| Most people know that athletes can easily injure | | | | take the time to train your fingers to play that |
| themselves, but did you know that musicians are | | | | tough passage in a relaxed way, than to |
| at risk for injury as well? Playing a musical | | | | permanently damage them by playing strenuously. |
| instrument is a physical activity just like playing | | | | Likewise, long, intense practice isn't necessarily |
| sports, and without the right approach, musicians | | | | good practice. Since you are engaging in physical |
| can risk hurting themselves. Stress and overuse | | | | activity, it's important to take breaks when you |
| injuries caused by intense practice can hinder or | | | | practice. Organizing your practice so you have |
| even end promising musical careers, so it is | | | | alternating blocks of activity and rest can help you |
| important to learn how to practice in a healthy | | | | achieve excellent results without strain. Also, |
| way. By using these five tips, you can be well on | | | | remember that practice is mental as well as |
| your way to a lifetime of injury-free music | | | | physical, and engage your mind to make learning |
| making! | | | | music more efficient. Instead of trying to |
| One of the easiest ways to become a healthier | | | | physically force a trouble spot to correct itself, |
| musician is to exercise. Exercising strengthens and | | | | use strategies like isolating difficult notes and |
| stretches the body, and gives you greater ability | | | | playing slowly to help you better understand the |
| to tackle the demands of playing your instrument. | | | | passage. Ten minutes of focused, purposeful |
| Yoga and Pilates are both excellent types of | | | | practice can be more effective than hours of |
| exercise to gain flexibility and breath control, but | | | | unfocused practice, and much easier on your |
| any kind of exercise will bring you benefits when | | | | body. |
| you play your instrument. You can even use your | | | | Every part of your body has its own natural |
| exercise routine to work on specific areas of | | | | position and movement pattern; for example, the |
| your body that you use while playing. | | | | wrists are naturally flexible, and the fingers |
| Since playing an instrument is a physical activity, | | | | naturally curve. Keeping your movements as |
| make sure to drink plenty of water when you | | | | natural as possible while playing can reduce the |
| play. Your body needs water to help transport | | | | possibility of injury. Compare the position of |
| nutrients to your cells, dispose of waste products, | | | | different parts of your body when you're standing |
| and lubricate your joints and tissues. If you are a | | | | or sitting normally with when you're playing. Do |
| wind or brass player, drinking water can keep | | | | your shoulders rise up when you're holding your |
| your throat, mouth, and lips from becoming dry | | | | instrument? Do you have extra tension in your |
| as you blow air through your instrument. For | | | | jaw when you play? Take short breaks during |
| brass players, who make extensive use of the | | | | practice to observe how you're using your body, |
| small muscles in the face, drinking water can help | | | | and if any parts are moving awkwardly, pay |
| these tiny muscles work at their optimum level | | | | attention to them and make adjustments to help |
| throughout a practice session. | | | | them move more naturally. Being aware of how |
| Don't push yourself. Maybe you can play that | | | | you use your body and adjusting your |
| difficult passage more quickly by straining your | | | | movements can help you avoid injury and feel |
| hands, but is nailing that passage worth hurting | | | | more comfortable when you play. |
| yourself? If you train yourself to play strenuously, | | | | By exercising, drinking water, practicing smarter, |
| you may end up with overuse and stress injuries | | | | and understanding your body's natural |
| that can keep you from playing at all. If you feel | | | | movements, you can give yourself years of |
| pain or discomfort while you're playing, take it | | | | musical enjoyment and stave off painful overuse |
| seriously! Pinpoint the discomfort, determine | | | | injuries. If you want to play healthier but are |
| what's causing it, and then take the time to fix it. | | | | unsure how to begin, finding an experienced |
| Training yourself to use your body in a relaxed, | | | | teacher and setting up a private lesson is a great |
| healthy way can be tedious and require great | | | | way to get feedback on how you're using your |
| attention to detail, but the result will be your ability | | | | body, and start down the road to healthy playing! |
| to play well without hurting yourself. It's better to | | | | |