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.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
36 votes
7 answers
197k views

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?
Tamara Wijsman's user avatar
8 votes
5 answers
3k views

How do you prevent injuries from bad posture while playing classical guitar?

I'm tagging this as specific to classical guitar since that's what I am familiar with. The correct posture is very important which playing classical, including the footstool, the position of your ...
talonx's user avatar
  • 687
4 votes
3 answers
9k views

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 ...
Rich's user avatar
  • 563
17 votes
6 answers
76k views

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 ...
glenatron's user avatar
  • 433
13 votes
9 answers
3k views

Should I worry about painful fingertips?

I just started to learn playing the (electric only for now) guitar, and I love it! I've read on a few pages that it was normal for my fingertips (those that I use on the fret board) to hurt in the ...
Anthony Labarre's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
17k views

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 ...
blueberryfields's user avatar
27 votes
7 answers
127k views

Why does my thumb hurt when I play bar chords?

Certain chords cause my thumb to be sore. How can I play in a way to prevent this?
gak's user avatar
  • 1,915
19 votes
4 answers
14k views

Ways to warm up vocal cords?

What are some safe ways to get my vocal cords without over using them before a practice or performance?
Tyler Brown's user avatar
16 votes
3 answers
4k views

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 ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
9 votes
11 answers
17k views

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. ...
John Flanery's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

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 ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
5k views

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 ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

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 ...
mannyglover's user avatar
2 votes
5 answers
5k views

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 ...
021's user avatar
  • 645