Medical doctor and pianist, Dr Hara Trouli, is looking for advanced students and professional pianists to take part in this project. Dr Trouli explains:

I am a medical doctor and a pianist, currently also a student of the first Masters Degree on Performing Arts Medicine at University College London that was developed by BAPAM (British Association of Performing Arts Medicine) in collaboration with the Royal College of Music and Trinity Laban.  I am conducting research on pianists’ arm tension and other painful conditions under the supervision of Professor Howard Bird who is a UK specialist in performers’ health.

We need to see advanced students or professional pianists who have suffered at some point a medical or painful condition (either diagnosed or not) of the upper limb or the cervical spine (hands, wrist, arms or neck) and analyse their piano playing through a triple method of video/ MIDI/ Electromyography.

The idea is to see whether these conditions show signs on the graphs of muscle tension in the arms and neck (electromyography), velocity, force and articulation of piano playing (MIDI) and on postural images of the hand and arm (video). We are aiming to bridge the technical pianistic accomplishment with the clinical history and to measure parameters that would be reproducible and available to both the pianists and the doctors for evaluation. We are also trying to see whether these parameters can be used in monitoring the progress of the pianist during recovery from a painful condition or an injury, and to also enable the pianist to use this method as biofeedback when they re-train.

The assessment of each pianist lasts 2 hours, it takes place in a studio in North London and travel expenses are covered up to £10.00.   Full information and consent sheets will be given to you before your assessment. We would need to see you in April or May and appointments can be made for any weekday or the weekends. We will also be pleased to share the results of your assessment with you and send you a full report of the recorded images. All information that we will receive from you is kept strictly confidential.

Please contact Dr Trouli directly if you’d like to get involved: haratrouli@googlemail.com  

Photo by David Denicolò

BAPAM Newsletter April 2012

Postgraduate UCL student, Efthalia Paleokastriti, is looking for classical and acoustic guitarists for her study.

Efthalia believes that guitarists taking part will benefit from the insights gained: “You will have the opportunity to test your guitar playing using different support tools and you may decide which is better for you. Moreover, you may be more informed about the “right” posture of the body while holding the guitar and about ergonomic playing”.

Efthalia explains the project and how you can get involved:

Dear Guitarist,

I am investigating functional scoliosis in guitarists using different guitar support tools.

This involves a temporary change of spinal curvature caused by a provocative factor – in this case, playing the guitar.

I am looking for guitarists to participate in the research project. Specifically, classical or acoustic guitarists (who use a footstool or ergo play guitar support equipment) and who are professionals or experienced guitar players (3 years or more).

The research includes:

1. answering an anonymous questionnaire (questions about guitar playing habits/pain occurrence/use of guitar support tools).
2. arrangement of a meeting in which we will take photos of your back while you hold the guitar and use guitar tools.

Participating in this research will be beneficial for you because you will learn more about ergonomic playing and you will try different guitar support equipment.

Participation is voluntary and you can leave the research at any time. If you agree to participate in the study, you will be given a detailed information sheet and a consent form. If you have any queries about our project do not hesitate to contact me.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Please read the Information Sheet which includes a detailed description of the project.

And please complete and return the Anonymous Questionnaire – you can answer it even if you decide not to participate in the measurement part of the research.

Contact details: EFTHALIA PALAIOKASTRITI. Email: thaliapaleo@gmail.com

Note: This research project is not being conducted by BAPAM. The project has official ethics approval from UCL (University College of London) and is covered by UCL’s  data protection protocol.

Sensory Motor Release (GP/Physio)

Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation of Disabled, Elderly and Multi-talented Performers (Rheumatologist)

Chronic Pain (Rheumatologist)

Ageing and Performance Q&A with Gabrielle Hamilton (actor), Fergus Early (dancer) and Catherine Butler Smith (musician)

Plus, performing arts medicine practitioners can learn from and with professional musicians in two practical sessions with violinist (and Alexander Technique teacher), Ron Colyer, and clarinettist, Andrew Roberts.

Click here to download the programme

Please note this event is now fully booked.

Attendees should come to the main reception of:

Franklin-Wilkins Building
Stamford Street
London
SE1 9NH

Venue information: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/about/campuses/waterloo.html

The Diploma course will consist of 120 credits in research methods, ethics, performance physiology, anatomy and psychology and modules in medicine related to instrumental musicians, dancers, singers and actors.  The MSc will involve a further 60 credits and a research project in one of the subspecialties of music, dance and voice – BAPAM and UCL are currently establishing relationships with collaborating institutions (such as the Royal College of Music) to help deliver the programme.

The course will be available full-time (one year for the diploma) or part-time (two years).  It will be competitively priced and we are actively working on an affordable costing.  The anticipated start date is September 2011.

This is an exciting development in a growing field, both in the UK and internationally.  It will be the only such medical course available in the UK and we hope it will enable us to consolidate and spread experience throughout the country commensurate to the current high (but ad hoc) standing of Performing Arts Medicine in Britain.

Further information and updates will be posted on this website as they become available.   If you wish to be advised as to progress, please register your possible interest by emailing admin@bapam.org.uk, entitling your email ‘PAM Expression of Interest’.