FAC Insights: Musicians’ Health: Knowledge is Power by Claire Cordeaux
Knowledge is Power
As a music artist, there is a 75-85% chance that you will encounter a health problem relating to your occupation – this is a stark statistic but, knowledge is power. Understanding the risks can help you plan to avoid or manage problems.
First of all musicians put many hours into creative practice, playing, singing and using their body intensively to produce music. As with elite athletes pushing themselves to their limits, this sometimes leads to physical problems. Unlike athletes, musicians do not always think about how physical fitness supports their artistry.
As many as 7 in 10 musicians report playing with pain and many do not seek help in the early stages of a problem when it is easiest to treat. The trigger point might be a sudden change in creative practice such as learning new material or an increase in activity like intense recording and production sessions or starting a new course, as well as awkward, sustained posture or positions. A study of the physical and fitness profiles of advanced music students (Araujo, 2020) showed only moderate levels of general health-related fitness, given the importance of strong supportive musculature and the need for healthy performance preparation and technique.
Poor mental health is also common, and suicide rates for musicians are up there with the highest occupational groups. Financial insecurity is a big part of this, together with poor work-life balance caused by intense touring or recording schedules. Lack of sleep, poor diet, isolation are all factors which can impact mental health and often feature highly in the working life of a musician. Add to that the pressures of social media, performance anxiety and perfectionism and it’s easy to see why musicians can suffer with mental health problems. With COVID-19, mental health problems are increasing and musicians face increased financial pressures and are unable to practise the craft which gives them their identity.
A useful resource for bringing focus to your own healthy practice is our Healthy Practice Diary. Try answering the questions below to help you think about risks and set some personal health goals for a sustainable career.
Are you:
Maintaining a healthy diet?
Keeping hydrated?
Getting enough sleep?
Maintaining relationships outside your performance life?
Doing regular exercise?
Getting outside enough?
Moderating your use of alcohol and drugs?
Smoking?
Using ear plugs?
Looking after your sexual health?
Dealing with conflict when it arises?
Recognising signs of stress or illness?
Have you:
Got the right (comfortable) equipment?
Got a daily routine?
Made a plan for your down time?
Got a space where you can work at home
Identified any current health problems?
Had an assessment and advice about all existing health problems?
Do you:
Take regular breaks?
Have a pre-practice and post-practice routine, including warm ups and cool downs?
Do a regular mental health practice?
Have realistic expectations about how your work (or performance) may go?
Do mental practice (e.g. mindfulness)
Manage social media - and time away from it?
Have a plan for your future work
BAPAM is a specialist charity looking after musicians’ health. In our free clinics (currently online) you can talk with a doctor, physical therapist or mental health expert who understands your environment and will work with you to solve problems. And our free online training and peer support sessions give you the knowledge you need to prevent problems and stay healthy and creative. We see over 1500 people each year in our clinics and train many more. We have built a community of performing arts health experts and developed tried and tested approaches.
BAPAM clinicians always advise musicians to get help with health concerns sooner rather than later. Problems are very rarely career-threatening and we can help you overcome them quickly and get back to creating. We work closely with partners and funders throughout the industry to support everyone making all or part of their living (or studying) in music and the performing arts.
By Claire Cordeaux, CEO, British Association for Performing Arts Medicine