If you’ve never gotten sick during the school year, consider yourself lucky. Even a case of the sniffles can be a major setback when you’re trying to keep on top of practicing, rehearsals, studying, and a social life. Like most music students, I tried every trick in the book to keep from getting sick. Unfortunately it wasn’t always enough, and I often ended up with with a runny nose, sore throat, headache, and cough sometime during the semester.
This frustrated me since I was an otherwise very healthy person. It took a while before I found the culprit to be the practice rooms–those tiny shared spaces with little ventilation and (at least at my school) no natural light. I mentioned my theory to a few friends, who thought I was crazy–until I made my case.
Yes, if you’re not careful, the practice rooms WILL make you sick. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to defend yourself.
So what exactly makes practice rooms different from classrooms, dorm rooms, locker rooms, or any other public places on a college campus? I think It’s a combination of the environment and the activities that take place there. Let’s take a look at each.
The Typical Practice Room Enviroment
With the exception of closets, practice rooms are probably the smallest rooms on campus. Yet, at many schools, they’re occupied with the door closed from early in the morning until late into the night. I’m no doctor, but I’ll bet that means there are lots of airborne germs crammed into that little space. If they’re not well-ventilated, then you’re breathing old, nasty air and not fresh oxygen. If the room is carpeted, you’re also breathing in all the dust and mold that collects in the carpet.
At many schools practice rooms are windowless. Spend enough time in one, and you’re depriving yourself of much-needed sunlight. This can lead to a lack of Vitamin D, a weakened immune system, and depression. And, since mold and mildew thrive in dark environments, it also lowers the air quality.
Finally, don’t discount the sterile look of many college practice rooms. How could it possibly be healthy to stick creative people under fluorescent lights in white-walled, windowless rooms for hours on end?
Your Behavior in the Practice Rooms
In most practice rooms, the environment is only half the problem. The other half has to do with what goes on in them–no, not THAT! I mean music-related things.
To start, we’ve all heard about how filthy door handles are. I’m not usually too worried about that because I keep my hands washed, and I don’t lick my fingers. BUT, what do you do right after you open the door to the practice room and get settled? You grab your reed/mouthpiece and stick it in your mouth. And what did the last person do when they were done practicing? They touched their mouthpiece and then opened the door…Nasty.
Not a wind player? Well you still get the pleasure of walking on the floor where everyone drains the “water” from their instrument. I understand that the “water” comes from condensation. But condensation comes from moisture in the air, and some moisture in the air comes from people’s lungs. Plus, didn’t we already agree that practice room air is pretty filthy? Soooooo, that leads to some pretty funky stuff on the floor. That funky stuff ends up on your shoes, and your shoes end up in your hands when you take them off.
Finally, the demanding nature of music school means that the practice rooms are probably used by a population that’s sicker than most to begin with. Illness travels fast when you’re sharing close quarters.
How to Beat the System
So what’s a poor student to do anyway? Since you can’t avoid the practice rooms alltogether, here’s what you can do to make them a little better for you. Not only will you help yourself, but you’ll be helping your fellow students as well.
- Be aware of all these hazards. You’ll start to notice your unhealthy behaviors, and will naturally become more careful.
- Get the air moving. If you can spend a few dollars on a small fan, blow some fresh air in on your breaks. If money is tight, go in on a fan with some friends. It shouldn’t cost more than $10 or $20 anyway. If you don’t have a fan, use the door itself to get the air moving: quickly open and close it several times until things feel fresher. If the school allows it, leave the door open when you leave the room.
- If you spend some of your time doing visual/mental practice, get out of the practice room and do it in the library.
- Step outside for fresh air every couple hours. I mean OUTDOORS. Feel the breeze and enjoy the sunshine.
- Use a little hand sanitizer before/after handling your mouthpiece/reeds. Wash your hands EVERY TIME you’re done in the practice room.
- For everyone’s sake don’t spit on the floor. Please, please, PLEASE get a cheap towel and drain your instrument onto that instead (and wash it regularly).
- If you’re sick, stay out of the practice rooms for a day.
- Find out how often your school cleans the practice rooms. Ask if they disinfect the door handles and the piano keys, and make sure they are sweeping/vacuuming/mopping the floor at least a couple times a week. If not, show them this article, and BEG for more routine cleanings. If the rooms are carpeted, request that they steam-clean them at least once a year.
- Ask your school if they can use a scentless air disinfecting spray when they clean the rooms. For the sake of those who are sensitive to this stuff, don’t take this upon yourself or spray any kind of scented air freshener. It will make everyone sicker.
- If any kind of building renovations or improvements are being discussed, put in a good word for a modern air filtration/ventilation system.
- Relax, and don’t become too paranoid about germs. Enjoy the fact that you know how to beat them. Positive thinking will take you far!
Photo courtesy of Flickr user e_melodic.
