<p> Contemporary commercial music (CCM) singers may be at a high risk for voice damage due to their increased vocal demands and the chronic exposure to chemical irritants associated with unhealthy lifestyle choices. Continuous mechanical damage, confounded with chemical trauma, has detrimental effects on the biomechanical properties of the vocal folds. Prior research on CCM singers has been limited, with efforts focused on physiologic aspects of voice production. The objective of the study was to report on the lifestyle choices of CCM singers and evaluate their vocal abilities according to healthy vs. unhealthy profile status via acoustic analyses as well as auditory perceptual assessments. The second objective was to evaluate if there were differences in lung volume associated with healthy vs. unhealthy lifestyle profiles. </p><p> Thirteen CCM singers participated in the study where they were assigned to either a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle vocal profile. Acoustic analyses of sound pressure level (SPL), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), fundamental frequency (F0), and jitter/shimmer were collected during a prolonged singing /i/ in isolation as well as a singing /i/ in context of the &ldquo;Star Spangled Banner&rdquo; at three different vocal intensities <i>(low, comfortable, high)</i>. Lung volume was recorded via a vital capacity maneuver. Voice recordings were then rated via an auditory perceptual assessment (CAPE-V). Results were compared with a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. </p><p> Differences with regard to group trends were observed across all dependent measures. SNR median values for unhealthy singers were significantly lower in both singing tasks during <i>low</i> vocal intensity (p&lt;0.05), with differences approaching significance found during prolonged singing /i/ in isolation at <i>comfortable</i> vocal intensity (p&lt;0.10). F0 analysis noted significantly lower median values for unhealthy singers during isolated /i/ productions at <i>low</i> vocal intensity (p&lt;0.05). Jitter analysis among unhealthy singers showed significantly higher median values during isolated /i/ productions at <i>comfortable</i> vocal intensity (p&lt;0.05), with differences approaching significance found during singing /i/ in context at <i>low</i> vocal intensity (p&lt;0.10). Shimmer analysis among unhealthy singers showed significantly higher median values during isolated /i/ productions at low and comfortable vocal intensity (p&lt;0.05), with differences approaching significance found during singing /i/ in context at low vocal intensity (p&lt;0.10). Unhealthy singers showed lower vital capacity as compared to healthy singers, however results were nonsignificant (p>0.05). Auditory perceptual assessment of voice was perceived to be essentially normal for all participants regardless of healthy versus unhealthy profile status. </p><p> The findings provide a descriptive profile of contemporary commercial music singers and contribute to the existing literature on the harmful effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on voice production. Unhealthy singers displayed significant acoustic differences most often observed in <i>low</i> vocal intensity conditions, which suggest a decreased vocal ability. This may be explained by their repeated exposure to chemical irritants (i.e. cigarette smoke) and possible phonotrauma, causing changes in the biomechanical properties of the vocal folds. Given the disparity between acoustic measures and auditory perceptual assessment, it was concluded that the biomechanical changes might be in the early onset and suggest future voice difficulties.</p>

Occupational burnout is a concern to the health and longevity of clergy and musician careers. However, no known study has assessed occupational burnout among pastoral musicians. A literature review revealed pastoral musicians anecdotally experienced multi-tasking, workplace politics, inequality of workload, competing liturgical styles, lack of job security, lack of financial security, and lack of rest, among other indicators of burnout. Therefore, the aims of this paper were to: (1) describe pastoral musicians as a population; (2) identify the prevalence rate of burnout among pastoral musicians; (3) investigate the relationship between pastoral musicians' burnout and religious coping; and (4) investigate the relationships between pastoral musicians' burnout and depression, anxiety, and stress. In 2021, an online questionnaire was designed to assess burnout among pastoral musicians. Dissemination techniques included emails to members of the Hymn Society of North America and via social media to collect data from pastoral music directors in the United States of America. The survey yielded n = 1,050 respondents: 83.8% experienced one or more symptoms of burnout (41.3% with low efficacy; 12.4% with high emotional exhaustion; 21.3% with high cynicism; 8.8% with burnout). Ineffectiveness was positively correlated with negative religious coping. Emotional exhaustion and cynicism were positively correlated with negative religious coping. COVID-19 affected 91.3% (n = 936) of pastoral musicians. This study contributed quantitative and qualitative analysis to pastoral musician research. Findings demonstrate burnout is prevalent among American pastoral musicians.

Professional orchestral string musicians represent a population at risk for performance-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD). Research literature suggests the influence of stress in the incidence of work-related and performance-related musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate the role of holistic health (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social) and stress management in the prevention of PRMDs in professional orchestral string musicians. Five musicians representing different instruments, genders, and PRMD histories were recruited and sorted from a single professional orchestra in Canada. This study combined quantitative data - in the form of basic demographic information and a Health and Well-being Assessment - with qualitative interview data. This combined data provided a focused, in-depth view of typical instances in the professional orchestral string population. The musicians reported a variety of occupational and non-occupational risk factors, as well as a range of intrinsic risk factors. They also reported a variety of PRMD prevention strategies and lifestyle behaviours. The musicians in this study provide evidence that stress may play a mediating role in PRMDs and that the management of biomechanical and psychosocial stressors through holistic health practices may positively influence the incidence, severity, and treatment of PRMDs in orchestral string musicians. This dissertation recommends that increased awareness and education in holistic health practices be encouraged for the purpose of improved PRMD prevention in professional orchestral string musicians.

Professional orchestral string musicians represent a population at risk for performance-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD). Research literature suggests the influence of stress in the incidence of work-related and performance-related musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate the role of holistic health (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social) and stress management in the prevention of PRMDs in professional orchestral string musicians. Five musicians representing different instruments, genders, and PRMD histories were recruited and sorted from a single professional orchestra in Canada. This study combined quantitative data - in the form of basic demographic information and a Health and Well-being Assessment - with qualitative interview data. This combined data provided a focused, in-depth view of typical instances in the professional orchestral string population. The musicians reported a variety of occupational and non-occupational risk factors, as well as a range of intrinsic risk factors. They also reported a variety of PRMD prevention strategies and lifestyle behaviours. The musicians in this study provide evidence that stress may play a mediating role in PRMDs and that the management of biomechanical and psychosocial stressors through holistic health practices may positively influence the incidence, severity, and treatment of PRMDs in orchestral string musicians. This dissertation recommends that increased awareness and education in holistic health practices be encouraged for the purpose of improved PRMD prevention in professional orchestral string musicians.

This study assessed music educators' health literacy, musician health literacy, and intentions to teach the health-related Fine Arts TEKS in ensembles. An online survey was developed using the integrated behavior model, Newest Vital Sign (NVS), and Musician Health Literacy Questionnaire (MHL-Q19). Texas music educators who taught secondary band, choir, or orchestra were recruited via email and social media. Results: This survey yielded N = 207 respondents, with 43%, 29%, 14.5%, and 13.5% teaching band, choir, orchestra, and multiple ensembles, respectively. Most participants (67.6%) demonstrated adequate health literacy by answering at least four items correctly on the NVS. Attitude (p =.47) and personal agency (p =.30) were significant predictors of behavioral intention, while perceived norm was not (R2 =.484). Including NVS total score and MHL-Q19 total score in the model showed that while both factors improved the model (ΔR2=.038), only NVS total score was significant (p =.26) in predicting behavioral intention. Music educators in this study had adequate health literacy, which may contribute to their intentions to teach health concepts in ensembles. However, future efforts to improve these intentions should focus on bolstering perceived norms and personal agency by providing music educators with opportunities to take charge of implementing these concepts in their classrooms while showing that other stakeholders (i.e., campus administration, parents of students, and music educator colleagues) are also invested in presenting health concepts to student-musicians.

This study conducted the first nationwide epidemiological survey to investigate the effects of dietary fat, fruit, and vegetable intake on the health of student musicians in the United States. Despite the recognized importance of nutrition in other performance fields, such as athletics, the relationship between diet and health in musicians has not been rigorously explored until now. The survey assessed dietary intake, body mass index (BMI), mood states via the DASS-21, engagement with healthcare, nutritional knowledge, and mental health history among 641 music majors. Key findings include higher fat intake and BMI predicted higher DASS-21 total scores as well as each separate sub-score for depression, anxiety, and stress; a significantly lower mean BMI in the study group compared to the general U.S. college student population; and mixed results regarding healthcare engagement and its relation to diet and BMI, suggesting the need for a more suitable model for analysis. Notably, sources of nutritional knowledge and barriers to healthy eating significantly influenced diet quality, indicating potential misinformation about fat consumption and the positive impact of accessible healthy foods on diet quality. Additionally, mental health diagnoses were associated with lower fat and fruit/vegetable scores but not BMI. These results underscore the potential negative impact of dietary habits on mental health among music majors and highlight a widespread misunderstanding of what constitutes a healthy diet. Future research should refine dietary assessments and incorporate biometric data, while music education institutions are urged to include nutrition education in their curricula, emphasizing the role of diet in overall musician wellness.

This research is the first known large-scale, instrument-specific, epidemiological study on the occupational health problems of violists. An online survey was developed based on a biopsychosocial framework to assess demographics, pain, musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal problems, music performance anxiety, and musician identity. Additionally, this is the first study known to investigate violists' perceptions and attitudes regarding viola jokes and negative stereotypes associated with viola players and their effects on violists' occupational health. Validated tools used to measure violists' health problems included the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the Musician's Identity Measurement Scale (MIMS). Results: This survey yielded a cohort N = 324 that was diverse in age, education, and professional involvement. The overall prevalence for violists that experienced musculoskeletal pain in the past year was 79%. For violists in pain, 51% reported being reluctant to inform others of their playing-related pain. In the past year, 89% of violists experienced music performance anxiety. 49% of violists reported having negative thoughts about viola jokes, with 23% indicating they experience music performance anxiety because of viola jokes. The prevalence rates for non-musculoskeletal problems, perceived factors that influence pain, and the influence of viola jokes suggest that high levels of biopsychosocial stressors are often associated with the classical music genre and playing the viola. The results from this research can be used to enhance music teacher-training programs, inform performance practice and viola pedagogy, and educate clinicians about the health risks of playing the viola.