Health and 安全

General Health and 安全

Your 健康 and safety is our top priority.

Health and 安全 Information for Student 音乐ians

Click here to access the National Institute for Occupational 安全 and Health (NIOSH) bulletin on preventing 听力 loss of individuals in the music industry.

The 音乐学院 utilizes this page to educate students and faculty regarding 健康 and safety issues, hazards, and procedures inherent in practice, performance, teaching, and listening both in general and as applicable to their specific specializations. This includes but is not limited to information regarding 听力, vocal and musculoskeletal 健康, 受伤 prevention, and the use, proper handling, and operation of potentially dangerous materials, equipment, and technology.

Performance Injuries

Any一个 who practices, rehearses or performs instrumental or vocal music has the potential to suffer 受伤 related to that activity. Instrumental musicians are at risk for repetitive motion injuries. Sizable percentages of them develop physical problems related to playing their instruments; and if they are also computer users, their risks 是复合. Instrumental injuries often include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, 和滑囊炎. Incorrect posture, non-ergonomic technique, excessive force, overuse, stress, and insufficient rest contribute to chronic injuries that can cause great pain, disability, and the end of careers.

Instrumentalists

What Instrumentalists Should Do

The 音乐学院 wishes to thank the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of 音乐 and the Canadian Network for Health in the Arts for the following information:

歌手

What 歌手 Should Do

The 音乐学院 wishes to thank The Singer's Resource, the Texas Voice Center, Houston, and the University of Michigan Vocal Health Center for the following information:

所有的音乐家

What All 菠菜网lol正规平台 音乐学院 and Dance 音乐ians Should Do

消息灵通. Awareness is the key. Like many 健康-related issues, prevention is much easier and less expensive than cures. Take time to read available information concerning injuries associated with your art. Develop a 健康y mindset, before you move a heavy object like a piano, ask yourself, "do I have permission or training 做这件事。”? Staging and recording personnel have special training to do this, if you haven't had this training, chances are that you are doing it incorrectly and you may hurt yourself and damage the instrument.

书 and 有用的链接

书

音乐ians might find the following books helpful:

  • Conable, Barbara. What Every 音乐ians Needs to Know 关于 the Body (GIA Publications, 2000)
  • Klickstein, Gerald. The 音乐ian's Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness (牛津大学,2009)
  • Norris, Richard N. The 音乐ian's Survival Manual (International Conference of Symphony and Opera 音乐ians, 1993)

有用的链接

The following links may be useful:

其他技巧

Antiseptically Clean

More and more our society is pushing for products that are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial 和抗病毒. Some even go the next step further aiming to achieve sterile. 然而, our bodies by design are not meant to live in a sterile environment. As kids, we played in the dirt, ate bugs and countless other things and became stronger because of it. Keep in mind that total sterility is a fleeting moment. Once a sterile instrument has been handled or exposed to room air it is no longer considered to be sterile. It will, however, remain antiseptically 清洁 until used.

Most viruses cannot live on hard surfaces for a prolonged period of time. 一些死 simply with exposure to air. 然而, certain groups are quite hardy. Therefore, musicians must be concerned with instrument hygiene. Users of school owned and rented musical equipment might be more susceptible to infections from instruments that are not 清洁ed and maintained properly.

If the 清洁ing process is thorough, however, musical instruments will be antiseptically 清洁. Just as with the utensils you eat with, soap and 水 can 清洁 off anything 有害的. Antibacterial soaps will kill certain germs but all soaps will carry away the germs that stick to dirt and oils while they 清洁. No germs/ no threat.

Infectious Disease Risks

Sharing musical instruments is a widespread, accepted practice in 这个职业. 然而, recent discussion in 这个职业 has included concern regarding shared musical instruments and infectious disease, especially HIV.

The 中心 for Disease Control (CDC), has confirmed that there is no risk of transmission of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), or Hepatitis B (HBV) through shared musical instruments. The reasons for this are that these diseases are passed via a blood-to-blood, sexual fluid or mucous membrane contact. There has been no case of saliva transmission of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), or Hepatitis B (HBV).

Instrument Hygiene

While the possibility of transmission of the above bacteria and viruses is not a real consideration, it is apparent that there should be a protocol with regard to shared musical instruments. Sharing of instruments is routine in music schools, where students practice and perform on borrowed instruments throughout the year. In our discussion with our consultants, certain basic considerations and recommendations for standard operating procedures regarding shared instruments were recommended as follows:

  • All musicians or students should have their own instrument if possible.
  • All musicians or students should have their own mouthpiece if possible.
  • All students and faculty sharing reed instruments MUST have their own individual reeds. Reeds should NEVER be shared.

If instruments must be shared in class, alcohol wipes or Sterisol germicide solution (both available from the 音乐学院) should be available for use between different 人. When renting or using a School-owned musical instrument, each user must understand that regular 清洁ing of these musical instruments is required in order to practice 适当的卫生. The student must initial and date the following statement upon checkout of the institutionally owned wind instrument.

喉舌

The mouthpiece (flute headjoint), English horn and bassoon bocal, and saxoph一个 neck crook) are essential parts of wind instruments. As the only parts of these instruments placed either in or close to the musician's mouth, research has concluded that these parts (and reeds) harbor the greatest quantities of bacteria.

Adhering to the following procedures will ensure that these instrumental parts will remain antiseptically 清洁 for the 健康y and safe use of our students and faculty.

Cleaning the Flute Head 加入t

Using a cotton swab saturated with denatured, isopropyl alcohol, carefully 清洁 around the embouchure hole.
Alcohol wipes can be used on the flute's lip plate to kill germs if the flute shared by several players.
Using a soft, lint-free silk cloth inserted into the 清洁ing rod, 清洁 the inside of the headjoint.
Do not run the headjoint under 水 as it may saturate and eventually shrink the 加软木塞.

清洁Bocals

Bocals should be 清洁ed every month with a bocal brush, mild soap solution, and running 水.

English Horn bocals can be 清洁ed with a pipe 清洁er, mild soap solution, and running 水. Be careful not to scratch the inside of the bocal with the exposed wire ends of the pipe 清洁er.

Cleaning Hard Rubber (Ebony) 喉舌
  • 喉舌 should be swabbed after each playing and 清洁ed weekly.
  • Select a small (to use less liquid) container that will accommodate the mouthpiece and place the mouthpiece tip down in the container.
  • Fill the container to where the ligature would begin with a solution of half 水 and half white vinegar (50% 水 and 50% hydrogen peroxide works too). Protect clarinet mouthpiece corked tenons from moisture.
  • After a short time, use an appropriately sized mouthpiece brush to remove any calcium deposits or other residue from inside and outside surfaces. This step may need to be repeated if the mouthpiece is excessively dirty.
  • Rinse the mouthpiece thoroughly and then saturate with Sterisol germicide solution. 放在纸上 towel and wait 一个 minute.
  • Wipe dry with paper towel.

注意: Metal saxoph一个 喉舌 清洁 up well with hot 水, mild dish soap (not dishwasher detergent), and a mouthpiece brush. Sterisol germicide solution is also safe for metal 喉舌.

Cleaning Saxoph一个 Necks (Crooks)

  • Swabs and pad-savers are available to 清洁 the inside of the saxoph一个 neck. 然而, most saxophonists use a flexible bottlebrush and toothbrush to accomplish the same 结果.
  • If the instrument is played daily, the saxoph一个 neck should be 清洁ed weekly (and swabbed out each day after playing).
  • Use the bottlebrush and mild, soapy 水 to 清洁 the inside of the neck.
  • Rinse under running 水.
  • Sterisol germicide solution may be used on the inside of the neck at this time if desired (not necessary). 放在纸上 towel for 一个 minute.
  • Rinse again under running 水, dry, and place in the case.
  • If using pad-savers, do not leave the pad-saver inside the neck when packed away.

Cleaning 黄铜 喉舌

  • 喉舌 should be 清洁ed monthly.
  • Using a cloth soaked in warm, soapy 水, 清洁 the outside of the mouthpiece.
  • Use a mouthpiece brush and warm, soapy 水 to 清洁 the inside.
  • Rinse the mouthpiece and dry thoroughly.
  • Sterisol germicide solution may be used on the mouthpiece at this time. 放在纸上 towel for 一个 minute.
  • Wipe dry with paper towel.

Other Instruments

String, percussion, and keyboard instruments present few hygienic issues that cannot be solved simply by the musician washing their hands before and after use.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

注意: The information in this document is generic and advisory in nature. It is not a substitute for professional, medical judgments. It should not be used as a basis for medical 治疗. If you are concerned about your 听力 or think you may have suffered 听力 loss, consult a licensed medical professional.

Part of the role of any professional is to remain in the best condition to practice 这个职业. As an aspiring musician, this involves safeguarding your 听力 健康. Whatever your plans after graduation - whether they involve playing, teaching, engineering, or simply enjoying music - you owe it to yourself and your fellow musicians to do all you can to protect your 听力. If you are serious about pursuing a career in music, you need to protect your 听力. The way you hear music, the way you recognize and differentiate pitch, the way you play music; all are directly connected to your 听力.

音乐 and Noise In the scientific world, all types of sound, including music, are regularly categorized as noise. A sound that it too loud, or too loud for too long, is dangerous to 听力 健康, no matter what kind of sound it is or whether we call it noise, music, or something else. 音乐 itself is not the issue. Loudness and its duration are the issues. 音乐 plays an important part in 听力 健康, but 听力 健康 is far larger than music.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

We experience sound in our environment, such as the sounds from television and radio, household appliances, and traffic. Normally, we hear these sounds at safe levels that do not affect our 听力. 然而, when we are exposed to 有害的 noise-sounds that are too loud or loud sounds that last a long time; sensitive structures in our inner ear can be damaged, causing noise-induced 听力 loss (NIHL). These sensitive structures, called hair cells, are small sensory cells that convert sound energy into electrical signals that travel to the brain. Once damaged, our hair cells cannot grow back. NIHL can be caused by a 一个-time exposure to an intense "impulse" sound, such as an explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period of time. 嗡嗡作响的 of a refrigerator is 45 decibels, normal conversation is approximately 60 decibels, and the noise from heavy city traffic can reach 85 decibels. Sources of noise that can cause NIHL include motorcycles, firecrackers, and small firearms, all emitting sounds from 120 to 150 decibels. Long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can cause 听力 loss. The louder the sound, the shorter the time period before NIHL can occur. Sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause 听力 loss. Although being aware of decibel levels is an important factor in protecting 一个's 听力, distance from the source of the sound and duration of exposure to the sound are equally important. A good rule of thumb is to avoid noises that are "too loud" and "too close" or that last "too long."

It is very important to understand that the hair cells in your inner ear cannot regenerate. Damage d一个 to them is permanent. There is no way to repair or undo this damage.

According to the American Academy of Audiology, approximately 26 million Americans have 听力 loss. One in three developed their 听力 loss as a result of exposure 噪音. As you pursue your day-to-day activities, both in the 音乐学院 and in other educational, vocational, and recreational environments, remember:

  • Hearing 健康 is essential to your lifelong success as a musician.
  • Your 听力 can be permanently damaged by loud sounds, including music. 从技术上讲, this is called Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). This danger is constant.
  • Noise-induced 听力 loss is generally preventable. You must avoid overexposure to loud sounds, especially for long periods of time.
  • The closer you are to the source of a loud sound, the greater the risk of damage.
  • Sounds over 85 dB (your typical vacuum 清洁er) in intensity pose the greatest risk 听你的.
  • Recommended maximum daily exposure times to sounds at or above 85 dB are as follows: 85 dB (vacuum 清洁er, MP3 player at 1/3 volume) - 8 hours 90 dB (blender, hair dryer) - 2 hours 94 dB (MP3 player at 1/2 volume) - 1 hour 100 dB (MP3 player at full volume, lawnmower) - 15 minutes 110 dB (rock concert, power tools) - 2 minutes 120 dB (jet planes at take-off) - without ear protection, sound damage is almost immediate
  • Certain behaviors (controlling volume levels in practice and rehearsal, planning rehearsal order to provide relief from high volume works, avoiding noisy environments) reduce your risk of 听力 loss.
  • The use of earplugs (Sensaphonics, ProGuard, Sensorcom) helps to protect your 听力 健康.
  • Day-to-day decisions can impact your 听力 健康, both now and in the future. 自 sound exposure occurs in and out of the 音乐学院, you also need to learn more and take care of your own 听力 健康 on a daily, even hourly basis.

If you are concerned about your personal 听力 健康, talk with a medical professional.

If you are concerned about your 听力 健康 in relationship to your study of music at 菠菜网lol正规平台, consult with your applied instructor, ensemble conductor, advisor, or the School Director.