The Perils of Being a Musician

Subject: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: voyager
Date: 20 Aug 20 - 11:51 AM

Looks like this catalog could use a few Folksinger hazards of life -

The Perils of Being a Musician

Whoever said the life of a musician was all glamor, was lying. Many would not believe this area of work to be a place where injuries occur, but the fact is that many musicians have to worry about injuries just as athletes do.

Common musician injuries are repetitive stress injuries, repetitive strain injuries, and musculoskeletal injuries. Depending on posture, instrument played, frequency, and technique, some musicians may be more apt to injury than others. These injuries may cause pain and fatigue that may seem minor; so many musicians keep playing through the pain when they should seek treatment right away. The longer an injury goes untreated, the worse it could become while leading to more serious health issues. Other things to consider are the health of the throat and vocal cords for those who sing, and the hearing of anyone who performs on a loud stage.

About's Musician Channel provides beginners with useful information on the various types of musician's injuries and tips on how to avoid them.

Musician's Health describes health problems seen in musicians, along with common injuries, treatment options, and self-care options.

The Violin Site shares information about the Alexander Technique used to prevent musician injuries.

The Violin Site also gives users information about the Feldenkrais Method of avoiding musician injury.

Need some Eric Bogle content here....

voyager

About's Ergonomics Channel discusses the importance of ergonomics and how it affects musicians.

U-NL's Electronic Shop provides tools for music teachers to help their students learn about and avoid various injuries.

Subject: RE: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Aug 20 - 12:03 PM

The good news is that "cello scrotum" doesn't exist.

But focal dystonia does. Leon Fleisher had it. He died a few days ago and there were some good obituary articles.

Subject: RE: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 20 Aug 20 - 04:32 PM

Leon Fleisher has died? This is the first I heard.
Thank you for saying something.
In my mind, where information about classical musicians
is several decades behind the times,
I always lump together
Leon Fleisher and Gary Graffman.
They both struggled with disabilities.
I remember for some reason
that Fleisher got THAT surgery done,
and Graffman did without it.
But I ought to look it up,
as I could be mistaken.

Then there was poor Byron Janis, whom I remember seeing,
as a teenager going to symphony concerts,
on the piano concerto circuit.
He battled arthritis, if I remember right.
How he struggled in performance!
He tried to literally muscle his way through the disability,
and I remember him attacking the keyboard with ferocity and something like desperation.
And I recall thinking,
if this is what the piano concerto circuit is like for a pianist,
then carry on without me,
because I'm too lazy to work that hard!

Subject: RE: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: leeneia
Date: 20 Aug 20 - 04:48 PM

Yep. All to often I see people on the Mudcat urging others to practice, practice, practice. That could lead to injuries.

Subject: RE: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: GUEST,Mark Ross
Date: 20 Aug 20 - 10:27 PM

Utah Phillips suffered from focal dystonia in his right thumb which made him give up finger picking. He also had Dupyrtyns in his left hand.

Subject: RE: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 21 Aug 20 - 02:30 AM

I am in constant pain in both hands. I just try to ignore it. I have had to re-learn guitar to avoid certain shapes, and use unaccompanied songs and intro's to give my hands a rest. I tried acupuncture and it was agonising and I had to stop. I've got a screaming neck pain as well, but I think that might be Trump and Boris! Well seriously I sometimes need help with neck mobility exercises to get going in the morning. I have found ASDA pain tablets the best.
No complaints though! If you have spent your life playing music, carving, woodworking, Coach lining, and sign writing, what do you expect when you're pushing 70? Onward and upward! (I hope)

Subject: RE: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: banjoman
Date: 21 Aug 20 - 06:52 AM

I am currently in a lot of pain in hands and neck, diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis. I put a lot of this down to spending a lot of the past 76 years with a heavy banjo slung round my neck.
I am not playing much at the moment but am trying to relearn chord s that i would previously played in my sleep, and often did.

Subject: RE: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Aug 20 - 07:38 AM

Sexual Harassment

Subject: RE: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 21 Aug 20 - 08:41 AM

Like Banjoman above, I too suffer from bad arthritis in my right thumb. I put this down to years of double-thumbing on the 5-string. Haven't been able to play for a few years now.

Subject: RE: The Perils of Being a Musician
From: voyager
Date: 21 Aug 20 - 10:21 AM

Won't You Sing Me Bob Dylan (excerpt)

But I tell you my friends, that was the end
Of all my traditional aspirations
If bein' a folkie was gonna cut off my nookie
There was one way to end my frustration
The next night I sang at my local folk club
Where the audience as usual was millin'
Till I took off my coat and I ructured my throat
And I sang just like Bob Dylan:

a favorite of mine from Eric Bogle