Tag Archives: musicians health

Musicians Helping Musicians

Months of hard work in physical therapy paid off, allowing Kevin Brandon (“Brandino”) to say goodbye to his wheelchair and move around on foot with the aid of a walker. “I can walk now because of Kaiser Permanente,” Brandon says.

Member-led health education committee strives to serve those in need

Known professionally as Brandino, bassist extraordinaire Kevin Brandon has enjoyed a long and varied career full of successes.

But it didn’t come easy.

Born with congenital clubfeet and a hip displacement, Brandon has used his musical successes to support those with handicaps and special needs. He has long made it a primary mission in his life to spread awareness and assist with fundraisers in order to inspire and help those in need to acquire information and access resources to improve their quality of life. Continue reading →

H&W: Six Great Reasons to Have Your Teeth Cleaned

A message from the Professional Musicians, Local 47 and Employers’ Health & Welfare Fund

Brought to you by Delta Dental

Need some motivation to visit the dentist for a teeth cleaning? Well, we have six great reasons for you to contact your dentist today to make an appointment for your next cleaning. Continue reading →

Healing Through Music

Students and seniors come together to play music with The 5th Dementia, the debut band of MusicMendsMinds. The nonprofit organization dedicates itself to assisting those affected by Alzheimer’s and other cognitive dementias to restore their confidence, dignity, and self-worth.

MusicMendsMinds organization seeks to ‘restore the rhythm of life’ by bringing together seniors and students in musical therapy

by Benjamin Nguyen

Proving that music truly can be one of life’s greatest gifts, the new intergenerational music therapy project MusicMendsMinds is dedicated to “restoring the rhythm of life” for individuals in West Los Angeles who are affected by Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or cognitive dementias.

Carol and Irwin Rosenstein founded the organization after their own success story with music and social support. Irwin, a former real estate lawyer, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006. Until recently, the Rosenstein’s felt their lives slipping away while dealing with the adversities from Parkinson’s. “There were some days, many, when I just didn’t have enough to make life worthwhile,” Irwin said. Continue reading →

Acupuncture for Musicians

Photo: marniejoyce / Foter / CC BY

by Stephanie Hayman

In the music world, injuries may occur frequently as musicians often push beyond their limits. Inadequate rest, unhealthy eating habits, improper posture and mental and emotional strain compound this problem. With a musician’s hectic lifestyle, sufficient time is often not allowed for the body to heal. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory (especially steroids) medications are often used to dull the aches and pains. It’s a quick and easy approach, but only a temporary fix.

By medicinally covering up pain, stiffness, swelling, or aches, you may be masking a deeper problem. These symptoms are signals from your body telling you that something is weakened and out of balance. These warning signals are telling you to stop, rest, and heal. Continue reading →