BAPAM Newsletter February 2012

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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.

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).

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.

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

Danica Giles MBPsS (Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society) is investigating the effect of stage fright on the health and well-being of professional performing artists as part of her diploma thesis at the University of Tübingen, Germany.  If you are interested, take a look at the advert below.

Danica will share the results of this very interesting survey with BAPAM and the information will help our understanding of performers’ health. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. Details of the survey findings will be available through the BAPAM website

This independent research project has been checked and approved by BAPAM but we do not have a role in the funding, design or analysis of this work. We will not ‘own’ the data or project findings.

Interested in research on the well-being of performing artists?

Participate in this online survey and you can win £100!

Are you a performer and would like to know more about how you can improve your health & well-being through recovery? Then I invite you to participate in a study about stage fright and well-being that I am conducting for my diploma thesis in psychology. Just follow the link below to a questionnaire that takes about 20 minutes to complete. Your participation is completely anonymous and you can leave the questionnaire at any time. The study has been given a favourable ethical opinion by the University of Surrey Ethics Committee. You will also be given the option to enter a draw to win one prize of 100 Pounds by providing your email address at the end of the questionnaire. In a few weeks’ time you will be able to read the results with tips on how to recover more effectively from stress (via a link given to you at the end of the questionnaire)!

CLICK HERE to complete the questionairre

UPDATE: The finalised programme for the day is now online. Click here to view/download it.

Liz Johnson would like some practitioners to bring in their instruments for her afternoon Soundbeam session, so if you play an instrument and it’s easy to carry, please do join in!

That BVSC venue that is hosting the day will direct everyone to our room on the day and please simply ask for BAPAM at reception.

To book your place at the next BAPAM Performing Arts Medicine Training Day please return this response form to Sanchita Farruque at the BAPAM office. The price is just £65 (£45 for students). BAPAM training days may be used as part of your CPD portfolio.

BAPAM’s Birmingham Training Day on Saturday 14^th May runs from 9.30am to 5pm and will have three core strands:

• The Conservatoire – focusing on student problems and training, rehab after injury etc
• The CBSO – focusing on the orchestral musician
• The Birmingham Royal Ballet- focusing on dance issues

Programme and speakers are being finalised by the Birmingham BAPAM team, made up of Dr Jonathan White and Karen O’Connor. We’ll be covering subjects like:

• Performance Coaching, the Bach to Sport project at the Birmingham Conservatoire, and other student/tutor related issues
• Nutrition & Fitness and the Female Athlete Triad
• Case presentations of some unusual problems e.g. trumpet player with rare embouchure problem, amateur wind player with a Handelian condition, and a pop musician with a neurological event

The Training Day will take place at BVSC, The Centre for Voluntary Action in the Digbeth area of Birmingham.

More detailed information here: Birmingham Bites! Midlands Medicine, Music and Movement and check back for the full programme soon.

There is a CBSO Concert on Saturday night at Symphony Hall starting at 7pm (finishing around 9pm). Karen has negotiated a block of excellent seats in the Upper Circle of Symphony Hall for £14.50 each. But we need to know straight away if you want to book a ticket! Just give Sanchita a call on 020 7404 5888.

RUSSIAN CLASSICS

Andrew Litton  conductor Simon Trpceski piano

Prokofiev: War and Peace – Overture    6′
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2   32′
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10          46′

Congratulations to flute virtuoso (Grade 1) and physiotherapist, Sarah Upjohn, and the 146 more Cambridge musicians who have so far raised over £46 000 for the Spinal Injuries Association. Still collecting……..

Follow the link for a right tuneless laugh courtesy of the Grade-One-A-Thon Orchestra and BBC Look East:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-12581343

It’s not too late to make a donation here: http://www.justgiving.com/sarah-upjohn

Click on the  image for the event flyer.

The London Cello Society‘s Well-being for Cellists workshop takes place on Sunday 13th March 2011 at the Royal Academy of Music. Expert presenters,  Katherine Butler (Preventing Hand Injuries), Selma Gocken (Alexander Technique), Erika Klemperer (Psychodynamic Psychotherapy) and Felicity Vincent (Pilates Method) discuss:

How do we play our instrument in harmony with our design?

How can we take advantage of the wonderful natural coordination we possess as human beings?

How can we pass on to our students the knowledge that will prevent injuries?

What are the emotional challenges of our profession and how do they affect our well-being?

The event costs £50 or just £25 for students/concessions with a 25% discount for LCS members.

Click here for more information and to book your place.

Dorothea offers free consultations and low fee lessons for performing artists who are BAPAM clients. To find out how to arrange this, register with us by calling the clinic on 020 7404 8444.