February 27th, 2012
Friday March 16th: Neurology advisor to BAPAM (and keen musician!), Dr Mark Edwards, will take part in The Performing Brain, a fun, interactive evening presented by the Science team at the British Library and UCL Neuroscience, involving researchers from the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and the UCL Institute of Neurology.
Have you ever wondered how a ballerina learns to pirouette? Or how musicians learn their art? Or even what happens to your own brain when you learn a new skill?
Join neuroscientists, musicians and dancers as together we explore how fantastically plastic your brain is, giving you the extraordinary ability to adapt and learn throughout your life.
More information and tickets here.
Tags: Brain, Dancers, Dystonia, Focal Dystonia, medical research, Musicians, Neuroscience, Performance, Playing Technique, Psychology, Research
Posted in Dancers, Education, Musicians, Performers, Playing Technique, Research, Talks and lectures | No Comments »
February 21st, 2012
Guitarists, are you interested in taking part in research into guitar support tools and the curvature of your spine while playing?
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:
- answering an anonymous questionnaire (questions about guitar playing habits/pain occurrence/use of guitar support tools).
- 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.
Tags: ergo play, Guitar, guitarists, Health, medical research, Performing Arts Medicine, Playing Technique, posture, Research
Posted in Diploma/MSc, MSc/Diploma in Performing Arts Medicine, Musicians, Performers, Playing Technique, Practitioner Training, Research | No Comments »
February 1st, 2012
Our current Newsletter is available to download in pdf format here:
BAPAM Newsletter February 2012
Tags: Courses / Training, Focal Dystonia, Fundraising, Guitar, Health, medical research, Musicians, Performing Arts Medicine, Professional Development, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Research, Stage Fright
Posted in Actors, Courses / Training, Dancers, Fundraising, MSc/Diploma in Performing Arts Medicine, Musicians, Newsletters, Performers, Practitioner Training, Professional Development, Psycho-social, Publications, Research, Singers | No Comments »
January 30th, 2012
The next British Voice Association study day, at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, focuses on the effects of ageing on the voice and the vocal problems associated with ageing. Surgical, voice therapy and singing solutions will be discussed.
Follow the link for detailed information and to book your place:
“Weak, Wobbly or Working?” The Multidisciplinary Management of the Ageing Voice
Sunday 25th March, 2012 11.30am – 5.15pm
Speakers include:
•Sue Anderson (Singing Teacher and Researcher)
•Phil Jones (Consultant Otolaryngologist)
•Liz McNaughton (Specialist in the Singing and Speaking Voice)
•Jane Shaw (Voice Specialist Speech and Language Therapist)
•Mark Watson (Consultant Otolaryngologist)
Tags: Courses / Training, Education, Health, Performing Arts Medicine, Professional Development, Professional Voice Users, Singers, Speech and Language Therapy, Vocal Health, Voice Coaching
Posted in Actors, Courses / Training, Education, Practitioner Training, Professional Development, Singers, Singing Technique, Talks and lectures, Voice | No Comments »
January 4th, 2012
Are you a musician with focal hand dystonia?
An NHS team co-ordinated by Dr Mark Edwards (who is also Neurology Advisor to BAPAM) is conducting research into musicians’ dystonia. A number of exciting projects with the aims of better understanding this condition, and hopefully developing new treatments, are currently running.
The team are recruiting enthusiastic musicians for a retraining programme to help establish the most effective treatment strategy. The studies will be conducted at the Institute of Neurology in Queen Square, London which is a leading UK establishment in dystonia research. The work is co-ordinated by Senior Lecturer Dr Mark J Edwards and two PhD students, Dr Anna Sadnicka and Dr Panagiotis Kassavetis. At this time the team is specifically recruiting musicians with dystonia affecting the hand.
If you have this form of dystonia and are interested in taking part in studies (or if you are healthy and wish to register as a healthy volunteer) or have further questions please contact: Dr Mark Edwards, Sobell Department, 33 Queen Square, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG.
Or email Dr Edwards via: m.j.edwards@ucl.ac.uk.
Note: BAPAM is not involved with organising or overseeing this project.
Tags: Dystonia, Focal Dystonia, Health, medical research, Musicians, NHS Research, Rehabilitation
Posted in Musicians, Performers, Research | No Comments »
January 4th, 2012
Physiotherapist and former professional horn player, Patrice Berque, has been awarded the Susanne Klein-Vogelbach Special Award 2011 for his paper, A combination of constraint-induced therapy and motor control retraining and motor control retraining in the treatment of focal hand dystonia in musicians (Medical Problems of Performing Artists, vol.25:149-161).
The prize is awarded to researchers in neuroscience, orthopaedics, and anatomy whose work is oriented to a better understanding of the underlying principles of human movement and its rehabilitation, with the Special Award being granted to excellent papers from the field of physiotherapy. Movement in this context is not restricted to locomotion, rather it covers all kinds of muscular-induced human movement including mime and music. This is only the third time the Special Award has been given (it was previously won in 2004 and 2010).
Medical practitioners involved in research may be interested in applying for the award in future years. There are 2 prizes: the Main Award, endowed with (Swiss Francs) CHF 10,000 and the Special Award, endowed with CHF 2,000. The submission deadline for this year’s prize is 30 September 2012. Click here for more detailed information (Word doc).
Tags: Dystonia, Focal Dystonia, medical research, Musicians, Neurology, Performing Arts Medicine, Physiotherapy, Publications
Posted in Musicians, Performers, Publications, Research | No Comments »
November 16th, 2011
We had a fantastic response to our request for help with Danica Giles’ Stage Fright and Well-being Survey. Huge thanks to all the performers who took part – 260 in all, of whom 167 were BAPAM patients!
This summary of the results of the study contains some demographic information on the participants, followed by brief explanations of the assumptions tested and the results.
The last part contains the interpretation of the results. Danica has tried to turn the rather theoretical findings into as many practical tips as possible and has also referred to previous research.
If you are not interested in all the details, just skip to the very last page with a summary of all
recovery tips!
Download the results here.
Tags: Actors, Dancers, Health, Musicians, performance anxiety, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Research, Singers, Stage Fright, Stress
Posted in Actors, Dancers, Musicians, Performers, Psycho-social, Research, Singers | 1 Comment »
November 15th, 2011
BAPAM’s mission is to achieve a healthy performance environment for all performing artists through high quality and effective specialist health care, health promotion strategies, and professional development and training in Performing Arts Medicine for health care practitioners.
BAPAM Trustee, Dr Deborah Charnock, has been responsible for helping BAPAM develop a programme of evaluation and research to underpin this mission.
This report summarises evaluation and research activities and outcomes at BAPAM since the establishment of the Service Evaluation and Research Advisory Group (SERAG). The outcomes have informed several recommendations relating to governance, operations and future research which are outlined in the report. A draft research work programme for 2011-13 is also included.
Download the report:
Research Report 2009-2011
Requests for further information relating to this report should be directed to Dr Deborah Charnock via deborah@bapam.org.uk
Tags: medical research, Performing Arts Medicine
Posted in Publications, Research | No Comments »
November 15th, 2011
Our November 19th Training Event focusses on Long Term Health Issues Affecting Performing Artists with presentations covering:
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.
- Green Candle Dance Company ‘Falling About’
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
Tags: Actors, Alexander Technique, chronic pain, clarinet, Courses / Training, CPD, Dancers, Doctor, Ergonomics, Music, Musicians, Performance, Performing Arts Medicine, Playing Technique, Professional Development, violin
Posted in Actors, Courses / Training, Dancers, Diploma/MSc, Doctors, Education, MSc/Diploma in Performing Arts Medicine, Musicians, Performers, Practitioner Training, Professional Development, Singers, Talks and lectures, Tuition | No Comments »
October 25th, 2011
Are you suffering for your art?
BAPAM’s brand new Liverpool clinic takes place monthly from Monday 7th November 2011 at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Dr Vivienne May will be advising professional and student performing artists about problems including:
- performance related pain, overuse injuries, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, dance injuries, muscular tension, musculoskeletal problems caused by poor performance technique or posture.
- voice loss or strain in singers, actors and other professional voice users, hearing problems.
- stage fright, depression, anxiety, drug or alcohol misuse or addiction.
Full and part-time professional actors, dancers, musicians, circus and ‘variety’ artists, production crew, plus students and teachers of the performing arts can use our services. To book an appointment, call the BAPAM clinic line on 020 7404 8444.
More information about BAPAM’s free clinics, as well as invaluable advice on injury prevention, finding a suitable health practitioner, and our services for teachers and education providers can be found on our web site: www.bapam.org.uk
Other useful links:
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsMedicine
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ukbapam
The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) is a registered charity providing specialist health support to performing artists. We are enormously grateful to The Musicians Benevolent Fund, The Musicians Union, Equity, The Incorporated Society of Musicians and PPL, for generously supporting our work.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
