Disclaimer: The information included in this section of the webpage is collated to help musicians find relevant resources and support relating to how to promote their health and wellness. While we strive to ensure quality the inclusion of material on this page should not be construed as endorsement or recommendation by the University of York Department of Music. Please inform Dr Naomi Norton (MHW Coordinator) if you identify a problem with any of the information included and seek medical advice if you experience ill health.
BAPAM is a unique medical charity. Their mission is to enable student and professional performing artists throughout the UK to achieve and maintain optimal health for performing their art and participating in cultural life. They do this through direct provision of health assessments and information to individual performers in clinics and through broader education, training and dissemination of knowledge about best practice in performing arts medicine.
For more information:
- Visit the BAPAM website
- Helpline: +44 (0)207 404 8444
The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) hosts a directory of Performing Arts medicine health practitioners and specialists who have received training relating to the needs of performing artists. For more information about the BAPAM Directory see here: https://www.bapam.org.uk/practitionerdb/search.php.
If you have contact with any healthcare practitioners who work in York or surrounding areas and who has proven to be helpful when working with musicians it would be valuable to establish contact with them. If you would like to forward contact details for relevant individuals or organisations please ask their permission first then contact Naomi with relevant information (naomi.norton@york.ac.uk).
Allegro Optical (musician-specialist opticians registered with BAPAM
Musicians are commonly affected by psychological, vocal, hearing, musculoskeletal and eye-related health concerns and, as many of these problems are preventable, behaviour is likely to play a large part in promoting healthy and sustainable engagement with music. This section includes a collated list of public access resources relating to these topics. There is also a considerable amount of peer-reviewed literature published about these topics but it is rarely freely available other than through institutions and so has not been included in this list: if you are interested in any of these topics please contact Naomi for more information.
One of the key challenges for musicians is to apply in practice information relating to promoting health and wellness. The following resources provide insights into why changing health-related behaviour is so difficult and how that can be addressed for the general population and musicians in particular.
This is a relatively new area of research and there are limited resources and publications available but research conducted so far indicates that eye problems are common among musicians and that it is important to consider this aspect of musical health. We are lucky to have one of the only specialist eye clinics for musicians in the UK relatively local to us in York: Allegro Optical are registered on BAPAM’s directory of practitioners. You may also find useful tips in the blog posts and video below:
As the 2021 lockdown eases you may be contemplating with excitement, and possibly some trepidation, a return to face-to-face musical activities such as performing, rehearsing, teaching, conducting, community music, sound recording, and many more such diversions and pursuits. As we move through this transition period it is vital to take things steady and remember that this is likely to be quite a shock (mental and physical) to the system. If you have had COVID19 then you may need to take extra steps to allow your body to recover and adjust to the activities that you took part in previously. You can take steps to prepare yourself and also consider the needs and challenges of other musicians you work with (e.g. as an educator or conductor) to make the transition more successful and positive for everyone. The following articles provide practical advice and guidance on how to do that:
BAPAM blog: When the curtain goes up again: Building our fitness to perform (March, 2021)
The Strad: Easing back into performance post Covid-19 (April, 2021)
BAPAM blog: Returning to work in the performing arts after having COVID-19 (April, 2021)
Advice, guidance, research, and support relating to COVID19 are fast changing and it is challenging to keep up with developments. In this section we have gathered together some of the resources relating to COVID19 that may be of interest, but are aware that there may be many more. If you know of useful resources that could be added to this list please contact Naomi.