Musicians’ Wellness

Musicians’ Wellness


The University of Delaware School of Music is dedicated to fostering a culture of wellness among our students, faculty, and staff. We recognize that musicians’ health and well-being are essential to artistic growth, sustained performance, and lifelong engagement with music.

In alignment with the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) standards, we are committed to educating our community about health and safety issues related to the study, practice, performance, and teaching of music. This includes maintaining hearing, vocal, musculoskeletal, and mental health.

Additionally, the University of Delaware School of Music is proud to include faculty who prioritize student wellness, offering expertise in areas such as the Alexander Technique, yoga and movement for musicians, performance anxiety, among more. The school also benefits from professional certifications within its faculty from organizations such as the Performing Arts Medicine Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine, reflecting our commitment to integrating wellness into all aspects of musical study and performance.

The following resources have been compiled to help you explore evidence-based approaches to musicians’ wellness. They provide guidance on physical health, mental well-being, performance preparation, and creating safe, sustainable musical practices—both within our university community and beyond.

Courses

  • ARSC 297 - Musicians’ Wellness: This course provides students with the knowledge and practical application of wellness practices. Topics covered include but are not limited to posture, performance anxiety, anatomy, meditation, yoga, hearing health, vocal health, burnout in musicians, and stress management.
  • MUSC 130 - Alexander Technique: An interactive class introducing and exploring the principles of the Alexander Technique. Learn to identify and redirect harmful habits in order to reduce unnecessary tension and maximize optimal mind-body coordination. Experience more ease, balance and presence in your everyday activities and learn how to apply these principles to specialized activities for peak performance.
  • HBNS 155 - Personal Health Management: An Approach for a Lifetime: Examines contemporary health concepts, with emphasis on disease prevention, health promotion, and personal health behaviors.
  • MUED 179 - Freshman Seminar in Music Education: This course introduces key issues and approaches in music education while emphasizing wellness, reflection, and authentic engagement. Classes begin with a brief breathing or grounding exercise to support presence and mental clarity. Students explore their evolving teacher identities, recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and approaches. Coursework prioritizes meaningful, flexible, and mindful learning experiences over busywork. Through discussion, reflection, and portfolio development, students cultivate a healthy, sustainable foundation for their future in music education.

Student Activities

Wellness Registered Student Organization (RSO)

Who Are We? A Guide to Musician's Wellness. Who Are We is formed to create a community of those looking to further deepen their interests surrounding musician’s wellness through masterclasses, exploration of self identity and how it relates to being an artist, workshops, and having community projects that promote wellness or further support the macro community's wellness.

Events

Wellness Day Spring 2026
Stay tuned for our Wellness Day details!

UD Resources

Musicians’ Wellness Resources

General Health & Wellness

Musculoskeletal Health

Mental Health

Hearing Health

Vocal Health

  • Bruser, Madeline: The Art of Practicing: Making Music from the Heart
  • Conable, Barbara: What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body
  • Dawson, William J.: Fit as a Fiddle: The Musician’s Guide to Playing Healthy
  • Dunkel, Stuart Edward: The Audition Process
  • Gallwey, Timothy W: The Inner Game of Tennis
  • Green, Barry: The Inner Game of Music
  • Green, Barry: The Mastery of Music: Ten Pathways to True Artistry
  • Greene, Don: Audition Success: An Olympic Sports Psychologist Teaches Performing Artists How to Win
  • Greene, Don: Performance Success: Performing Your Best Under Pressure
  • Greene, Don: Seven Skills for Performing Your Best Under Pressure—At Work, In Sports, On Stage
  • Horvath, Janet: Playing (Less) Hurt
  • Klickstein, Gerald: The Musician’s Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness
  • Liebermann, Julie Lyonn: You Are Your Instrument: The Definitive Musician's Guide to Practice and Performance
  • Norris, R. N.: The Musician's Survival Manual
  • Ristad, Eloise: A Soprano on Her Head: Right-Side-Up Reflections on Life and Other Performances
  • Watson, Alan: The Biology of Musical Performance and Performance-Related Injury
Students practicing wellness breathing in a music studio

Acoustic Conditions in Practice, Rehearsal, and Performance Facilities

Students are advised to exercise caution regarding prolonged exposure to elevated noise levels. In accordance with OSHA guidelines, sustained exposure to sound levels of 90 decibels or higher for more than eight hours is considered excessive.

For further information, please click here to access a decibel comparison chart. The following chart provides decibel levels commonly associated with musical performance and listening: Chart: Musical Decibel Levels

Ear plugs are available for students in AED209 and AED108. 

Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, try the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, movement, body scan, box breathing or journaling to help your body regulate.
Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, try the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, movement, body scan, box breathing or journaling to help your body regulate.