What is neurodiversity? Some people’s brains work in a different way to others. For at least 20% of the UK’s adult population, and over 30% of musicians, these differences mean they are not seen as ‘neurotypical’ and may be diagnosed with neurological conditions such as autism spectrum condition (ASD), dyslexia
70-80% of musicians have a health problem which impacts their career in music during their working life. This can be caused by music work or have a non-music related cause, but make it more difficult to work. We all have individual characteristics which make us more or less susceptible to
A mental health practice is as important for your mental health as physical exercise is for your physical and mental fitness. Learning a mental health technique and practising it routinely can help to keep you mentally well and also be called upon when you are feeling anxious or depressed. Your
Always seek help from a qualified clinician if you have a health concern. Unfortunately, 70-80% of musicians and composers will have a physical health or mental health problem relating to their career. Some of the reasons for this include: Public exposure Performance anxiety Competition Long hours – late nights Extreme
Taking Regular Breaks Ensuring that you take sufficient breaks during practice, work, and around performance is an effective way of managing high workloads, preventing injury and reducing the risk of burn-out. If we carry out any activity for a period of time, at some stage we will experience fatigue. Fatigue
Factors in the working environment can lead to various health issues for musicians and composers. These may include physical injuries from repetitive movement, prolonged awkward postures, manual handling or accidents, hearing damage from prolonged sound exposure, and mental health problems such as stress and burnout. Additionally, insufficient rest and recovery
Your sexual health is an important part of your wellbeing, yet is often overlooked. The music industry has high levels of sexual harassment, and this was the subject of a House of Commons enquiry, Misogyny in Music. Understanding Sexual Health Sexual health goes beyond just preventing infections or planning
Sound exposure is inevitable and prolonged exposure to intense sound is an integral part of a musician’s everyday activities, both related to and outside performance. Your existing hearing capacity is vital to composers and musicians. Maintaining good function of this delicate sense at your current level, through recognition and management
Tobacco use remains one of the world’s deadliest health challenges, claiming more than 8 million lives each year according to medical experts. Put simply, any amount of tobacco is dangerous to health – whether through smoking, chewing, or being exposed to secondhand smoke. Beyond the devastating human cost, tobacco also
Sleep is vital to general health. With the irregular hours of composers and musicians, it is not always easy to keep to a consistent routine. Establishing a regular sleeping pattern and good sleep hygiene can help. During sleep, our bodies carry out repairs to the everyday ‘micro-injuries’ we sustain from
