Questions tagged [health]
Questions about how playing or listening to music affects a person's mental or physical condition or vice versa, how a state of health affects the ability to play or perform music.
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Top-down strokes versus side strokes: what is the most ergonomic drum style between tabla or mridangam/pakhawaj?
Tablas are hand drums that comes by pair which the 2 skins are (nearly) horizontally oriented with the hand moving from top to down, while mridangam/pakhawaj/dol/dolak are hand drums which the 2 skins ...
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Do 3D ear impression scanners yield higher quality custom flat-response attenuators compared to traditional ear impression techniques (eg, spleading)?
I am getting a new pairs of flat-response attenuators (a.k.a., "musician earplugs"). Do 3D ear impression scanners yield higher quality custom-molded flat-response attenuators compared to ...
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Finger issues right before exam
I am beginning to experience a pain just underneath the nail of my 3rd finger, it's my exam in 2 days. I have no idea how I managed to do this, but its making it very difficult to play the piano.
The ...
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Best practices for singers to recover from losing one's voice [duplicate]
I am the lead vocalist in a rock band, and I recently nearly had to cancel a performance because I'd been sick and had almost completely lost my voice a few days before the show. Thankfully I was able ...
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Are sweet drinks bad for singing?
I've been told by a high school choral director that drinking sweet drinks, such as soda, before singing is not not healthy/good for the voice. Is this true? If so, why is it bad for you?
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Can smoking allow a singer to sing in a way a non smoker couldn't?
A lot is said about how singers shouldn't smoke because smoking ruins their voices.
However, there are certain singers known for being smokers who also have a typical hoarse smoky voice. When I listen ...
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Will nicotine gum (e.g., Nicorette) harm my singing voice?
Since about the age of 30 (I'm 35 now) I have sometimes been addicted to smoking tobacco. I know that smoking tobacco can damage my singing voice--I have experienced this personally. Lately, I had ...
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Back hurts after playing piano
I'm learning how to play the piano and after practicing for an hour to an hour and a half my middle to upper back starts to hurt pretty bad. I was wondering if anyone knew what can be done to prevent ...
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Is my voice damaged? Is the last note falsetto, head voice or something else? [closed]
Disclaimer: I feel that the recording I attached is pretty loud, so bear that in mind.
I'm sorry if I'm doing something wrong, but I am really desperate and I created an account here just to ask about ...
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I sang, got really light headed and it wont go away. What should I do? [closed]
So one day I was singing and I started getting a bit light headed so I paused for a bit and kept on going, but the lightheadedness only got worse and worse until the point that I was about to faint, ...
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Effects of playing excessive Tabla
I have been a Tabla student for a decade. For those of you who don't know, Tabla is an Indian percussion instrument with a big language of rhythmic cycles of its own.
I wanted to know if playing ...
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Does playing the Jew's harp damage the teeth
When I was a kid I was gifted a Jew's harp. I never formally learned to play it (and also didn't learn to play other instruments, so my knowledge on music theory and on instruments is very limited).
I'...
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Can I injure my hands by typing or playing guitar too much?
I have been playing fingerstyle guitar for a year now, and I play on average at least an hour daily.
I am also a full time software engineer, so I type a lot.
At the end of the day my fingers hurt ...
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Why can't wearing both ear muffs (whether passive or active) and earplugs simultaneously yield more than 36 dB noise reduction ratio (NRR)?
I read on Wikipedia:
Using both ear muffs (whether passive or active) and earplugs simultaneously results in maximum protection, but the efficacy of such combined protection relative to preventing ...
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Need advice on a bent pinky problem
I am looking for a good reference for hand exercises and advice on pinky problems.
After an accident on 2017 where I sprained my wrist (3rd degree that forced me away from my guitar) my index and ...
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Is it safe to use thumb position in lower positions on cello?
A piece I've been playing has a notation to use the thumb in 2nd position on cello (with thumb on the D-string F# specifically, where first finger would go in normal 2nd position). I tried it out but ...
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Fingernail and hand care for pianists
I've never given much thought to nail/hand care. I keep my nails short and generally don't use lotion, because it transfers to the keytops.
I'm also prone to hangnails, and every once in a rare while ...
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Physical problems during singing
I don't know if this is related to singing specifically, but I noticed that when I am singing and I hit a powerful, held note, pushing all of my vocal power forward (to the point of slightly affecting ...
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How can I safely extend my vocal range?
What type of vocal exercises should I be looking for?
Are there any temporary influences to the vocal range, like having had a drink?
Dom♦
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Fingertip sensitivity/pain related to nail separation
I've been playing for decades. Every now and then I do something that causes a fingertip on my fretting hand to be extremely sensitive — to the point where the slightest pressure causes pain. ...
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What instruments can a four-year-old with left-side paralysis begin to learn/hope to ever learn?
My four-year-old sister has tragically suffered left side paralysis from a brain injury. Because she's so young, her brain is remarkably plastic, and a lot of functionality has returned. She can walk, ...
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Why do SNR ratings tend to be about 3 dB higher than NRR ratings? I.e., what difference(s) in the testing procedures account for this gap?
I read on https://eardefender.co.uk/snr-vs-nrr/ (mirror):
SNR (Single Number Rating) is the EU’s standard for showing the attenuation of hearing protection. [...] NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) is the ...
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Why does the formula to compute the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) subtract 3dB?
Context: NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) is the noise reduction standard used in the United States, and SNR (Single Number Rating) is the European Union's standard for showing the attenuation of hearing ...
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How can I achieve maximum hearing protection, beyond custom-fitted earplugs + earmuffs?
I sometimes attend events with very loud music, e.g. Technoparade (> 110dB next to speakers) and at times need to stop listening the music, without having to move. How can I achieve maximum hearing ...
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How to deal with hurting fingers (piano)?
I am currently 19 and began playing the piano when I was six - so I have been playing the piano for quite a long time. Last year I began an apprenticeship as an software engineer - so I spend a lot of ...
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Why do my cheekbones hurt when I play?
I play the flute and I don’t know if it’s just me but my cheekbones hurt when I play for more the 30 minutes. I don’t know what it could be, I usually have good posture and practice everyday. I have a ...
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What vocal techniques are needed to prevent strain when talking into a vocoder?
A full song played through a vocoder makes my throat begin to ache. I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but I do notice that I try to sing the melody instead of speaking it in an unusual way that is ...
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Arthritis In Hands (Playing With Pain In Hands) - Are There Recommended Approaches?
I have been playing guitar for 12 years now and I'm 28.
I am under treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis (R.A.) and was wondering if anyone who has R.A., or other pain in their hands, has any approaches ...
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What can I do to minimize damage to my picking hand wrist as I practice guitar?
My right hand (picking hand) is showing signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, and is slowly, but surely, degrading. I continue to practice guitar, but it's beginning to be difficult to do so.
What can I ...
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Is it considered bad technique to collapse / lock finger joints?
I am a beginner at guitar. My friend recently told me that bending my fingers this way while playing a chord can cause damage to the fingers. I cant help playing this way because of force of habit.
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Thumb position in Piano playing fast octaves - Position to prevent injury in first thumb joint
At the moment I am playing a piece that at some instances requires fast consecutive octaved notes in the left hand (I arranged the notes myself, the pic shows the notes in question).
I play the ...
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Could the organ I’m selling be a fire hazard?
I have an '80s electronic organ and have agreed to sell it come the end of this week. I dropped something inside it this morning and tried to take it out and noted that the organ is incredibly dusty ...
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Effects of regular rock climbing on instrument play
Related : Is it bad for a piano player to work out?
Context :
The SE question linked above actually reminded me of a story about a guitar teacher that used to rock climb regularly but quit as he ...
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Possible damaged tendon in forearm from playing jumps in the bass. Is it my technique or am I just getting old?
I've been playing / teaching the piano for years with no problem but recently started a new piece; two days in and I have a swollen and painful injury just above my wrist, which I can feel across the ...
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Forearm soreness while practicing the piano
Recently I have had a bit of fore arm soreness, and I don't know what to do about it. The soreness isn't lasting though, It's more like, I play a phrase and by the end it my forearm is sore, and if I ...
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How to treat medial epicondilytis and how long does it take to heal?
I have been playing blues/jazz and shred guitar on mostly electric guitars for many years. Four months ago, I bought a new classical guitar and in my excitement played continuously through a weekend. ...
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Causes of sharp pain in a fretting finger after playing guitar or bass?
I have been playing guitar and bass for about 20 years now and I have noticed that sometimes, particularly in the last five years, I will do something with my fretting hand that causes a sharp pain in ...
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How can a guitarist treat and avoid lateral epicondylitis in the fretting arm?
I've been playing guitar (both electric and acoustic) pretty seriously for about a year, 2-3 hours a day most days. I couple months ago I developed tendonitis in my fretting arm, which my doctor ...
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Can I get nauseous from singing while closing off my nose in my throat? [closed]
Please note that I am not trained in singing. There are certain muscles in the throat that allow you to close off your mouth and nose independently of each other. When I sing loudly (which is the ...
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Relaxing muscles when playing piano
I have a problem with relaxing my shoulders when playing the piano.
My shoulders become stiff and come up when I play.
After practicing my shoulders ache.
What could be wrong with my posture or ...
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Lip pain when playing flute: how to overcome?
I have noticed that when I play higher octave notes on the flute my lips start to hurt. This has happened before but I dealt with it just by ignoring the pain.
I would like to know whether there is ...
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Is horseback riding affecting my piano technique?
After horseback riding my fingers feel stiff, lazy and i feel like my technique has degraded. I think it's because the pulling on my hands. I know sport is a very common topic in piano forums, but I ...
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Impacts on hand dexterity caused by combat sports or martial arts
I am considering to start practicing box, karate or tae kwon do to improve my health and self defense skills. Does anyone know if any of these affect my dexterity, speed, sensitivity negatively? Not ...
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Can Playing Cause Back Pain In Right Shoulder Blade?
At first I thought this injury was related to golf, because it's painful to swing a golf club as well. But I'm beginning to think that playing sitting down for long stretches (4-6 hours) is pulling a ...
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Are eye disorders more common in wind instrument players?
I played the clarinet for 12 years (from 9 to 21), and occasionally I practiced for hours a day. Out of curiosity I read that eye pressure increases temporarily during play.
Those who are ...
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Is cold water bad for the throat?
Will cold water affect our throat / voice if we drink it before singing?
Also, in the long run (say if you drink cold water everyday), will cold water cause the throat / voice to be "lousy"?
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Causes of piano finger strain and ways to relieve it
After I practice for a few hours on the piano, I feel a strain in my hands (I don't know if strain is the right word, It doesn't hurt or anything. It actually feels good because I feel like I have ...
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What is this vocal style called, and how can I learn it?
The vocalist Jonny Craig from bands like, Dance Gavin Dance, Slaves, and Emarosa, uses a technique to intensify a sustained note and/or phrases, and I can't figure out how he does this, and continues ...
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(Singing) Why is low/high larynx bad for your voice?
I heard that using low or high larynx is bad for your voice. But why is this true ? In what way is it bad for your voice? And is there a way to make low or high larynx healthy? Or should you at all ...
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Can't stop thinking about fingers
This is a problem I think I have always had, it has just become more apparent to me after a recent OCD diagnosis.
I can't stop thinking about my fingers, especially when playing fast or difficult ...
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