If you peek into one of Professor James听Brody鈥檚 classes, you鈥檇 likely observe students wandering around a mirrored room, lying flat on the floor in silence or performing tai chi-like movements.听
An onlooker may think they鈥檝e entered a holistic yoga retreat. But for student musicians at CU 麻豆影院, these exercises are an important听investment in their health, careers and journey to representing the听next generation of professionals in the field.听
As part of the College of Music's approach to developing multiskilled, multifacted universal musicians, the Musicians' Wellness Program (MWP) provides students with a variety of strategies听and information to help them achieve peak performance, prevent injury and cultivate robust mental health throughout their careers鈥nd overall听lives.听
鈥淲e strive to build a strong physical and mental health foundation for our students so they can excel in their professional careers and pass that knowledge on to future generations,鈥� said Brody, who founded the MWP in 2003 and continues to serve as the program鈥檚 director.听
Professor James听Brody instructs a student-musician on clarinet.
According to estimates, 鈥嬧�嬏齢ave experienced stress, anxiety and/or depression in relation to their music creation, and as many as suffer from playing-related pain or injuries due to improper form or posture due to misuse or overuse.听
To curb those trends, the MWP offers free mental health services tailored to the needs of music students alongside optional courses that teach somatic practices to prevent injuries and optimize capability.
鈥淲e want students, especially those going into music education fields, to take this information, deliver it to their younger students and change the culture of the industry,鈥� said Brody.听鈥淚t's critically important that sound somatic information be provided to young musicians at the outset of their experience.鈥�
Brody's core approach is in the realm of physical health, where he teaches his students the 鈥攁n alternative therapy commonly used among performing artists and athletes听that aims to prevent injury by focusing on mind-body awareness.听
Students learn by observing and adjusting their posture in the mirror, engaging in and performing various exercises to enhance coordination and maximize potential, including some simplified tai chi movements.听
Brody (left) and Tomatz (right) at the Norwegian Academy of Music's Musicians' and Performing Artists' Health and Performance conference听last fall, where they co-presented on an integrative approach to improving performer wellness and success.
鈥淭he [Alexander] Technique is an effective tool听that students can immediately employ on their journey to musical mastery,鈥� said Brody. 鈥淲hen combined with a strong mental health support system,听our program can provide students with the strategies they need to succeed in the field of their choice鈥攚hether it's music education, performance or even outside of the industry.鈥�
The pursuit of music听
The life of a student-musician is not for the faint of heart. Not only do many students cope with the daily pressure to perform in classes, recitals and auditions, they also may experience the anxiety that comes with an uncertain future in a highly competitive industry.听
No one knows this better than Matt Tomatz, who trained as a trumpet player and educator before becoming a psychotherapist with CU鈥檚 Counseling and Psychiatric Services in 2008.听
鈥淭he pursuit of music is dynamic, exciting and bold, but that path can also be very complicated,鈥� he said. 鈥淭herapy can help students work through those pressures.鈥�
As the embedded psychotherapist from CAPS to the College of Music, Tomatz offers workshops, individualized therapy and engages with staff and faculty to create a positive environment for students. He also leads group therapy sessions, called Developing the Whole Musician,听which focus on听managing performance anxiety, developing confidence听and alleviating emotional blocks to success.
Around 160 students participate in MWP offerings each year, and more than 130 music students accessed Counseling and Psychiatric Services in the past academic year.听
By leveraging the mental health resources the MWP provides, Tomatz says students can be more expressive in their musicianship, personal relationships and overall lives.听
鈥淭eaching student-musicians these mental health strategies before they enter the professional industry creates a foundation of strength, resilience and confidence,鈥� said Tomatz.听
