Adult instrumental musicians are not the only ones to develop painful problems that interfere with their practice and performance--young musicians are affected, too. In fact, some young instrumentalist are more likely than their elders to be bothered by these painful conditions. Health professionals who frequently see musicians in their offices recognize that their young patients participate in music as soloists and in all types of ensembles including jazz and marching bands, orchestras, and chamber and choral ensembles. All music educators must be aware of their students' potential for developing medical difficulties and have a layperson's working knowledge of their causes, contributing factors, basic diagnostic elements, and principles of (nonmedical) treatment and rehabilitation. In this article, the author provides an up-to-date look at six important factors relating to young instrumentalists' physical problems: causes, types of difficulties, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. (Contains 2 figures.)