Uploaded April 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Pain is NOT ok, and it's NOT a sign of you being a "bad musician".
Many musicians are injured and many are playing in pain, and we have the studies to back it up, but it's time we stop blaming ourselves and ignoring pain and start taking responsibility for ourselves and our bodies.
In this episode of the Tuned and Strong podcast, Kelly Mollnow-WIlson, LMT, NKT3 and flutist joins Jen and Angela in unpacking the mindset around why we ignore pain as musicians and how she teaches her students to take responsibility for themselves.
Thank you to Kelly Jen and I on this episode of the Tuned and Strong podcast and our first in our series "Interviews with the Performance Health Committee". We are interviewing current members of the National Flute Association Performance Health Committee in this series.
As always, please like, share with another musicians and subscribe to the Tuned and Strong podcast wherever you get your podcasts - and if you're enjoying it, please leave us a good review so we can reach more musicians!
In 2012, Dr. Bronwen Ackerman, Professor of Biomedical Science at the University of Sydney, surveyed members of the eight professional full time orchestras in Sydney. 84% of the musicians had experienced pain that had interfered either with playing their instrument or participating in orchestral rehearsals and performances. 50% had pain at time of the survey. Another study, done in 2008 by the American Association of Physician Assistants, found that there was a 50-76% of musicians reported musculoskeletal injuries. In comparison, a 2009 study found that the injury rate for Cirque du Soleil artists was 9.7% compared to a 15.2% injury rate for NCAA collegiate women’s gymnasts.
Ackermann, B., Driscoll, T., & Kenny, D.T. (2012). Musculoskeletal pain and injury in professional orchestral musicians in Australia. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 27(4), 181-7.
Heinan. M. (2008). A review of the unique injuries sustained by musicians. Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. 21(4), 45-6, 48, 50.
Shrier, I., Meeuwisse, W.H., Matheson, G.O., Wingfield, K., Steele, R.J., Prince, F., Hanley, J., & Montanaro, M. (2009). Injury patterns and injury rates in the circus arts: an analysis of 5 years of data from Cirque du Soleil. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 37(6), 1143-9.
Website:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com
Instagram:
@precisionperformanceandtherapy
Facebook:
Precision Performance and Therapy
Kelly's Articles:
The Flute Examiner:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com/writing/the-flute-examiner
Stuff From Other Places Part 1:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com/stuff-from-other-places-1
Stuff From Other Places Part 2:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com/stuff-from-other-places-2
Healing My Clipped Wing:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com/writing/healing-clipped-wing
Kelly Mollnow-Wilson teaches is a licensed massage therapist and Neurokinetic Therapist Level 3 as well as being a certified Body Mapper. She teaches at Oberlin Conservatory. Her "frankenflute" was altered by Alexa Still and the footjoint was modified by John Lunn.
**********
Do you ever wish composers know the struggles we experienced while playing their pieces?
You know there are just some of those musical pieces that take a toll on your body? We love them but as in the case of our latest podcast guest, harpist Danielle Kuntz, the piece by Prokofiev she referenced just automatically is understood that you will develop tendonitis by the end of playing it.
Isn't it insane? Don't you wish composers knew how to better write for your instrument?
That's why she created THE TOOLBOX SESSIONS (And if you hurry you can still register here: toolboxsessions.com/register/). It is a 3-day virtual summit designed to give you the tools you need to write for instruments & voices! From May 19-21, you'll get to join 12+ presentations on writing for specific instruments/voices (oboe, voice, harp, percussion, & more), taught by performer-educators who are passionate about collaborating with composers and arrangers. To have a $10 discount type the code TUNEDANDSTRONG22 on registration.
Stay connected and learn how to work with me!
musicstrong.com
Http://www.instagram.com/musicstrongfitness
Http://www facebook.com/musicstrong
tiktok.com/@musicstrongfitness
Appreciate these videos? I appreciate YOU! If you're feeling generous, feel free to leave a tip or donation if this helped you.
Venmo: @Angela-McCuiston
Pain is NOT ok, and it's NOT a sign of you being a "bad musician".
Many musicians are injured and many are playing in pain, and we have the studies to back it up, but it's time we stop blaming ourselves and ignoring pain and start taking responsibility for ourselves and our bodies.
In this episode of the Tuned and Strong podcast, Kelly Mollnow-WIlson, LMT, NKT3 and flutist joins Jen and Angela in unpacking the mindset around why we ignore pain as musicians and how she teaches her students to take responsibility for themselves.
Thank you to Kelly Jen and I on this episode of the Tuned and Strong podcast and our first in our series "Interviews with the Performance Health Committee". We are interviewing current members of the National Flute Association Performance Health Committee in this series.
As always, please like, share with another musicians and subscribe to the Tuned and Strong podcast wherever you get your podcasts - and if you're enjoying it, please leave us a good review so we can reach more musicians!
In 2012, Dr. Bronwen Ackerman, Professor of Biomedical Science at the University of Sydney, surveyed members of the eight professional full time orchestras in Sydney. 84% of the musicians had experienced pain that had interfered either with playing their instrument or participating in orchestral rehearsals and performances. 50% had pain at time of the survey. Another study, done in 2008 by the American Association of Physician Assistants, found that there was a 50-76% of musicians reported musculoskeletal injuries. In comparison, a 2009 study found that the injury rate for Cirque du Soleil artists was 9.7% compared to a 15.2% injury rate for NCAA collegiate women’s gymnasts.
Ackermann, B., Driscoll, T., & Kenny, D.T. (2012). Musculoskeletal pain and injury in professional orchestral musicians in Australia. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 27(4), 181-7.
Heinan. M. (2008). A review of the unique injuries sustained by musicians. Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. 21(4), 45-6, 48, 50.
Shrier, I., Meeuwisse, W.H., Matheson, G.O., Wingfield, K., Steele, R.J., Prince, F., Hanley, J., & Montanaro, M. (2009). Injury patterns and injury rates in the circus arts: an analysis of 5 years of data from Cirque du Soleil. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 37(6), 1143-9.
Website:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com
Instagram:
@precisionperformanceandtherapy
Facebook:
Precision Performance and Therapy
Kelly's Articles:
The Flute Examiner:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com/writing/the-flute-examiner
Stuff From Other Places Part 1:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com/stuff-from-other-places-1
Stuff From Other Places Part 2:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com/stuff-from-other-places-2
Healing My Clipped Wing:
precisionperformanceandtherapy.com/writing/healing-clipped-wing
Kelly Mollnow-Wilson teaches is a licensed massage therapist and Neurokinetic Therapist Level 3 as well as being a certified Body Mapper. She teaches at Oberlin Conservatory. Her "frankenflute" was altered by Alexa Still and the footjoint was modified by John Lunn.
**********
Do you ever wish composers know the struggles we experienced while playing their pieces?
You know there are just some of those musical pieces that take a toll on your body? We love them but as in the case of our latest podcast guest, harpist Danielle Kuntz, the piece by Prokofiev she referenced just automatically is understood that you will develop tendonitis by the end of playing it.
Isn't it insane? Don't you wish composers knew how to better write for your instrument?
That's why she created THE TOOLBOX SESSIONS (And if you hurry you can still register here: toolboxsessions.com/register/). It is a 3-day virtual summit designed to give you the tools you need to write for instruments & voices! From May 19-21, you'll get to join 12+ presentations on writing for specific instruments/voices (oboe, voice, harp, percussion, & more), taught by performer-educators who are passionate about collaborating with composers and arrangers. To have a $10 discount type the code TUNEDANDSTRONG22 on registration.
Stay connected and learn how to work with me!
musicstrong.com
Http://www.instagram.com/musicstrongfitness
Http://www facebook.com/musicstrong
tiktok.com/@musicstrongfitness
Appreciate these videos? I appreciate YOU! If you're feeling generous, feel free to leave a tip or donation if this helped you.
Venmo: @Angela-McCuiston
