Health and Safety
The Music Department is concerned with the health and safety of all music students, faculty and staff. It is essential that musicians carry out their daily practice and performance activities carefully.
From the NASM Handbook:
Students enrolled in music unit programs and faculty and staff with employment status in the music unit must be provided basic information about the maintenance of health and safety within the contexts of practice, performance, teaching, and listening.
NOTE: Health and safety depend in large part on the personal decisions of informed individuals. Institutions have health and wellness responsibilities, but fulfillment of these responsibilities cannot and will not ensure any specific individual鈥檚 health and safety. Too many factors beyond any institution鈥檚 control are involved. Individuals have a critically important role and each is personally responsible for avoiding risk and preventing injuries to themselves before, during, and after study or employment at any institution.
The following resources are for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for professional or medical advice. Students should consult with their studio instructors, their ensemble directors and medical professionals for specific concerns.
Hearing Health
The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the have developed a comprehensive overview of hearing health issues for postsecondary schools and departments of music. Information of a medical nature is provided by PAMA; information regarding contextual issues in music programs, by NASM. This section of the website provides a 鈥渢ool kit鈥� of documents focused on the issue of hearing health. It addresses the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, a widespread and serious public health issue for musicians and others.
Basic Information on Hearing Health and Information Recommendations for Administrators and Faculty can be found at:
Basic Information on Hearing Health and Information Recommendations for Faculty and Staff can be found at:
Information and Recommendation for Student Musicians
In addition, earplugs are available for ensemble students as a preventative measure against potential
hearing loss.
Neuromusculoskeletal and Vocal Health
The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the have developed a comprehensive set of jointly authored advisory documents on
neuromusculoskeletal and vocal health for musicians. Information of a medical nature is provided by PAMA: information regarding contextual issues in music programs, by NASM.
This section of the website provides a 鈥渢ool kit鈥� of documents focused on the neuromusculoskeletal and vocal health of musicians.
Information for Administrators and Faculty
Information for Faculty and Staff
Music Student Guide
Student Information Sheet 鈥� Neuromusculoskeletal Health
Student Information Sheet 鈥� Vocal Health
Vocal Health for Singers
As singers, we are dependent on the health and function of the entire body. While
some health issues, such as allergies, asthma, or gastric reflux must be addressed by a
health care professional, there are many habits that we can cultivate to keep our
voices healthy.
Maintaining vocal health involves: Rest, Hydration, and Proper Use
Rest
Rest your body. We each have differing needs to function at our best. Know your
own sleep needs and stick to them; especially the night before a voice lesson or a
performance!
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule; even on the weekends.
- Avoid computers and cell phones for the last hour before bedtime. The blue light from these screens cues the body to wake up because your body interprets it as daylight!
- Watch out for hidden sources of caffeine such as chocolate and avoid it before bedtime.
Rest your voice. Again, we each have different needs. Some of us can speak or sing for longer periods of time than others. Are you speaking more than you have to?
- Avoid speaking during class breaks. Step away from common areas and find a quiet place. Take a 鈥渧ocal nap鈥�!
- A warm-up is exactly that; a few minutes spent vocalizing and stretching the instrument. Do NOT sing your whole performance or repeatedly sing high notes in an attempt to reassure yourself that they are there!
- Speak with the same legato line you strive for when singing.
- Men: stay out of your falsetto register during and immediately following a cold. Use of falsetto during or immediately after a cold can cause swelling and delay recovery.
- Parties and crowded places can encourage us to speak loudly and more excitedly. This is to be avoided in general but especially before a voice lesson or performance.
Hydration
Most of us are dehydrated most of the time!
Aim for 6-8 glasses of water per day.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol because they are dehydrating to you and your voice!
Humidify your home and your workspace
Vocalize in the shower. The steam and humidity are great for the vocal mechanism!
Heating systems dry out the throat and nasal cavity. Be prepared for winter!
DID YOU KNOW: When the throat and nasal passages are dry, they are MORE prone to retain the germs that cause colds and respiratory illness!
- Keep hydrated at all times!
- Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol
- Follow a caffeinated or alcoholic beverages with water!
Proper Use of the Voice – Warming Up
Topics such as correct posture and body alignment, breathing and tone production will be discussed in detail at your individual lesson. However, prior to rehearsals, practice sessions and performances, it is important for you to properly warm up the voice. Like a stretching routine before a physical workout, a vocal warm-up routine will ease you into singing and reduce the strain on your voice.
Warm up exercises specific to your voice will be assigned in your lesson. The
following exercises can be used by all voice categories:
EX. #1 鈥� Trills 鈥� Use your lips to 鈥渂uzz鈥� (trill) a sliding scale of an octave
Use your tongue to trill a sliding scale of an octave
EX. #2 鈥� Straw Exercises 鈥� Take a drinking straw and close your lips around it. Sing 鈥渦h鈥� into the straw, sliding one octave back and forth, low to high.
You can also try this exercise using a cup of water. Fill the glass about half-full and sing 鈥渦h鈥� into the straw while it is in the cup of water. Try to keep the stream of air consistent so you constantly are making bubbles. If the water is splashing you in the face, you are directing too much air through the straw (and your vocal folds!).
If the sound stops when you put a finger over the end of the straw, you are directing too much air through your nose.
This is an excellent warm up for both your singing and speaking voice because it actually stretches and thins the vocal folds. The folds function best in this state.
There are numerous YouTube tutorials on the topic of straw exercises if you would like more information.
PROTECT YOUR HEARING. As a musician, you are dependent on your hearing! Consider the use of ear plugs if you will be exposed to prolonged, loud sounds at work, in public places or even in your car. DAMAGED HEARING CAN RARELY BE FIXED.
Like an athlete, your body IS your instrument. Treat it with care and it will serve you for many years to come!
Handling Instruments and Equipment
Only 糖心vlog官网 facility staff or other authorized personnel should move heavy equipment or handle any potentially dangerous materials. Music students, faculty and staff are advised to consult with the Director of Grounds and Facility for proper handling of any potentially dangerous materials. Use of recording devices, music technology and electronics must be done with guidance from authorized personnel.
Students working as stage managers or assisting productions must be trained to properly handle and move any equipment including audio/recording equipment, risers, percussion instruments, etc.
Students are expected to clean and maintain their instruments regularly. Special attention to Depart- ment of Music instruments that are shared is especially important. As a rule, students should have their own instrument. When this is not possible, students who share a brass or woodwind instrument should have their own mouthpiece. All students who are sharing a reed instrument must have their own reeds. The Department of Music will provide alcohol wipes or Sterisol germicide solution for stu- dent use when sharing instruments in class.
Psychological Health including Performance Anxiety
Free linkable articles and books on Music Performance Anxiety, these live within Archway Library and EBSCO and are available to 糖心vlog官网 students, staff and faculty.
Helpful resources include:
General Musicians鈥� Health Websites:
