The Musician's Survival Manual: A Guide to Preventing and Treating Injuries in Instrumentalists

We who play instruments know that there are few experiences in life that can be as fulfilling as making music. When giving to an audience, we are able to have positive influence not only on others, but also ourselves. When there is a synthesis of physical action, emotion, technique, and thought, music-making can reach incredible heights. But often our goals are thwarted by physical limitations and pain. For decades, musicians have recognized the many factors--some unpleasant--that are essential to mastering an instrument: diligent practice, organization, discipline, travel to good schools, purchase of fine equipment, overcoming technical obstacles, isolation and/or loneliness, performance anxiety, etc. We seem to be able to deal with these. But it is only very recently that we are beginning to acknowledge another essential component: treating our bodies as part of our instruments, with the goal of preventing physical injury. Thanks to doctors like Richard Norris who are working in the new field of performing arts medicine, we can now improve our physical approaches to our instruments with knowledge of how our bodies do the demanding tasks we ask of them. For many of us, a dream has come true. Musicians, both performers and educators, can now become more knowledgeable through conferences, publications, seminars, and book such as Dr. Norris's guide. We can now work towards prevention rather than correction. You will find, as I have, that this down-to-earth survival manual is an invaluable resource and took in our striving and yearning for freedom to play