Playing (Less) Hurt: An Injury Prevention Guide for Musicians

by Janet Horvath

Making music at any level is a powerful gift. While musicians have endless resources for learning the basics of their instruments and the theory of music, few books have explored the other subtleties and complexities that musicians face in their quest to play with ease and skill. The demands of solitary practice, hectic rehearsal schedules, challenging repertoire, performance pressures, awkward postures, and other physical strains have left a trail of injured, hearing-impaired, and frustrated musicians who have had few resources to guide them.

Playing Less Hurt addresses this need with specific tools to avoid and alleviate injury. Impressively researched, the book is invaluable not only to musicians, but also to the coaches and medical professionals who work with them. Everyone from dentists to orthopedists, audiologists to neurologists, massage therapists and trainers will benefit from Janet Horvath's coherent account of the physiology and psyche of a practicing musician. Writing with knowledge, sympathetic insight, humor, and aplomb, Horvath has created an essential resource for all musicians who want to play better and feel better.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Health, Education, Medicine

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2002

About the author

A lifelong performing classical musician, as the associate principal cello of the Minnesota Orchestra from 1980-2012, Ms. Horvath is a writer, anti-racism spokesperson, and advocate for injury prevention for musicians. She has performed in recital, chamber music, and as soloist with orchestras throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, and has given masterclasses and seminars for orchestras and conservatories from coast to coast. She has appeared on CBC, BBC, and NPR radio stations, and PBS television and is a popular guest speaker, live and on podcasts.

Her first book Playing (less) Hurt – An Injury Prevention Guide for Musicians received international critical acclaim, winning a gold IPPY award in 2009.

The Cello Still Sings—A Generational Story of the Holocaust and of the Transformative Power of Music, her new book, is a vivid, moving, and true story of personal discovery that reads like a mystery story. When she's not playing or writing she's cooking up her mother's Hungarian recipes!

Janet's other publications include for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Minneapolis StarTribune and numerous music magazines. She completed her Masters of Music degree from Indiana University, and her MFA in creative writing from Hamline University, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Read her entertaining music articles on www.interlude.hk

Reviews

[Stephanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A readable, interesting and educational guide for musicians of all sorts. I enjoyed the diagrams, the list formats, the short stories, the clear writing. At first I just read the sections that seemed most relevant to me, but then I decided to read from start to finish. Time well-spent. I feel better equipped to care for my own health and to educate my students.

Also, as a musician who read the book while experiencing a repetitive-stress injury, her optimistic and calm approach was very encouraging. I loved the sentence "So don't give up, and try not to despair." She's been where I am, and her encouragement meant a lot.

[Colleen Crayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have resource for instrumental music educators. This is not often talked about or taught and anyone who has students getting ready for music in college should be teaching concepts from this book. There are lots of injured musicians who don't do anything to help themselves because they don't know any better.

[Witoldzio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make sure to get the newest edition of this book, because older editions have some outdated information (esp. in the resources area). This book is a great resource. I am a pianist and it did not bother me at all having to read about other instruments. I can understand better what other instrumentalists are dealing with, and how many issues we all have in common. Personally, while I already knew quite a bit on this topic I learned a lot about breathing and how it affects healthy functions of the body. I also learned how dangerous ignoring pain can potentially be. This book should be an obligatory reading to all musicians, professional and amateur. I would recommend it particularly to college students, who often are unaware of potentials dangers in unhealthy playing habits.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly recommended introduction to the topic of musician’s health and injury prevention , primarily geared towards classical instrumentalists. Eminently readable, concise, and comprehensive. The long list of resources (books, journals, organizations, performing arts physicians, ergonomic products, etc) at the end of the book alone makes it a worthwhile purchase.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for all emerging professional musicians

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting information and lots to think about, even for this very part time, very amateur violist.

[Gwen Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this to instrumental musicians and teachers. Both amateurs and professionals will glean a lot for helping themselves and others. Hovath addresses preventive habits to protect from injury, many healing strategies, and a wonderfully stocked guide to resources, tools, and practitioners to help with "Playing less hurt. I will be referring to it frequently as I continue to teach strings and piano.

[Angela McCuiston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great information, though I completely disagreed with her advice when it comes to weight training. She is simply uninformed in that area - I have heard though, that with the newest edition that she has changed some of her attitude towards things, including resistance training, would be interested in re-reading it.

[Rachel L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good for anyone musically inclined. Written by a cellist, this book is more applicable for professional orchestral musicians (especially string players) but has sections for many other instruments. A great resource for those of us who don't want to get hurt playing our beloved instruments.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Norris didn't quench your thirst for knowledge about musician's injuries? Turn to Janet Horvath... you'll be purchasing an Ergocush seat cushion within days.