Swimming course for lifelong healthy music-making

The mallets ensemble from the Oberer Sempachersee music school (conducted by Martina Balz) provided a harmonious introduction to the conference: children and young people performed three pieces of music in a largely self-organized and highly convincing manner - fulfilling activity, whether professionally or in their free time, just as all musicians wish for the rest of their lives. In the broadest sense, the conference was about healthy performance enhancement and happy music-making thanks to prevention. The location of the meeting was also fitting: the audience, including opinion leaders from the music sector and Pia Bucher, the founder of Swissmedmusica (SMM), sat on blue-cushioned seats in the long-drained pool of Lucerne's Neubad. In the background of the performers were remnants of the active swimming pool, which could certainly be understood symbolically: the diving tower as an image for the personal responsibility to make use of the existing advisory services, and the lifebuoy for intelligent health planning, which can help to ensure lifelong enjoyment of music-making.

According to the organizers, the "bathing guests" who turned up in "surprisingly large numbers" were able to obtain information at the table fair. In addition to many flyers on various offers, previous SMM conference reports were available, which celebrated an anniversary this year with its 20th symposium. Isabelle Freymond, actress, director and voice artist, moderated the event organized by SMM President Wolfgang Böhler and his team. "National Health Day Music". In a professional and charming manner, she ensured smooth transitions and called the guests back from the breaks to "swimming lessons".

Lesson 1 with Christoph Reich:
Targeted self-management as a key factor for prevention and therapy

The specialist in sports medicine, manual medicine and rheumatology concluded his presentation with the following conclusion:

• An overload problem is first and foremost the result of increasing the load too quickly and/or too selectively.
• Mechanical and static factors influence the tolerance reserve. They must be determined and adjusted.
• A structured load build-up without delayed irritation on the other day is the key to successful treatment - i.e. after "Bank account model".

Christoph Reich runs a practice blog with lots of information on various pain problems: https://www.christophreich.ch

Lesson 2 with Cinzia Cruder (in English):
In Tune, not in Pain! - Profiling, preventing, and managing playing-related musculoskeletal disorders among musicians

The musician and health researcher presented the successfully introduced "Health Module" at the Scuola universitaria di Musica of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana. She gave insights into her work in the field of Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PRMDs) and the research project Rismus - Risk of music students.

Further projects:

• MUST: Muscle Stiffness among musicians with and without playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (together with the Department of "Health" at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana)
• Long-term study with all music academies in Switzerland on the development of chronic pain caused by music-making (A longitudinal investigation of risk factors for PRMD chronicity)

Lesson 3 with Dawn Rose (in English):
Empowering Musicians - a program to promote health and well-being in music studies

Dawn Rose, Professor at the Lucerne School of Music, gave an overview of the research that has been ongoing for five years on the subject of "Musician's Health and Wellbeing" or "Empowering Musicians".

Five conclusions from the presentation:

• Students, together with their institution, have a shared responsibility for their well-being.
• A holistic approach that takes environmental and social aspects into account is important.
• The term "success" must be redefined: Musicians must be prepared as "multi-professionals" and recognized as "agents of change".
• "Belief systems" need to be challenged, especially ideas about "playing through pain", talent and seeking help.
• A cultural shift is needed to support students and a holistic approach is needed to develop a culture of care for future musicians.

Lesson 4 with Gerhard Wolters:
Health awareness in music lessons

The musician and music school director presented his self-developed MDU method as a model for healthy, relaxed, student-oriented music learning.

12 Dimensions see https://www.mdu.ch/beratung-coaching/gesunder-unterricht (MDU&Health tile)

Lesson 5:
Workshops with Pascal Widmer (Feldenkrais) or Marjan Steenbeek and Véronique Putzi (physiotherapy and occupational therapy)

Lesson 6
Chamber music from the Amazon with Jessica Sicsu, flute, Michell Pereira, percussion, and André von Steiger Paiva de Figueiredo, guitar

The ensemble was in the fall in the Switzerland on tour.

Lesson 7 with :
Prevention and Musical Excellence - Impulses from neuroscience

The singer, trumpeter and Specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy gave an overview of important contributions from various experts on brain research and formulated the following "interim conclusion on good music teaching":

Good teaching

• ... does not automatically lead to musical excellence.
• ... requires teachers who are competent, credible, empathetic and approachable.
• ... is the result of a successful relationship between teacher and pupils.
• ... gives learners the expertise for learning. This strengthens intrinsicity.
• ... takes into account the individual motivational situation at the individual point in time.
• ... integrates the basic needs of autonomy and belonging.
• Learning takes time and repetition.
• When musical excellence is the goal, it's exhausting.

Lesson 8:
Panel discussion with Wolfgang Böhler, Nicole Freymond, Philippe Krüttli, Christian Braun, Peer Abilgaard, Gerhard Wolters
Music education in transition - a major challenge for health management

There wasn't much time left at the end. The question of how the The health of music students in times of online lessons and independent learning could not be discussed in depth. However, it is still on the table and should lead to further discussions that are open to all stakeholders.

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Members of Swissmedmusica can find documents on the Health Day in the protected area at https://swissmedmusica.ch. New members are very welcome. Contact: sekretariat@swissmedmusica.ch