Health and Wellness:
The University of Central Arkansas, in cooperation with the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) is committed to informing students, faculty, and staff members of the health and safety issues inherent in the practice of music.”
“It is the responsibility of the institution to provide access to this information and maintain health and safety protocol, however, fulfillment of these responsibilities does not ensure the health and safety of individuals, which depends largely on decisions by informed individuals.”
“Students, faculty, and staff members should become familiar with the resources below which address: Maintenance of Hearing Health, Vocal and Musculoskeletal Health, and Injury Prevention. “
General Musician Health and Wellness (borrowed from University of Nebraska – Omaha)
Peabody Institute – The Art and Science of Healthy Performance
Peabody Institute – A Musician’s Guide to Day-to-Day Healthy Play
Texas Center for Music and Medicine
Maintenance of Hearing Health
Student: Protecting Your Hearing Health (NASM)
Faculty and Staff: Protecting Your Hearing Health (NASM)
Occupational Noise Exposure (OSHA)
National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association – Hearing Loss Prevention
CDC – Guidance to Help Musicians Protect Hearing
Musculoskeletal Health
The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique
Conable, Barbara. What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body
Malde, Melissa, et al. What Every Singer Needs to Know About the Body
Mark, Thomas. What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body
“A Painful Melody: Repetitive Strain Injury Among Musicians,” by Tamara Mitchell
Vocal Health
Texas Voice Center – Advice for the Care of the Voice
Vocal and Musculoskeletal Health
Student: Protecting your Musculoskeletal and Vocal Health (NASM)
Faculty and Staff: Protecting Your Musculoskeletal and Vocal Health (NASM)
Psychological Health
Green, Barry. The Inner Game of Music
Ristad, Eloise. A Soprano on Her Head: Right-Side-Up Reflections on Life and Other Performances
Klickstein, Gerald. The Musician’s Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness
Overcome Performance Anxiety, Conquer Stage Fright (Musician’s Way)
More information on injury prevention
Music unit policies, protocols, and daily operational expectations
Recommended practices for the care, maintenance, and handling of instruments, including sanitization, cleaning, and carriage of instruments are addressed in lessons and master classes each year as appropriate.
The Music Office staff represent the needs of instrument repair and maintenance at partner music stores as advised by faculty. Heavy equipment, including choral risers, pianos, recording equipment, and sound reinforcement equipment (speakers, amps, and mixing consoles), and percussion instruments, are moved under the supervision of faculty or authorized University personnel.
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Promoting musician’s health:
Faculty supervisors or their assignees help to ensure student safety and health when moving large music equipment. GA’s and student workers are encouraged to use gloves, lifting in teams, using dollies and rolling carts when appropriate and available.
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Maintaining the fitness and safety of equipment and technology:
The fitness and safety of equipment and technology is maintained in cooperation with IT and the IT liaison assigned to the College of the Arts Humanities and Social Sciences. Concerns are addressed in a timely manner.
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Addressing the acoustic and other health-related conditions present in practice, rehearsal, and performance facilities:
Acoustic and other health-related conditions present in practice, rehearsal, and performance facilities are addressed through advising students to use ear plugs when appropriate (posted signs in rehearsal and practice facilities as well as classroom, and using care to underplay in small spaces. Additionally, in our Music Technology courses, we emphasize to the students the need to follow hearing protection measures.
The students are encouraged to monitor their material through speakers and headphones at a level that will not lead to hearing damage. Students are responsible for creating a mix to send to a performer’s headphones, or through loudspeakers to an audience, they are responsible for ensuring their own hearing safety in such environments.
Snow Recital Hall and Wingate Choral Recital and Concert Halls
The Snow Recital Hall is equipped with acoustical features that include adjustable acoustic curtains. While the rest of Snow Fine Arts Music spaces are quite old and without acoustic treatment, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to take care when ingesting and performing music in the entire building. Wingate music facilities are carefully crafted for maximized acoustic health and sound proofing throughout.
Contact Us
- Stephen W. Plate, Professor and Chair, Department of Music: splate@uca.edu