Wellness

student walking into Blair School of Music building

For additional information please see the Blair Student Handbook and Blair Faculty Handbook.

Maintaining one's health is important for all musicians. Be careful to monitor your joint health, nutrition, anxiety or stress, and make good choices about time management, socializing and use of substances. Preventive care is a good defense against overuse syndromes, which often occur among music students and can adversely affect performance. Should you need help, comprehensive medical services are available to Blair School students through the Student Care Network.

The Student Care Network is a holistic network of services and resources pertaining to health and wellness that is available to all Vanderbilt University students. Primary offices include the Office of Student Care Coordination, the University Counseling Center, the Student Health Center, and the Center for Student Wellbeing. Students also have access to a wide range of additional on-campus and community resources through the Student Care Network - from the Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center to the Project Safe Center to a variety of community providers.

Many students face challenges during their educational experiences and each situation is unique. The Office of Student Care Coordination is the first step to determine where to go for the most appropriate support for your needs. Students are encouraged to visit www.vanderbilt.edu/carecoordination to complete an initial assessment and schedule an appointment to meet with a Student Care Coordinator. Students may also call 615-343-WELL (9355) or drop in to see a Student Care Coordinator 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays in Sarratt Student Center, Suite 100.

As a key component of Vanderbilt's Student Care Network, the University Counseling Center provides mental health assessment, support and treatment for all students enrolled at Vanderbilt. Highly skilled and multidisciplinary teams of professionals offer crisis intervention, substance abuse counseling, short-term individual counseling, group therapy, biofeedback, ADHD and learning disorder assessments, and psychiatric assessment and pharmacologic treatment. Treatment plans are tailored to each individual's unique background and needs. UCC professionals support the University's mission of fostering inclusive excellence through cultural awareness and competence. In addition to regular hours and evening/weekend crisis response, the UCC offers various "Let's Talk" locations and affinity groups. To access UCC services, contact the Office of Student Care Coordination.

The Zerfoss Student Health Center serves the primary care needs of the Vanderbilt student community. There are no office co-pays for routine visits, and all registered students are eligible for care, regardless of insurance coverage. The physicians and nurse practitioners have chosen college health as their area of expertise and interest, and are dedicated to meeting the unique health care needs of the student population. Call 615-322-2427 for an appointment, or visit the Acute Care Clinic, where patients are seen on a first come, first serve basis. Students facing an extended absence from classes should contact Associate Dean Melissa Rose for advice.

Additional Resources

  • Wellness Classes

    Blair musicians' wellness courses (MWEL 1120, 1121, 1130, and 1140) in Alexander Technique, Meditation, and Tai Chi for Musicians (available for 1 free elective credit) provide an opportunity to learn ways to prevent injuries, reduce stress, and develop good habits. The student recreation center  offers fitness classes, nutrition coaching, personal training, meditation, and yoga. The Center for Student Wellbeing on campus offers both Guided Meditation and Yoga for Trauma Survivors.

  • Massage Therapy

    Massage therapy can be associated with decreased pain, an enhanced healing of common muscular ailments, and lowered levels of stress, anxiety or depression. There are many qualified massage therapists in the Middle Tennessee area, including at the Recreation and Wellness Center on campus. The Vanderbilt Center for Integrative Health offers therapy for an hourly fee. The center combines traditional medicine with complementary therapies that are proven, safe and effective. It serves in a complementary role for the primary care physician. For more information, call 615-343-1554.

  • Hearing Protection

     The Musicians' Hearing Center of Vanderbilt's Bill Wilkerson Center is an evidence-based clinic committed to offering professional personal hearing healthcare services, promoting public awareness of the potential damage to our hearing as a result of continued exposure to loud sounds, and to providing custom products to audio and music communities in and around Middle Tennessee. Call 615-322-4327 to schedule an appointment. The main office at Blair has disposable earplugs available at no charge. Earplugs are also available at most pharmacies. In addition, the Hearing Center offers custom products, made individually for each user, which can be purchased only from a licensed audiologist. The center provides a hearing conservation presentation annually to all Blair majors.

  • The Voice Center

     The Voice Center is also part of  Vanderbilt's Bill Wilkerson Center. It offers services including singing voice intervention, speaking voice therapy, and speech assessment. Students seeking evaluation at the Voice Center (615-343-7464) need a referral from Student Health if they have student insurance. The initial Voice Center visit involves a thorough evaluation. Prior consultation regarding insurance coverage is encouraged. 

  • Allergies

    Newcomers to the Middle Tennessee area often find that the fall and spring seasons may cause previously undiscovered allergies. Students needing an allergist must first get a referral from Student Health for the ASAP (Asthma, Sinus and Allergy) Clinic at Vanderbilt. 

  • Sexual Misconduct Policies

    The Blair School of Music desires to establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment. Students who believe they have been the subject of a violation of University policy pertaining to matters of sexual harassment, discrimination, or retaliation should contact the Title IX office. Complete information about sexual misconduct policies of Vanderbilt University can be found at: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/title-ix/title-ix-information.php. 

Academic Resources

Resources