Let’s Get Physical
Stop Making Excuses, Get Off Your Couch, and See How Staying Active Actually Makes You a Better Musician
by Jackie Saunders
A little good, old-fashioned sweat and heart-pumping action is good for your overall health, especially if you’re a musician. Anne Roos, 52, of South Lake Tahoe, California, is a Celtic harp player who has been performing at weddings and private functions for the past 25 years. A few years into her performing schedule, Roos hit a point where she felt she needed to start a regular, physical routine.
"Exercise was not something I had been doing all the time,” says Roos, who began to exercise more consistently about 18 years ago. "There came a point I needed to lose some weight and get more physically active,” she says. "It’s hard to be heavier and performing; it doesn’t feel good.”
Several aspects of her wedding business were difficult when Roos wasn’t active. Simple things like moving the harp and equipment around, playing several gigs in one day, and switching songs at the last minute for a fickle bride or groom, were physically exhausting. “When I play a wedding I can’t be exhausted; I have to sit down and put a smile on my face,” says Roos. “I need to be sharp and I think it’s harder to be that way when I am sedentary and not taking care of myself.”
Now, Roos goes to the gym three days a week, working on her upper body, lower body, and core. She works with a personal trainer for weight lifting and takes two, two-hour karate classes each week to help with mental alertness and balance. Roos says that working with a trainer was especially beneficial for her since she had been in a car accident and wanted to make sure her body and spine were properly aligned during exercises. “A lot of musicians suffer
from back problems so a trainer can help by showing safe exercises,” says Roos.
Dr. William J. Dawson, a retired orthopedic surgeon and bassoon player from Glenview, Illinois, who sometimes plays
with a New Horizons band, says there are many reasons why recreational musicians should have a regular exercise routine. "Exercise can help musicians preserve the skills they already have, help them continue to make music in their later years, and improve general health,” says Dawson, whose practice was affiliated with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “It is also beneficial to wind musicians for maintaining breathing capacity.”
While many people probably wouldn’t compare the physical prowess of a bassoon or cello player with a track star or
basketball player, musicians are athletes.“Some people may call musicians ‘small muscle’ athletes for their use of hands and upper extremities,” says Dawson. "It takes significant athletic competence to make music through repetitive movements for hours at a time.”
Just like with any new exercise program, it is important to consult your physician and get a physical exam. Unless your physician is trained in exercise physiology or sports medicine, it is wise to consult a personal trainer who can
tailor a program to suit your needs, says Dr. Dawson.
In case you still need some motivation, here are some reasons to hit the treadmill or pick up some weights:
Longer Practice and Jam Sessions. Exercise helps with endurance. By building upon muscular, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary capabilities, your ability to play more and longer will also improve.
Improved Flexibility. “This is an area that is so often forgotten but as we age, our joints tend to get stiffer and
muscles get tighter so we gradually lose some flexibility,” says Dawson. “It is very important to stretch before and after exercise to regain muscle tendon flexibility.”
Maintain a Healthy Weight. Sort of a no-brainer, but exercising burns calories, builds muscle mass and tone, and
makes you look and feel great. It also gives you a boost in energy so you can tackle a new difficult song you have
been thinking about trying.
Robust Immune System. Getting knocked out with a bad cold or flu takes you away from valuable music time. Studies show a moderate exercise routine helps stave off illness. During moderate exercise immune cells circulate
through the body more quickly and are better able to kill bacteria and viruses. Although the immune system
returns to normal after an exercise session, regular physical activity seems to make these changes last longer.
Helps Clear the Mind. “There is some evidence that exercise helps maintain a better mental outlook and has a positive
effect on the brain,” says Dawson. It also helps ease feelings of stress and anxiety. A healthy physical romp can help you get your concentration back.
It’s fun! Going to the gym and running marathons certainly aren’t for everyone. Find something you enjoy doing. Try
taking a dance class, riding a bike, swimming, walking—whatever makes you happy and gets your heart rate up.
