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A Self-Care Guide for Woodwind and Brass Players

24th June 2025

World Wellbeing Week 2025

During World Wellbeing Week 2025, let’s shift the focus inward: from performance to presence. Woodwind and brass players know the intense demands of their craft – daily pressure on the breath, fine motor control, long practice hours, and often, physical tension. We’ve put together a self-care guide for musicians with 5 tips on slowing down and taking a moment. Whether you play oboe, saxophone, trumpet, or tuba, you’re constantly balancing technical skill with physical stamina and emotional focus.

We’ve also included some invaluable resources from the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine at the end of the blog to support all musicians through their journey.

1. Supporting your Physical Health

Musicians rely heavily on breath, posture, embouchure, and muscle control. Neglecting the physical side of playing can lead to fatigue, pain, or even injury.

Quick tips:

  • Warm up with full-body movement – not just fingers and lips.
  • Check your head, neck, and shoulder alignment and tension frequently.
  • Avoid slouching or locking your knees while playing.
  • Take breaks every 30–45 minutes to reset posture and breathing.
  • Use stretches that focus on the neck, upper back, chest, and jaw.

2. Managing Focus and Mental Energy

Musicians often strive for control and precision – but sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come when we feel calm and safe enough to explore. Wind players are especially prone to performance anxiety due to breath control and visibility.

Quick tips:

  • Accept “bad tone days” or missed notes without judgment.
  • Reframe mistakes as information, not failure.
  • Journaling short reflections after practice can help you track progress over time.
  • Use mindfulness to calm nerves before performances.

Exercise: “Centering Breath for Calm Focus” (3–5 minutes)

Ideal before auditions, recitals, or high-stakes practice.

  1. Find a quiet space and sit comfortably.
  2. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly.
  3. Inhale for 4 counts, gently filling your belly first (diaphragm), then chest.
  4. Hold for 2 counts.
  5. Exhale slowly for 6–8 counts, feeling the hand on your belly move inward.
  6. With each exhale, silently repeat a grounding phrase, like “I am steady,” or “Just one note at a time.”
  7. Repeat for 3–5 rounds.

This breath practice calms the nervous system, regulates breath support, and trains focus without tension – ideal for wind players under pressure.

3. Reclaim the Joy in Playing

When you’re working toward exams, competitions, or endless rehearsals, it’s easy to forget that music should be enjoyed. Reconnecting with playfulness can renew your energy and motivation.

Quick tips:

  • Choose one day a week for “free play” – no goals, just improvising or playing old favourites.
  • Say no to over-committing if your body or brain feels overloaded.
  • Revisit the why behind your playing: What first drew you to your instrument?

Joy and freedom in music aren’t signs of laziness – they’re signs of health.

4. Eat, Drink and Rest Well

For wind and brass players, nutrition and hydration directly affect tone, breath, and endurance.

Quick tips:

  • Drink water throughout the day – not just during rehearsals.
  • Keep snacks like nuts, fruit, or oat bars on hand before long sessions.
  • Avoid too much caffeine or sugar, especially before evening practice.
  • Prioritise sleep to support breath control, memory, and recovery.

You can’t play well if your body is running on fumes – fuel yourself like an athlete.

5. Building Healthy Musical Community

Music can sometimes feel isolating, especially in competitive settings. But connection is a vital part of wellbeing – and can transform how you experience your instrument.

Quick tips:

  • Join low-pressure ensembles or community wind bands where the focus is on fun.
  • Organise or attend informal group practice sessions.
  • Celebrate your peers’ wins – it builds a culture of support, not comparison.
  • Check in with friends who are also musicians. A quick chat can shift your whole day.

Final Note

To all the woodwind and brass players out there: your breath powers your sound, and your body supports your artistry. But your wellbeing is what sustains it all.

Use this World Wellbeing Week 2025 as a perfect excuse to pause. Not to step away from your instrument, but to take a step back and view your practice and lifestyle with kindness, curiosity, and care.

The more you care for yourself, the more music you can share with the world.

Don’t Cramp Your Style

For support with anything from mental health to performance-related exercises, visit BAPAM – British Association for Performing Arts Medicine. They offer a wealth of resources tailored to help you thrive as a musician in today’s fast-paced industry.

Mental Health Support in a Crisis – For immediate support, whether performance-arts related or general support.