Music 259: Psychology of Performance: Injury Prevention

Specific tools to avoid and alleviate injury. Horvath has created an essential resource for all musicians who want to play better and feel better.

Instrumental musicians can and do develop many physical problems that interfere with making music. Fit as a Fiddle is written by an international authority in musicians' medicine who also is a symphonic musician and teacher. It provides current and important health-related information for all instrumentalists.

Part I, Artful Practice, describes strategies to interpret and memorize compositions, fuel motivation, collaborate, and more. Part II, Fearless Performance, lifts the lid on the hidden causes of nervousness and shows how musicians can become confident performers. Part III, Lifelong Creativity, surveys tactics to prevent music-related injuries and equips musicians to tap their own innate creativity.

"Your voice is your ambassador to the outside world, It portrays your personality and emotions. People make assessments about you based on your voice, so it is very important when you're speaking or singing to think about what people are really hearing. Problems with your voice also can have a tremendous impact on your life."

Chapters 12-13 of The Musician's Way focus on self-care and injury prevention; the resources on this page complement that material. Note: before you make decisions about your health, consult a healthcare professional.