Make Music Without Hurting Yourself by Céline Bouissou
Written on 21 September 2025 - 246 views
Sore wrists, tight shoulders, tense back… musicians know these pains all too well. In Make Music Without Hurting Yourself, occupational therapist Céline Bouissou offers simple and effective solutions to play with pleasure and comfort.
Are you a musician? Then you probably know these little annoyances that spoil the fun: the wrist that burns after a rehearsal, the shoulder that pulls, or that pinch in the back after an hour of guitar or piano. We end up thinking it’s just “part of the game”… but not necessarily!
Céline Bouissou, occupational therapist and musician, sets things straight in her book Make Music Without Hurting Yourself (2025). And good news: there are simple solutions to keep playing with passion, without turning every session into a battle against your own body.
A guide that speaks to musicians
This book is nothing like a heavy, indigestible medical tome. On the contrary, Céline Bouissou focuses on the parts of the body that are most in demand — hands, wrists, shoulders, back, jaw — and demystifies them. No complicated jargon: you quickly understand why things get stuck, and more importantly, how to fix them.
Each chapter mixes clear explanations, correct movements, easy-to-reproduce exercises, and even videos to check that you’re doing it right. Whether you’re a pianist, violinist, guitarist, or trumpet player, you’ll definitely find advice that fits.
Why it works
Because the book doesn’t just remind you that you should “be careful”. It shows concretely how to adjust posture, correct a movement, or add a few stretches to your routine. It’s simple, direct, and above all effective.
We also appreciate the accessible tone: Céline Bouissou simplifies anatomy and physiology to make them useful and applicable, without ever talking down to the reader. You feel supported, not judged.
What to keep in mind
Of course, the guide isn’t meant to cover every rare instrument nor replace personalized follow-up. And while the focus is on the body, the mental dimension of the musician — stress, fatigue, stage fright — remains in the background. But these are avenues that could enrich a future step.
Verdict
When you finish Make Music Without Hurting Yourself, you have only one desire: to apply these tips to play longer, more comfortably, and above all with more pleasure. Céline Bouissou succeeds in combining her expertise as an occupational therapist with her sensitivity as a musician to deliver a practical, reassuring, and inspiring guide.
In short, an essential for anyone who wants music to remain what it should be: a pleasure, not a pain.
Purchase links:
Amazon
Deboeck
Mollat.com
For France, the book is also available in all Cultura, FNAC and at Flûte de Pan.
In Canada:
Arcambault
See you soon, here or elsewhere !
Chrys
