Tertiary music students' experiences of an occupational health course incorporating the body mapping approach
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Date
2018-07
Authors
Salonen, Bridget Louise
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
The high prevalence of performance-related health problems (PRHPs) among
musicians of diverse genres and cultures is well-documented, with lifetime prevalence
rates showing that roughly 75% of musicians are affected, including tertiary and pretertiary
student musicians, professionals and amateurs. Despite the well-established
and multiple benefits of music for society, there are occupational risks, both
neuromusculoskeletal and psychological.
The literature underscores the need for a biopsychosocial perspective in the provision
of musicians’ health education. Research on somatic educational practices
demonstrates their suitability for addressing the postural, movement, musculoskeletal
anatomy and proprioceptive training components. One of these practices, Body
Mapping (BMg), focuses particularly on musicians’ needs and may be successfully
incorporated into a musician’s health course. However, BMg is a relative newcomer
among the established somatic approaches and little research has been done on the
incorporation of BMg principles into music education.
Due to the limited amount of research on the implementation and assessment of health
education in tertiary musicians’ training, the purpose of this study is to focus on
exploring the experiences of tertiary music students participating in an occupational
health course, incorporating BMg as the somatic component. Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis was chosen for the thematic analysis of the interviews
conducted. The aims of the study were to gain an understanding of the participants’
experiences and perceptions of the course, any changes that occurred, and of BMg
as the somatic education component. The data analysis revealed four super-ordinate
themes: panorama, physical awareness, psychological awareness and musicianship,
supported by a total of 20 subordinate themes.
Most importantly, the findings emphasise the reciprocal interactions of physiological,
psychological, behavioural and musical aspects of music-making, and suggest that
BMg may be highly effective in terms of the integrated teaching of musicians’
biopsychosocial and artistic requirements. The study underscores the need for
musicians’ health education to be embedded in tertiary musicians’ training, the
beneficial impacts of comprehensive musicians’ occupational health education, and
the value of BMg as a somatic education component. The results provide information
on essential course content, the advantages of interdisciplinary collaboration, the need
for practical activities, the optimal duration, the value of peer learning and support, the
importance of cooperation with music teachers, and the consideration of students’
motivation to attend and their readiness for change. The study also aims to raise
awareness of the musicians’ health field in South Africa, and the critical need for further
research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the implementation of musicians’
occupational health education at tertiary institutions.
Description
Keywords
Performing arts health, Performance-related musculoskeletal disorders, Music performance, Music education, Performance psychology, Body Mapping, Somatic education, Interpretative phenomenological analysis, Musicians’ health promotion, Thesis (Ph.D. (Music))--University of the Free State, 2018