Wellness
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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. 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
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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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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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Florida Events
- Click here for information on Optimizing Mind and Body Balance Through a Holistic Arts and Wellness Virtual Training Program offered through Bethune-Cookman College. CEU credits available. For further information, contact Rose Grace at gracer@cookman.edu. Informational Flyer.
Events Outside Florida
- March 13, 2021: MTNA Pedagogy Saturday, Wellness Track called “Empowering Musicians: Leading a Healthy and Music-Filled Life - Enduring Challenges and Coming Through Stronger Than Before” (Schedule and Session descriptions found here.)