Health and Safety
The Catholic University Departments of Music are required by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) to inform students, faculty and staff of health and safety issues associated with music practice, performance, listening, and teaching. The following information regarding the care of hearing, vocal, and musculoskeletal health and injury prevention should be taken seriously by all music majors/minors and non-majors participating in the music program through applied lessons, classes, rehearsals, and performances.
All music students should listen carefully to teachers, coaches, master class presenters and guest lecturers about health and safety surrounding their music study and principal disciplines. It is very important that students heed the advice given to them in order to better understand health and safety in daily practice, rehearsals, and performances.
The following links, categorized by area, provide information to help students, faculty and staff understand how to avoid serious injury through preventative measures:
Nutritional Health
Protecting Hearing Health
What Musicians Need to Know About Hearing Protection
Hearing Health Foundation: 6 Hearing Protection Tips for Musicians
Complete Guide to Hearing Protection for Musicians
Music Making and Hearing Loss: Information for Musicians on Preventing or Managing Hearing Loss
US Department of Labor: Occupational Noise Exposure
Musculoskeletal Health and Injury
What Every Pianist Should Know About the Body
What Every Singer Should Know About the Body
What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body
A Painful Melody: Repetitive Strain Injury Among Musicians
Psychological Health
Mental Health Resources for Musicians
Reducing Music Performance Anxiety
National Institute of Health: Music Performance Anxiety in Classical Musicians
WebMD: Stage Fright (Performance Anxiety)
The Catholic University of America: Counseling Center
Equipment and Technology Health
Students working in the scene shop and costume shop receive training on safety. Student recital workers receive training and orientation for safe set-up and stage management, and Box Office employees receive training on handling emergency and fire situations.
Additional Resources
Performing Arts Medicine Center
NASM-PAMA Advisories on Neuromusculoskeletal and Vocal Health
The Catholic University of America: Environmental Health and Safety
The Catholic University: Student Health Services