The Athletic Musician

 Does the title of this article give you pause? The term may strike some as paradoxical. Does it pique your curiosity about who an athletic musician is and how such an identity can be possible? Usually, when we think about athletes or musicians, we consider them separate people. Our minds quickly categorize them into their own distinctive disciplines, and thoughts of celebrity athletes or famous musicians may even come to mind. It seems rare to consider an individual who represents this dual identity, yet they do exist. Some examples of famous people who represent this combination are Bernie Williams, Shaquille O’Neal (DJ Diesel), Brett Lee, Ben Broussard, and Harry Styles. If we peer more closely into the lifestyles of the general public, however, we discover that more individuals fall into this combined category.

Beyond Athletic Bands

Leaving celebrity status aside, you might initially think of individuals who perform in marching bands or highly competitive drum and bugle corps. If you have ever participated in these types of programs, you understand the demands required. From long rehearsal schedules to multiple monthly performances and time-consuming tours, tremendous effort is expected from each individual. Additionally, these performers often brave harsh weather conditions, whether frigid temperatures or excessive heat. Every halftime show and competition requires relentless work to perfect every drill and perform the music to the highest standards. These band performances can undeniably fall under the categories of performance sport or athletic art.

Beyond those individuals who compete in competitive bands, a broader population can also be considered athletic musicians. While musicians might not immediately see themselves as athletes, many performers mirror an athletic lifestyle by integrating consistent physical training into their lives to complement the intense technical demands of their music. Whether it includes playing competitive or recreational sports or following a disciplined fitness regimen, this dedication to physical health helps keep their bodies strong while keeping overuse injuries at bay. You might be one of these athletes.

The “Either/Or” Trap

Some people may not be convinced that one can be considered athletic while also being a “respected” musician. Traditional mindsets have often reduced the performing artist to only one thing. Traditionalists have even gone so far as to insist that a person cannot be a musician and also be “something else.” It is the limiting belief that a person must be considered either a musician or a “fill in the blank.” The message has too often been reinforced: “You cannot be both, if you wish to be serious about your career.” Please challenge yourself to put those old beliefs aside and quiet those negative voices if anyone has ever said that to you. When we are forced into a single label, it doesn't allow us to have the balance in our lives that we need. For whatever reason, sports have often been labeled as the opposition when it comes to music in general. Pep bands and marching bands aside, perhaps this belief comes from school systems and higher education institutions where music programs are generally the ones cut first, long before any consideration of cutting sports programs. There is also an imbalance of music program budgets versus large sports budgets, and a conflict in sharing the same students who have interests in both subjects. These points, however, should not undermine the need to maintain our bodies for optimal health. In recent years, increased focus on improving and maintaining good physical health has come at the cost of too many people being overworked, under-exercised, and undernourished due to reliance of low-nutrient processed foods. Though the health industry and insurance companies are now taking more proactive steps to promote preventative rather than reactive medicine, this is unfortunately the mere result of cost-saving efforts. With that knowledge, however, we know that body maintenance is key.

The Reality

The dismissive view of sports is being reevaluated as more institutions promote and adopt cross-industry collaboration, recognizing that partnerships across different sectors lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. For example, Ithaca College has demonstrated this through its Performing Arts Wellness Initiative, which for years has maintained a wellness program for performing artists. Let us remember that engaging in sports and fitness favorably challenges our bodies with essential physical exercise and promotes the discipline of maintaining a regular fitness routine. This ties in perfectly with the discipline we already have in our music-practice routines.

Taking care of ourselves doesn’t mean we must be part of an official sports team or belong to a community sports organization, rather, it means prioritizing our health to avoid overuse injuries, medical costs, and time lost from illness or surgery. By integrating consistent physical activity and embracing our interests with different sports such as swimming, resistance training, rowing, running, whatever you prefer, consider what activity best complements your music performance needs and allows you to thrive at your fullest potential.

To read more on related topics, please see our previous articles, The Ties Between Music and Sports and Prioritizing Your Health as a Musician.