CEMPE aimed to stimulate the development of a healthy and sustainable learning culture in higher music education and increase the awareness and knowledge of music students and musicians' health and well-being
-> Hear the episode on Musicians' health from Konservatoriumspodden (in Norwegian)
Musicians’ health was part of CEMPE’s initial application through an emphasis on healthy practice habits. In the first center period, several performance teachers explored methods such as Alexander Technique, Timani, Feldenkrais or Yoga as supplementary training for their students. Taking care of one’s physique is crucial for music students and musicians, as intensive practicing and performing at a high level is demanding for the body.
Musicians' mental health
The mental health of music students entered the scene in the second period of CEMPE, alongside a gradual increased focus on health and wellbeing in society at large. According to research and recent surveys, musicians and music students appear to have particular challenges when it comes to mental health, due to issues such as continuous exposure and competition in the field, difficulty with work–life balance, strain injuries and economic worries. These concerns only increased during the covid-19 pandemic, when music students weren’t allowed to meet and practice, and where jobs for musicians became non-existent for a long period.
In the autumn of 2020, the two newly appointed student partners of CEMPE, suggested doing a seminar on musicians’ mental health. The seminar was realised in April 2021, as the first seminar at the Norwegian Academy of Music to address mental health issues for music students and musicians. One of the many rememberable moments at the seminar was a panel of musicians openly discussing the challenges they felt on a personal level as musicians, touching on issues such as continuosly being evaluated, making comparions with peers, tackling rejections, as well as the deep meaning and joy they felt for their profession. We believe this seminar had a significant impact on the student who attended, and we find that discussions around mental health are more present and vivid today compared to previously.
A cultural perspective on health
Starting with this seminar, CEMPE has emphasised a broad understanding of mental health inside higher music education, which needs to be tackled as a cultural problem, and not left to the individuals alone. It has been important for us to open up the conversation around mental health and the specific challenges musicians face. Measures to do this have been to build knowledge, facilitate discussion forums, offer lectures or by inviting alumni to talk about the ups and downs of being a musician. CEMPE has also been invited to discuss NMH's strategy for musicians' health and the action plan.
-> Read more about CEMPE's work on musicians' health
MHPC22
In September 2022, NMH and CEMPE hosted a large, international conference on Musicians’ and performing artists' health and performance. These three days helped move the field forward, by bringing together teachers, students, researchers, practitioners, performers, artists and management for a wide array of presentations highlighting health from various perspectives.
