Musicians face unique physical demands, and preventing injury and maintaining wellness requires attention to ergonomics, rest, and awareness of risk factors.

Here are a few practical tips for maintaining your general health as a musician:

1. Rest between rehearsals
2. Hydrate daily
3. Eat balanced meals
4. Maintain sleep hygiene
5. Keep a weekly journal to track body tension, mood, and energy through practice sessions

To maintain your physical health, here are some campus-based resources might help you:

Student Health and Wellness (SHaW)
Offers comprehensive medical, mental health, and wellness services to all students including injury prevention, rehabilitation, nutrition, and physical therapy.

• Website: https://studenthealth.uconn.edu
• Phone: (860) 486-4705
• Location: Arjona Building, 4th Floor, Storrs Campus

UConn Speech & Hearing Clinic
Provides hearing evaluations, custom musician earplugs, and voice therapy for singers and wind players.

• Website: https://music.uconn.edu/about/health-and-wellness/hearing-health
• Location: UConn Music Department, Storrs Campus

Alcohol and Drug Services (AOD)
Supports students managing substance use or recovery, offering confidential counseling, group therapy, and prevention education.

• Website: https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/alcohol-substance-support/
• Phone: (860) 486-4700

Performance anxiety and burnout are common, but they shouldn’t be ignored and are treatable.

UConn offers a variety of mental health supports to help musicians balance academic, performance, and personal well-being:

Student Health & Wellness – Mental Health
Provides mental health counseling, psychiatry, and crisis intervention services for UConn students.

• Website: https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/mental-health/
• Phone: (860) 486-4705
• Location: Arjona Building, 4th Floor, Storrs Campus

UConn Counseling and Mental Health Services (CMHS)
Offers confidential individual and group therapy, stress management workshops, and crisis counseling.

• Website: https://counseling.uconn.edu/
• Phone: (860) 486-4705

Mindfulness & Meditation at UConn
Weekly guided meditation sessions designed to support focus, stress relief, and performance clarity.

• Website: https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/mindfulness/
• Location: Arjona Room 403, Mondays 4–5 PM

Community Support & Peer-Groups
Belonging is vital for student wellness. UConn’s centers create inclusive environments that celebrate identity and foster connection.

• First Generation UConn: https://firstgen.uconn.edu
• Asian American Cultural Center (AsACC): https://studentactivities.uconn.edu
• African American Cultural Center (AACC): https://studentactivities.uconn.edu
• Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center (PRLACC): https://studentactivities.uconn.edu
• Rainbow Center: https://studentactivities.uconn.edu
• Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: https://diversity.uconn.edu/office-for-diversity-and-inclusion/
• Office of Institutional Equity (OIE): https://community.uconn.edu/sexual-and-gender-misconduct/
• Center for Students with Disabilities Policy: http://policy.uconn.edu/2011/05/24/people-with-disabilities-policy-statement/

Career development and academic success are essential to sustainable musician wellness, and you might have some questions about what to do with your degree or help with finishing your degree.

These resources provide guidance for internships, networking, and academic support for when you need it:

UConn Center for Career Development
Provides advising, resume review, internship programs, and affinity-based career communities to support students’ professional development.

• Website: https://career.uconn.edu/
• Career Communities: https://career.uconn.edu/channels/career-communities/

Dean of Students Office
Leads holistic student support initiatives, including Campus Change, Family Engagement, and Student Care & Concern.

• Website: https://dos.uconn.edu/
• Phone: (860) 486-3426

Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS)
Supports first-generation and low-income students with mentoring, academic advising, and college retention programs.

• Website: https://caps.center.uconn.edu/programs/student-support-services/

These national resources focus on health, career support, and recovery for performers:

MusiCares
Provides financial, medical, and psychological support for professional musicians including mental health services, hearing clinics, and addiction recovery assistance.

• Website: https://www.musicares.org/

Play in the Zone
Offers strategies and resources for managing performance anxiety and building confidence for musicians.

• Website: https://playinthezone.com/performance-anxiety-tips-music/

Musicians interact daily with instruments, electronic equipment, and shared facilities. Safe handling and ergonomic awareness reduce the risk of injury and equipment damage while maintaining a professional rehearsal environment.

Ergonomic Setup and Posture

• Instrument Setup: Adjust chairs, stands, and instrument supports so shoulders remain relaxed and wrists neutral.
  • Example: Clarinetists and flutists should maintain elbows below shoulder height; percussionists should adjust stand heights to reduce back bending.
• Lighting: Ensure adequate lighting to reduce eyestrain during reading or performance. Use personal stand lights when needed.
• Footwear and Flooring: Wear supportive shoes for long rehearsals and avoid slippery flooring that may cause falls.
• Technology Ergonomics: When using computers or music notation software, position screens at eye level and maintain a 90° elbow angle to prevent wrist strain.

UConn Environmental Health & Safety Ergonomics Guide — practical tips on posture and workstation setup.

Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) — international standards for musician ergonomics and injury prevention.