Wellness

​Welcome

Welcome to the FSMTA Musicians Wellness webpage! Our purpose is to serve you as a resource in promoting the health and wellbeing of musicians and music students.

Awareness of the importance of wellness among music students has been growing steadily over the last several decades. Studio music educators are in a strategic position to help promote the health and wellness of their students—but many teachers have not received instruction in these areas through traditional pedagogy. This webpage provides access to resources and training that can help to fill this gap, including links to resource lists, articles, webinars, and related websites. You will also find information about upcoming wellness events, both within and outside the state of Florida.
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It has been exciting to witness many different fields and disciplines coming together to help promote health and wellness in musicians and music students. We want to be one more link in this growing chain of support. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions, concerns, or ideas—we can accomplish much more together than alone.

Gail Berenson
Charles Turon
 
Co-chairs, FSMTA Wellness Committee
Our Mission Statement

The purpose of the FSMTA Wellness Committee is to serve as a resource to FSMTA in all aspects of musicians’ health. The committee shall
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  • Promote awareness of issues related to musicians’ health
  • Disseminate information related to musicians’ health to the membership of FSMTA
  • Provide educational opportunities for instruction in injury-preventive education and psychological health
  • Serve as a liaison with the MTNA Wellness Forum
  • Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and networking with individuals and organizations from related fields
  • Support District and Local affiliates in providing wellness-related educational opportunities to their members
  • Encourage District and Local affiliates to appoint wellness chairs
A Brief Background

Music Teachers National Association has taken a major leadership role in musicians’ health and related areas since the mid-1980’s. MTNA’s pioneering and ongoing commitment to musicians’ wellness and prevention education has resulted in the formation of the MTNA Wellness Forum in 2008, initiation in 2014 of a wellness track as part of pre-conference Pedagogy Saturdays, establishment of a series of articles on musicians’ health in The American Music Teacher beginning in 2014, development of online resources on the MTNA website, and numerous other initiatives.

The MTNA Position Statement on Musician’s Wellness, Health in Music Teaching, states “Music teachers are the primary channels for changing how music is taught and played. In the effort to reduce performance injuries and encourage good auditory, physical and emotional health, music teachers need to become substantially involved in injury prevention by teaching health-conscious music-related practices to students.”

Many state affiliates, including FSMTA, are actively involved in implementing this mandate from MTNA to assist music teachers in promoting health in music making. State conferences have frequently featured numerous workshops on health-related topics, and both district and local affiliates have been engaged in similar efforts. The formation of the FSMTA Wellness Committee marks a significant step forward in this progression. 
Online Resources:​
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  • ISME (International Society for Music Education) Musicians’ Health and Wellness Special Interest Group - Website; Facebook page
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Florida Events

  • February 8, 2020: Music and Medicine Symposium - Bringing Communities Together: Arts, Health & Wellness Awareness - Daytona Beach, Florida 
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  • March 27-29. 2020: USF/PAMA 2020 - Inspiring Health in the Arts — Tampa, FL

Events Outside Florida

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