To become a great musician, you need to take care of yourself. This includes your physical, mental, emotional, academic, and financial wellbeing. The faculty and staff of the Mead Witter School of Music care deeply about your wellbeing and offer these resources to help you take care of your most important instrument: Yourself.
Need Mental Health Crisis Support? The UHS Mental Health Crisis Support Line offers 25/7 help from licensed professionals at 608.265.5600 (Option 9).
Your Health and Wellness Committee is dedicated to finding better ways to support the health and wellness of all School of Music students, faculty, and staff. If you have a suggestion for a new program or resource, please feel to reach out to our Undergraduate Music Advisor at ugradadvisor@music.wisc.edu
Disclaimer
This website is not intended as a substitution for medical treatment or medical advice. You should consult your doctor or other medical professional regarding any stretching, exercise, or injury prevention program. If you feel pain or discomfort while practicing your instrument, you should seek professional medical attention.
UHS Counseling and Mental Health Resources
For a student musician, sometimes life gets tough, and you need help or someone to talk to. The faculty and staff of the School of Music are here to help, however sometimes students need professional help. University Health Services offers no-cost mental health services include individual, couple/partner, group counseling, outreach programming, and stress management.
Dean of Students Office
Your Dean of Students Office 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.
https://doso.students.wisc.edu/student-assistance/
UW–Madison Center for Healthy Minds
Right here in Madison 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.
Ludwig van Beethoven once wrote on his own hearing loss that “if I belonged to any other profession, it would be easier, but in my profession, it is a frightful state.” While these tips may not have protected Beethoven’s hearing there is a pretty good chance that they can protect yours.
Tips for Protecting Your Hearing Everyday
Resources for Hearing Health
UW Speech and Hearing Clinic
The 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.
https://music.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/UW-Band-School-of-Music-Audiology-flyer-1.pdf
Hearing Health Tips
Jessica Cebula from UW-Madsion Environmental and Occupational Health offers the following advice for protecting your hearing.
Earplug Recommendations
Looking for earplugs to protect your hearing? Here are some tips for selecting a pair.
https://music.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Music-Earplug-recommendations-2020.pdf
All musicians can be susceptible to injuries and disorders. Even when you are doing everything you can to prevent an injury the repetitive stress of playing your instrument a lot can result in injury. Since practicing and performing can be physically demanding here are some tips and resources that could be essential to your lifelong health as a musician and of those you may end up leading, conducting, or teaching.
Tips for Protecting Your Neuromusculoskeletal Health Everyday
Based on information from the National Association of Schools of Music Performing Arts Medicine Association
Signs that Your Body is Trying to Tell You Something
There are a number of signals that your body may tell you that an injury is coming. Some of them include:
From Playing Less Hurt by Janet Horvath
Tips for Protecting your Vocal Health
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.
Based on information from the National Association of Schools of Music Performing Arts Medicine Association
What to do if you get injured
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.
While some injuries can be dealt with through rest and better playing techniques, other may require medical attention. See below for some of the local resources available.
University Health Services
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 Performing Arts Medicine
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.
Division of Recreation and Wellbeing
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.
Resources from the National Association of Schools of Arts
Feldenkrais Method
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. http://www.feldenkrais.com/
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. https://alexandertechnique.com/
Musicians can also find many resources to support themselves across campus.
Learning Support
Looking for a tutor? Looking for help with research, writing, or study skills?
Check out this website to learn more about the numerous resources available for UW-Madison students: https://learningsupport.wisc.edu/
LGBTQ+ Resources
Gender and Sexuality Campus Center
The GSCC 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.
The Writing Center
Need help with your writing? The Writing Center supports students working on all kinds of writing projects. https://writing.wisc.edu/
Musica Practica Tutoring
Looking for assistance with Musica Practica? Student led-study groups are available several nights per week in the Piano Lab (Humanities 2561).
Math Learning Center
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.
Greater University Tutoring Service (GUTS)
GUTS is a student-led tutoring service that provides academic, language, and study skill support for all UW-Madison students.
University Libraries
UW-Madison has more than a dozen libraries, millions of resources, and a staff ready to help you success. More information about libraries can be found here: https://www.library.wisc.edu/ Also check out the Mills Music Library in Memorial Library. https://www.library.wisc.edu/music/
Music Undergraduate Advising
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.
Music Graduate Advising
Professor Jessica Johnson, Director of Graduate Studies, is available to help you navigate your music graduate career. Professor Johnson can be reached at dgs@music.wisc.edu.
International Student Resources
Undergraduate admissions for international students
https://admissions.wisc.edu/international/
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.
Students with Disabilities Resources
McBurney Disability Resource Center
The McBurney Center is available to support accommodations you need for your academic success.
Office of Compliance
UW-Madison is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive campus experience. Understand your rights and our resources under the Americans with Disabilities Act here: https://compliance.wisc.edu/ada/
Multicultural Student Resources
Multicultural Student Center (MSC)
The MSC offers spaces, programs, and services that center, affirm, and celebrate the diverse and intersectional identities of students of color. https://msc.wisc.edu/
Campus Identity Centers
These 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. https://msc.wisc.edu/identity-centers/
Division of Diversity, Equity, and Educational Achievement
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. https://diversity.wisc.edu/
Financial wellness is an important part of your wellbeing as a student and as a musician. Check out these resources below to support your financial wellness.
Student Emergency Support
If you are experiencing current emergency circumstances that are preventing you from meeting immediate and essential expenses then there may be financial assistance available.
Office of Student Financial Aid
The Office of Student Financial Aid is here to help you navigate the financial aid process and find financial resources to support your education at https://financialaid.wisc.edu/
Basic Needs Support
Basic Needs Support offers dedicated resources to assist students in gaining access to food, housing, and insurance. https://financialaid.wisc.edu/success/#basic-needs-support
The Open Seat Food Pantry
The Open Seat is a student-run organization who provides accessible sources food, personal-care goods, and household products to students in need.
https://students.wisc.edu/make-a-gift/open-seat-food-pantry/
Wisconsin Scholarship Hub
UW-Madison offers many scholarship opportunities to entering and current students. A listing of available scholarships can be found at https://financialaid.wisc.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/
School of Music Scholarships
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.
Student Jobs Site
Students 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. Click here to learn more: https://studentjobs.wisc.edu/
Hire A School of Music Student
Make money using your musical skills! The School of Music maintains a listing of local businesses and individuals looking to hire musicians. Check the page out regularly for your next gig: https://musicgigs.music.wisc.edu/
Successworks
Starting to think about and plan for your career after college. Check out Success works: https://successworks.wisc.edu/ Successworks has information and a career advisor dedicated to finding a career in Communications, Entertainment, and the Arts. https://successworks.wisc.edu/what-are-career-communities/communications-arts-and-entertainment/
