Florida Enrichment Academy teachers are well aware of the causes of Repetitive Stress Injuries among musicians.

Instruction in correct positioning, hand placement, posture, use of force, breathing and avoidance of co-contraction and static muscular activity is included in every lesson.

We know that it is counter-productive for students to:

• Learn to play an instrument or sing without also learning technique and habits that will avoid injuries that may prevent playing the instrument or signing in the future.
• Risk permanent injury to tendons, muscles or vocal cords by trying to imitate a musician or singer whose sound or technique is not natural to the physical make up of the student.

Playing a musical instrument requires repetitive finger activity. There are no muscles in the fingers. Fingers are moved by 24 tendons that attach to muscles in the hand and arm. Repeated tensing or rubbing on nearby ligaments and bones can cause the tendons to fray, become thickened, bumpy or even calcify. Inflammation and swelling of tendons in the restricted space of the carpal tunnel can put pressure on the median nerve, leading to tingling and numbness of the thumb and second finger associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Keyboard players can experience injuries affecting the fingers, hands and arms. Injuries among guitar players and drummers can affect the shoulders and back in addition to the fingers, hands and arms. With singers, stressing vocal cords can result in inflammation, swelling and hoarseness. In some cases, singers, in trying to imitate a sound or style that is not natural for them, experience permanent damage to the vocal cords and a lifetime loss of the ability to sing.

Repetitive Stress Injuries related to playing the keyboard, guitar or drums are caused by:

• Excessive force or stiffness used in pressing keys, or holding strings over frets, or striking drums and cymbals.
• Bad habits which cause co-contraction or static muscle activity resulting in unnecessary tendon or muscle stress.

Repetitive Stress Injuries related to singing are caused by:

• Imbalance or lack of control of proper airflow and breathing techniques resulting in overwork or overuse of the vocal cords.
• Trying to sing like a famous star rather than developing your own natural sound.

Florida Enrichment Academy teachers are trained in teaching healthy habits which prevent Repetitive Stress Injuries among musicians.