How to Avoid Injury When Play a Musical Instrument

As musicians, we practice and perform as a part of our daily routine. Just like any other professional, we have our tools of the trade that we must keep intact. For me it’s my hands – I couldn’t imagine hurting my hands and being unable to play the piano. Now accidents can happen and there is no way to protect yourself 100% of the time but there are some great tips for every musician in order to prevent injury while playing your instrument.

Think holistically:

Staying healthy is paramount to everything else. Every morning I do Yoga to loosen up. I try to eat right as well as take walks and exercise when I can to keep myself in good shape. This goes a long way toward preventing injury while playing your instrument – being out of shape can lead to more frequent injuries.

Many instruments are different but the same principles remain for all of them. As a violinist you have to hold your instrument in an awkward position – the same goes for flutists and other wind instruments. Having to hold an instrument for long periods of time can really take a toll on you. This is why posture is so important. As you know, I play the piano, so posture is a bit different, but it still matters in holding a position for long periods of time without causing injury. You’ll want to make sure that the bench is the appropriate height – your arms should reach out in a straight line and touch the keys. Your hands should rest comfortably between the white and black keys and you will want to make sure you are sitting in a position where you won’t have to reach in an uncomfortable position to play keys further away from you. You must be able to move about freely. Every instrument is different but learning your optimal posture is essential on your instrument.

The most important thing you can do is be comfortable. Don’t sit in any position that will cause a strain and don’t force yourself to sit or stand in a way that is uncomfortable for you. If you are playing a solo recital make sure to adjust your seat and get comfortable before playing. What seems like an eternity to you will be nothing more than a few seconds to the audience. It’s perfectly fine to take your time before playing a performance – both you and your audience will appreciate the extra time you take to prepare yourself!

Another thing that is essential in the life of a musician is to take frequent breaks. This means getting up and walking around, stretching, doing whatever you need to do to get back into a comfortable atmosphere. Don’t overdo it with practicing, sometimes the best thing you can do is to walk away for a few minutes and rejuvenate.

It’s also a good idea to vary your repertoire as well as your practice technique. For example, if you’ve been working on scales for a while do something completely different like sight-reading or memorization. This will help to prevent fatigue and will keep your mind and body fresh and moving all the time.

I would love to hear any practice techniques you have – feel free to share them with me at Robert@LivingPianos.com (949) 244-3729