Wellbeing for young elite musicians: development of a health protocol from a student perspective
Musicians’ vulnerability to psychological and physical problems provides a compelling argument to include health and wellbeing training in music education. This study forms part of a larger project to design an evidence-based wellbeing protocol for young elite musicians at a pre-professional music t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1401511/full |
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| author | Ann Shoebridge Margaret S. Osborne Margaret S. Osborne |
| author_facet | Ann Shoebridge Margaret S. Osborne Margaret S. Osborne |
| author_sort | Ann Shoebridge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Musicians’ vulnerability to psychological and physical problems provides a compelling argument to include health and wellbeing training in music education. This study forms part of a larger project to design an evidence-based wellbeing protocol for young elite musicians at a pre-professional music training institute. Recommendations from the health, education, performance science, behavior change, and occupational and public health literature provided theoretical and practical foundations for the project. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to wellbeing and strengths of an existing health protocol, and provide recommendations for change from the student perspective. Four in-person focus groups were held on the same day, attended by 68% (n = 45) of the student cohort. Semi-structured discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically. Barriers to wellbeing and recommendations for change were collated from the data and distributed to the student body to be rated in priority order. Participants appreciated the existing program for its holistic approach delivered by a range of skilled practitioners. Barriers to wellbeing included constraints in finances, leave allowances and time, pressure from interpersonal challenges and unhealthy norms in the music performance culture. Recommendations for change included updating the financial policy; having more flexible leave conditions to allow higher earnings and better access to performance opportunities; having reliably scheduled time off; collaborative planning with staff around playing rosters; more activities for musician enhancement and social bonding; exercise opportunities in-house; addressing pervasive cultural norms around practice and breaks; education regarding respectful and professional conduct; an effective complaints procedure, and more practical wellbeing sessions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e24c6a9235a0411d87c160b2c2344053 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e24c6a9235a0411d87c160b2c23440532025-02-12T07:26:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-02-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14015111401511Wellbeing for young elite musicians: development of a health protocol from a student perspectiveAnn Shoebridge0Margaret S. Osborne1Margaret S. Osborne2Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaMelbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaMelbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaMusicians’ vulnerability to psychological and physical problems provides a compelling argument to include health and wellbeing training in music education. This study forms part of a larger project to design an evidence-based wellbeing protocol for young elite musicians at a pre-professional music training institute. Recommendations from the health, education, performance science, behavior change, and occupational and public health literature provided theoretical and practical foundations for the project. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to wellbeing and strengths of an existing health protocol, and provide recommendations for change from the student perspective. Four in-person focus groups were held on the same day, attended by 68% (n = 45) of the student cohort. Semi-structured discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically. Barriers to wellbeing and recommendations for change were collated from the data and distributed to the student body to be rated in priority order. Participants appreciated the existing program for its holistic approach delivered by a range of skilled practitioners. Barriers to wellbeing included constraints in finances, leave allowances and time, pressure from interpersonal challenges and unhealthy norms in the music performance culture. Recommendations for change included updating the financial policy; having more flexible leave conditions to allow higher earnings and better access to performance opportunities; having reliably scheduled time off; collaborative planning with staff around playing rosters; more activities for musician enhancement and social bonding; exercise opportunities in-house; addressing pervasive cultural norms around practice and breaks; education regarding respectful and professional conduct; an effective complaints procedure, and more practical wellbeing sessions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1401511/fullhealth promotionperformance-related problemsmusic studentmusicianconservatoiretertiary music |
| spellingShingle | Ann Shoebridge Margaret S. Osborne Margaret S. Osborne Wellbeing for young elite musicians: development of a health protocol from a student perspective Frontiers in Psychology health promotion performance-related problems music student musician conservatoire tertiary music |
| title | Wellbeing for young elite musicians: development of a health protocol from a student perspective |
| title_full | Wellbeing for young elite musicians: development of a health protocol from a student perspective |
| title_fullStr | Wellbeing for young elite musicians: development of a health protocol from a student perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wellbeing for young elite musicians: development of a health protocol from a student perspective |
| title_short | Wellbeing for young elite musicians: development of a health protocol from a student perspective |
| title_sort | wellbeing for young elite musicians development of a health protocol from a student perspective |
| topic | health promotion performance-related problems music student musician conservatoire tertiary music |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1401511/full |
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