#practice advice

[everlastingess]

How to Deal with an Injury as a Musician

As a pianist, I’ve never experienced anything close to an injury, but this school semester, I started having intense neck/shoulder pain due to twice-a-week 2-hr rehearsals for a musical. 

I play classical piano, and gigged let’s say ONE time for a cafe this past summer. Considering these, it became clear to me that 1) my body is not used to playing keyboards/synthesizers, 2) I have incorrect posture at the keyboard when I play, and 3) suddenly increasing both the amount of hours you practice and hours you rehearse WILL increase likelihood for getting injured! No one likes getting an injury, especially when you have lots of music to practice. What a waste of time! What a pain (no pun intended)! 

So, my lesson has been learned for this semester, and here are a few nuggets of my wisdom for how to deal with an injury as a musician. 

1) Don’t physically practice intensely. Sometimes, musicians tend to overcompensate when they get injured or sick. Rest up! You might have a gig, a recital, a rehearsal, etc coming up. The best mode of action is to treat your body kindly and get some rest rather than making up practice time for when you were sick or injured, and possibly straining yourself further. 

2) Practice mentally. Mental practice can be amazing, and sometimes we forget that practice is just as much brainwork as it is physical. 

3) Watch videos of cute puppies. Or kittens. I literally mean it! Go Google some videos of adorable baby animals because they will warm the cockles of your heart. Getting an injury or being sick when you need to practice sucks. You want to sing, or play piano, or toot out a Coltrane lick on your saxophone but you can’t! Do something that will improve your mood and help you feel less depressed about not being able to play.  

4) An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There are many ways to be self-aware or mindful of how to avoid sickness or injury, but sometimes, we don’t know until it’s too late. Learn about your instrument and common injuries it may cause. Never push harder than you can play. Pain is always a sign of an underlying issue, and playing through pain is a no-no! 

5) Phone up a professional. Schedule an appointment with your chiropractor, laryngitis, orthopedic doctor, or physical therapist. The professionals will know how to help you better than you can. 

[clarinetpet-blog]

🎶 Practice positivity 🎶 • You are improving, even if it doesn't seem like that. • As much as music can be stressful, think about why you started and how you love music. • No matter where your musical ability is right now, you're doing great, and you'll do great. • Remember, no one sounds perfect when they're practicing. • Music takes time- you are constantly learning and improving. Where you are right now is not an accurate indication of where you will be in a few years time. • Sometimes you will have bad days, bad weeks, even bad months, but you just have to work through them as best as you can and things will get easier. • There is always time to get better. Whether you're at the beginning of your musical journey, or the middle, there will always be time to improve. • There is no level to reach that defines you as a good musician. Even the greatest musicians are constantly learning and improving. And the fact that you're working hard at your music is part of what makes you a good musician. • Music is not a race- you are only competing against yourself- and you're winning! You don't need to compare yourself to others. • Sometimes things will happen- things that are out of your control and interfere with your playing. This are things you can't stop from happening, the only thing you can do is accept them and work through them as best as you can. And that's all anyone can ask of you. • You have improved by so much since last year. You will have improved by so much next year. • We all go through difficulties with music. You're not alone. You will get through it. • Although there will always be someone better than you, the thing that matters is that you're improving. • You have strengths in your playing, not just weaknesses. • You are allowed to take care of yourself. Your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing is more important than your music. • Improvement in anything (but especially in music) takes time. When you want immediate results, it can be discouraging when you don't get them instantaneously, but if you keep pushing on you will get there eventually. • No matter where you are on your musical journey, your love of music is valid. You don't have to be amazingly talented at something to have a passion for it. • Where you are right now is fine. And finally… • You can do it!! Now go practice. Okay so this ended up more like advice then positivity, but thinking this way about practice and music in general (especially when you're stressed or feeling bad about your abilities) can be really helpful. Music is as much of a mental game as it is anything else, and I think it's important to acknowledge that. FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN POSITIVITY OR ADVICE HAVING TO DO WITH THE MENTAL SIDE OF MUSIC!! 🎶🎶

[bandpracticetips]

Band Advice

While being in band and practicing is very important, remember to put school and your health first. If you’re injured, don’t exacerbate the injury in practice. If your grades are falling, set yourself a schedule that gives you time for both study and practice.