:
  • You must raise your voice to be heard.
  • You can’t hear someone who is three feet away from you.
  • The speech around you sounds muffled or dull after you leave a noisy area.
  • You experience tinnitus (pain, ringing, buzzing, or roaring in your ears) after you leave a noisy area.
• The longer you are exposed to loud noise the greater the potential for hearing loss. Try to limit your exposure to loud noises.
• The closer you are to the source of the noise, the greater the risk you will experience damage to your hearing. When at an event avoid sitting too close to the fireworks, speakers, musicians, etc.
• Take breaks during a rehearsal to give your ears a rest.
• Use earplugs in noisy environments or when using noisy equipment. See earplug recommendations below.

The UW Speech and Hearing Clinic offers a custom evaluation and hearing conservation package for musicians. The package includes an evaluation of your hearing as well as the selection and fitting of custom musician’s earplugs at a discounted rate.

UW-Madsion Environmental and Occupational Health offers the following advice for protecting your hearing.

Consult with the Speech and Hearing Clinic for recommendations on earplugs to protect your hearing.  

• Many disorders and conditions are preventable and treatable.
• Sufficient physical and musical warm-up time is important.
• Proper body alignment and correct physical technique are essential.
  • Sit or stand with good posture.
    • Keep your shoulders down and your back straight. Do not slouch.
    • Keep your weight forward and on your feet.
    • Don’t cross your legs or curl your feet around the chair.
  • Look into ergonomic devices to make your playing less prone to injury.
• Know your body’s limits and what overdoing it is for you.
  • Don’t say yes to everything. There are only so many hours a week that you should be practicing.
  • Regular breaks during practice and rehearsal are vital.
  • Set a reasonable amount of time that you will practice each day and try to take one day off a week for rest.
  • Reduce your practice intensity prior to a performance.
  • Avoid sudden increases in practice time. Gradually increase your practice time.
• In addition to your practice time
  • Stretch and get some exercise outside of playing.
  • Be aware of non-musical activities that may impact your health such as computer usage, writing, carrying a heavy backpack, or strenuous sporting activities.
• Cultivate body awareness.
  • Be aware of tension in your body. Observe proper breathing techniques. Notice when you feel pain or discomfort.
  • If you have concerns about your neuromusculoskeletal health, talk to a medical professional.

Based on information from the National Association of Schools of Music Performing Arts Medicine Association

There are a number of signals that your body may tell you that an injury is coming. Some of them include:

1. Pain and/or burning sensation
2. Fatigue or heaviness
3. Weakness
4. Impaired dexterity
5. Tingling or numbness
6. Clumsiness
7. Stiffness
8. Involuntary movement
9. Impaired circulation
10. Difficulty with normal daily activities

From Playing Less Hurt by Janet Horvath

Vocalists are also susceptible to injuries and disorders. Vocal practice, rehearsal, and performance is physically demanding and understanding out to take care of your voice is essential to the lifelong health of your voice those you may be leading, conducting, or teaching.

• Sufficient warm-up time is important.
  • Begin warming up mid-range, and then slowly work outward to vocal pitch extremes.
• Proper body alignment is important.
  • Proper alignment, adequate breath support, and correct physical technique are essential.
• Know the limits of your voice.
  • Take regular breaks during practice and rehearsal.
  • Set a reasonable amount of time that you will practice each day.
  • Avoid sudden increases in practice time.
  • Avoid overdoing it.
• Take care of your vocal cords
  • Drink plenty of water to keep your vocal folds adequately lubricated.
  • Avoid shouting, screaming, or other strenuous vocal use.
  • Respiratory illnesses can effect your voice. Be careful while sick to avoid long term damage to your voice.
• If you have concerns about your vocal health, talk to a medical professional.

Based on information from the National Association of Schools of Music Performing Arts Medicine Association

Pain is how your body tells you something is wrong. If you feel pain while practicing, stop practicing! Many injuries will go away in a couple of days, however continuing to play through the pain may result in more serious and chronic injuries.

• Go talk to your studio instructor.
  • Tell them your concerns. They may be able to offer advice, recommendations, or resources. Your instructor wants you to become a better musician. They know you can’t do that if you are hurt.
• Go talk to your ensemble conductor.
  • As a good citizen of your ensemble, it’s your responsibility to let them know that you are not able to play. They want you to be healthy too and will work with you to support your recovery.
• Mead Witter School of Music Musician Injury Policy
  • A student musician has the right to have their injury or illness accommodated within reason by the faculty and staff of the School of Music.
  • For more information, please see the Mead Witter School of Music Undergraduate Student Handbook
• You can still practice even if you can’t play.
  • Sti in on rehearsals
  • Study your part away from your instrument.
  • Mentally practice the piece by signing your part or running through our head.
• Seek Medical Attention
  • Below are medical resources available to you on campus
  • Work with your doctor or therapist to develop a plan for rehabilitation and to resume laying.

University Health Services offers a wide range of medical, mental health, preventive, and wellness resources for students enrolled at UW-Madison including students with performance related injuries.

UW Health provides comprehensive diagnosis and care for instrumentalists, singers, dancers and actors at all performance levels, including students, professionals and amateurs. Common problems include voice disorders, muscle and joint problems, difficulty breathing, movement problems and performance anxiety.

RecWell offers a wide variety of recreational facilities, fitness facilities, intramural sports, and preventive programs for students enrolled at UW-Madison. They also have athletic training services available including injury evaluation, treatment planning, rehabilitation, sports medicine education, and injury prevention.

Protecting Your Neuromusculoskeletal and Vocal Health Every Day

Protecting Your Neuromusculoskeletal Health

Protecting your Vocal Health

The Feldenkrais Method aims to reconnect musicians with tehri natural ability to think, feel, and move. It can teach you how to change habits and improve your overall well-being.

The Alexander Technique teaches students how to change habits in order move freely and efficiently. The technique targets habits that contradict the way your body is designed to move that create unnecessary tension.

Looking for a tutor?  Looking for help with research, writing, or study skills?

Visit Learning Support to learn more about the numerous resources available for UW-Madison students.

The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center believes in the power of experiences at the intersections of multiple identities and that intersectionality should serve as a lens through which we implement our student-centered programming, outreach across communities, ally with others, and dismantle multiple oppressions.

Need help with your writing? The Writing Center supports students working on all kinds of writing projects.

Looking for assistance with Musica Practica?  Student led-study groups are available several nights per week in the Piano Lab (Humanities 2561).

The Math Learning Center offers many types of support including drop-in tutoring, small group tutoring, and peer mentoring to students in pre-calculus (Math 96, 112, 113, 114, and 141) as well as Calculus courses.

GUTS is a student-led tutoring service that provides academic, language, and study skill support for all UW-Madison students.

UW-Madison has more than a dozen libraries, millions of resources, and a staff ready to help you success. Also, check out the Mills Music Library in Memorial Library.

Music Advisor Todd Reck is available to help you with academic questions, finding campus resources, and other ways of helping you find success in college.

Todd can be reached at ugradadvisor@music.wisc.edu

Current music students can also schedule an advising appointment with Todd using Starfish.

Our Director of Graduate Studies is available to help you navigate your music graduate career and can be reached at dgs@music.wisc.edu.

Undergraduate admissions for international students

International Student Services provides holistic support for students on F and J visas through advising on immigration, personal, and cultural matters, and by organizing events and activities to support students’ engagement and development within the campus community.

The McBurney Center is available to support accommodations you need for your academic success.

UW–Madison is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive campus experience. Understand your rights and our resources under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Multicultural Student Center offers spaces, programs, and services that center, affirm, and celebrate the diverse and intersectional identities of students of color.

Campus Identity Centers provide programming and space for students to learn about and celebrate their identity, culture, a and heritage as well as promote a more culturally aware campus. 

Inclusive Excellence works to increase access for underrepresented minorities, eliminate the achievement gap, enhance campus climate, and prepare students, faculty, and staff to thrive in a diverse world. 

The Office of Financial Aid Emergency Support Request may be able to help if you are experiencing current emergency circumstances that are preventing you from meeting immediate and essential expenses.

The Office of Student Financial Aid is here to help you navigate the financial aid process and find financial resources to support your educatio

Basic Needs Support offers dedicated resources to assist students in gaining access to food, housing, and insurance.

The Open Seat Food Pantry is a student-run organization who provides accessible sources food, personal-care goods, and household products to students in need.

UW–Madison offers many scholarship opportunities to entering and current students.

All successfully auditioned undergraduate students are considered for merit-based scholarship from the Mead Witter School of Music. No additional application is needed for a music student.  Students will be informed in the spring if they are receiving a scholarship.

Students can use the Student Jobs Site to access thousands of part-time job opportunities at UW-Madison as well as businesses and families in the local community.

The School of Music gigs site advertises local opportunities to perform at various events posted by community members looking to hire musicians.

Successworks has information and a career advisor dedicated to finding a career in Communications, Entertainment, and the Arts.