Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T19:27:22.381Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The perceived influence of the one-on-one instrumental learning environment on tertiary string students’ perceptions of their own playing-related discomfort/pain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2020

Megan Waters*
Affiliation:
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, PO Box 3428, South Bank, QLD4101, Australia
*
Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Abstract

This article draws on qualitative data collected over a five-year period as part of a longitudinal mixed methods research project at a tertiary music institution in Australia. Forty tertiary string students consistently identified factors specific to the one-on-one instrumental teaching environment as influencing their perceptions as to the nature and causes of their playing-related discomfort pain. Student perceptions of individual teacher’s attitudes to pain and injury, experiences with regards to asking and receiving advice and the perceived influence of the first instrumental teacher are discussed using six examples. The paper concludes with several recommendations for instrumental music teachers and music institutions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ACKERMANN, B., DRISCOLL, T. & KENNY, D. (2012). Musculoskeletal pain and injury in professional orchestral musicians in Australia. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 27 (4), 181187.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ANDERSEN, L. N., ROESSLER, K. K. & EICHBERG, H. (2013). Pain among professional orchestral musicians: A case study in body culture and health psychology. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 28 (3), 124130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ARNASON, K., ARNASON, A. & BRIEM, K. (2014). Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders among Icelandic music students: Differences between students playing classical versus rhythmic music. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 29 (2), 7479.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BARTON, R. & FEINBERG, J. R. (2008). Effectiveness of an educational programme in health promotion in injury prevention for freshman music majors. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 23 (2), 4753.Google Scholar
BRANDFONBRENER, A. G. (2009). History of playing-related pain in 330 university freshman music students. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 24 (1), 3036.Google Scholar
BRANDFONBRENER, A. G. (2010). Etiologies of medical problems in performing artists. In SATALOFF, R. T., BRANDFONBRENER, A. G., & LEDERMAN, R. J. (Eds.), Performing arts medicine (3rd ed., pp. 2549). Narberth, PA: Science and Medicine.Google Scholar
BRENNER, B. (2009). Reflecting on the rationales for string study in schools. Philosophy of Music Education Review 18 (1), 4564.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BRITSCH, L. (2005). Investigating performance-related problems of young musicians. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 20 (1), 4047.Google Scholar
BURWELL, K. (2017). Feeling and thinking about studio practices: Exploring dissonance in semi-structured interviews with students in higher education music. British Journal of Music Education, 34 (2), 189202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CAREY, G. & GRANT, C. (2015). Teacher and student perspectives on one-to-one pedagogy: Practices and possibilities. British Journal of Music Education 32 (1), 522.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CHESKY, K. S., DAWSON, W. J. & MANCHESTER, R. (2006). Health promotion in schools of music: Initial recommendation for schools of music. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 21 (3), 142144.Google Scholar
COOPER, S. C., HAMANN, D. L. & FROST, R. (2012). The effects of stretching exercises during rehearsals on string students self-reported perceptions of discomfort. Update - Applications of Research in Music Education, 30 (2), 7176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CREECH, A. & HALLAM, S. (2010). Interpersonal interaction within the violin teaching studio: The influence of interpersonal dynamics on outcomes for teachers. Psychology of Music 38 (4), 403421.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CRESWELL, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
DAWSON, W. J. (2006). Playing without pain: Strategies for the developing instrumentalist. Music Educators Journal, 93 (2), 3641.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FAREWELL, V. T. & ZAZA, C. (1997). Musicians’ playing-related musculoskeletal disorders: An examination of risk factors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 32 (3), 292300.Google Scholar
FOXMAN, I. & BURGEL, B. J. (2006). Musician health and safety: Preventing playing-related musculoskeletal disorders. Australian Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), 54 (7), 309316.Google ScholarPubMed
FRY, H. J. H. (1986). Incidence of overuse syndrome in the symphony orchestra. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 1 (2), 5155.Google Scholar
FRY, H. J. H. (1987). Prevalence of overuse (injury) syndrome in Australian music schools. British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 44 (1), 3540.Google ScholarPubMed
GAUNT, H. (2009). One-to-one tuition in a conservatoire: The perceptions of instrumental and vocal students. Psychology of Music, 38 (2), 178208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GAUNT, H. (2011). Understanding the one-on-one relationship in instrumental/vocal tuition in Higher Education: Comparing students and teacher perceptions. British Journal of Music Education, 28 (2), 159179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GINSBORG, J., KREUTZ, G., THOMAS, M. & WILLIAMON, A. (2009). Healthy behaviours in music and non-music performance students. Health Education, 109 (3), 242258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GUPTILL, C. A. (2011). The lived experience of working as a musician with an injury. Work, 40 (3), 269280.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
HAGGLUND, K. L. (1996). A comparison of the physical and mental practices of music students from the New England Conservatory and Boston University Music School. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 11 (3), 99107.Google Scholar
HILDEBRANDT, H. & NUBLING, M. (2004). Providing further training in musicophysiology to instrumental teachers: Do their professional and preprofessional students derive any benefit? Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 19 (2), 6269.Google Scholar
HOWE, M. J. A. & SLOBODA, J. A. (1991). Young musicians accounts of significant influences in their early lives 2. Teachers, practicing and performing. British Journal of Music Education 8 (1), 5363.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
IOANNOU, C. & ALTENMÜLLER, E. (2015). Approaches to and treatment strategies for playing-related pain problems among Czech instrumental music students. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 30 (3), 135142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
LEAVER, R., HARRIS, C. & PALMER, K. (2011). Musculoskeletal pain in elite professional musicians from British symphony orchestras. Occupational Medicine, 61 (8), 549555.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
LOPEZ, T. M. & MARTINEZ, J. F. (2013). Strategies to promote health and prevent musculoskeletal injuries in students from the High Conservatory of Music in Salamanca, Spain. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 28 (2), 100106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MCCREADY, S. & REID, D. (2007). The experience of occupational disruption among student musicians. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 22 (4), 140146.Google Scholar
MELZACK, R. (1975). The McGill Pain Questionnaire: Major properties and scoring methods. Pain, 1 (3), 277299.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
NAWROCKA, A., MYNARSKI, W., POWERSKA DIDKOWSKA, A., GRABARA, M. & GARBACIAK, W. (2014). Musculoskeletal pain among Polish music school students. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 29 (2), 6469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
PALAC, J. (2008). Promoting musical health, enhancing musical performance: Wellness for music students. Music Educators Journal, 94 (3), 1822.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
PARK, A., GUPTILL, C. & SUMSION, T. (2007). Why music majors pursue music despite the risk of playing-related injuries. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 22 (3), 8996.Google Scholar
PASCOE, R., LEONG, S., MACCALLUM, J., MACKINLAY, E., Marsh, K., Smith, B.,… Winterton, A. (2005). National review of school music education: Augmenting the diminished. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training.Google Scholar
PERSSON, R. (1996). Brilliant performers as teachers: A case study of commonsense teaching in a conesrvatoire setting. International Journal of Music Education, 28 (1), 2536.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
PRATT, R. R., JESSOP, S. G. & NIEMANN, B. K. (1992). Performance-related disorders among music majors at Brigham Young University. International Journal of Arts Medicine, 1 (2), 720.Google Scholar
QUARRIER, N. F. (1995). Survey of music teachers: Perceptions about music-related injuries. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 10 (3), 106110.Google Scholar
RARDIN, M. A. (2007). The effects of an injury prevention intervention on playing-related pain, tension, and attitudes in the high school string orchestra classroom. (Doctoral Dissertation). Available from ProQuest dissertations and theses database. (UMI no. 3291813).Google Scholar
RAUSCHER, F. H. & HINTON, S. C. (2011). Music instruction and its diverse extra-musical benefits. Music Perception, 29 (2), 215226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
RAYMOND, D. M., ROMEO, J. H. & KUMKE, K. V. (2012). A pilot study of occupational injury and illness experienced by classical musicians. Workplace Health and Safety, 60 (1), 1924.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
RICKERT, D. L. L., BARRETT, M. S. & ACKERMANN, B. J. (2013). Injury in the orchestral environment: Part I. The role of work organisation and psychosocial factors in injury risk. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 28 (4), 219229.Google ScholarPubMed
RICKERT, D. L. L., BARRETT, M. S. & ACKERMANN, B. J. (2014a). Injury in the orchestral environment: Part II. Organisational culture, behavioural norms, and attitudes to injury. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 29 (2), 94101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
RICKERT, D. L. L., BARRETT, M. S. & ACKERMANN, B. J. (2014b). Injury in the orchestral environment: Part III. The role of psychosocial factors in the experience of musicians undertaking rehabilitation. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 29 (3), 125135.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
RICKERT, D. L. L., BARRETT, M. S. & ACKERMANN, B. J. (2015). Are music students fit to play? A case study of health awareness and injury attitudes amongst tertiary student cellists. International Journal of Music Education, 33 (4), 426441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
RICKERT, D. L. L., BARRETT, M. S., HALAKI, M., DRISCOLL, T. & ACKERMANN, B. J. (2012). A study of right shoulder injury in collegiate and professional orchestra cellists: An investigation using questionnaires and physical assessment. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 27 (2), 6573.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SCHMIDT, C. P. (1989a) Applied music teaching behaviour as a function of selected personality variables. Journal of Research in Music Education, 37 (4), 258271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SCHMIDT, C. P. (1989b). Individual differences in perception of applied music teaching feedback. Psychology of Music, 17 (2), 110112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SCHMIDT, C. P. & STEPHANS, R. (1991). Locus of control and field dependence as factors in students evaluations of applied music instruction. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 73 (1), 131136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SMITH, W. (2008). Learning a music instrument in early childhood: What can we learn from professional musicians’ childhood memories? Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 33 (4): 5462.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SOUSA, C. M., MACHADO, J. P., GRETEN, H. J. & COIMBRA, D. (2016). Occupational diseases of professional orchestra musicians from Northern Portugal: A descriptive study. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 31 (1), 812.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
SPAHN, C., RICHTER, B. & ZSCHOCKE, I. (2002). Health attitudes, preventive behaviour, and playing-related health problems among music students. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 17 (1), 2228.Google Scholar
STEINMETZ, A., MOLLER, H., SEIDEL, W. & RIGOTTI, T. (2012). Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders in music students – associated musculoskeletal signs. European Journal of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine, 48 (4), 625633.Google ScholarPubMed
VINCI, S., SMITH, A. & RANELLI, S. (2015). Selected physical characteristics and playing-related musculoskeletal problems in adolescent string instrumentalists. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 30 (1), 143151.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
VOLTMER, E., SPAHN, C. & ZANDER, M. F. (2010). Health promotion and prevention in higher music education: Results of a longitudinal study. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 25 (2), 5465.Google Scholar
WATERS, M. (2018). Perceptions of playing-related discomfort/pain among tertiary string students: A longitudinal study. PhD diss., Griffith University.Google Scholar
WATERS, M. (2019). Perceptions of playing-related discomfort/pain among tertiary string students: A general overview of contributing factors. International Journal of Music Education, 37 (2), 226242. doi: 10.1177/0255761419833078CrossRefGoogle Scholar
WATERS, M. (2020). Perceptions of playing-related discomfort/pain among tertiary string students: A thematic analysis. Music Education Research, 22 (3), 257269. doi: 10.1080/14613808.2020.1765154CrossRefGoogle Scholar
WILLIAMON, A. & THOMPSON, S. (2006). Awareness and incidence of health problems among conservatoire students. Psychology of Music, 34 (4), 411430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
WILSON, I. M., DOHERTY, L. & MCKEOWN, L. (2014). Perceptions of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) in Irish traditional musicians: A focus group study. Work, 49 (4), 679688. doi: 10.3233/WOR-131737CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
WOOD, G. C. (2014). Prevalence, risk factors, and effects of performance-related medical disorders (PRMD) among tertiary-trained jazz pianists in Australia and the United States. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 29 (1), 3745.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
WU, S. J. (2007). Occupational risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in musicians: A systematic review. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 22 (2), 4351.Google Scholar
ZAZA, C. (1992). Playing-related health problems at a Canadian music school. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 7 (2), 4851.Google Scholar
ZAZA, C. (1993). Prevention of musicians’ playing-related health problems: Rationale and recommendations for action. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 8 (4), 117121.Google Scholar
ZAZA, C., CHARLES, C. & MUSZYNSKI, A. (1998). The meaning of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders to classical musicians. Social Science and Medicine, 47 (12), 20132023.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed