Postgraduate student and violinist, Dr Alison Loram, is looking for student, professional and amateur violinists and viola players for her study.

The study, in collaboration with University College London and Manchester Metropolitan University, aims to understand more about the neuromuscular aspects of playing the violin/viola, and the effects that these may have upon musculoskeletal and other playing-related problems.

Alison believes that violinists and viola players taking part will benefit from the insights gained: “You will have the opportunity to see how your neck and shoulder muscles are involved in holding and playing your instrument, the bodily movements you make, and how these may be optimised to enhance your playing and reduce/prevent muscular tension”.

The study is open to any student, professional or experienced amateur (regardless of whether or not you have playing-related problems), and will involve attending one individual 2-hour session during May, July/August or September.  The confidential session (to be held at Manchester Metropolitan University in Manchester City Centre near to the Royal Northern College of Music), will involve standing and playing your instrument for very short periods whilst your muscular activity and movements are recorded and analysed using ultrasound scanning and movement analysis equipment.  No preparation is required.

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.

For further details or to sign up for the study, please contact Dr Alison Loram directly by emailing alison@loram8.freeserve.co.uk

Please share this article amongst any family, friends or colleagues you think may be interested in participating.

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.

Performing artists work in a highly competitive industry and are driven to achieve perfect results. Stress and anxiety are often in the background when performers present with physical symptoms. In addition, the psychological impact of an injury affecting performance can be tough to deal with. All health care practitioners working with actors, dancers, musicians, singers and other artists will find something here to apply in their practice.

BAPAM training events may be used as part of your CPD portfolio.

The programme for the day covers:

• Diagnosis
• Depression/bipolar
• Anxiety
• Career choices and development
• Performance coaching
• Autogenic Training
• Role play as a therapeutic tool
• Screening tools for psychological problems

Click here for the detailed programme. 

The cost of the day is £65 (Students £35).

Venue: University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT – Closest tube: Warren Street. We will update with the exact room numbers/campus directions as soon as we have confirmation from UCL.

To book your place or for more information please email Office and Clinics Manager, Clare Hicks, via clare@bapam.org.uk

Jennie Morton, osteopath and lecturer & module leader for the UCL/BAPAM Performing Arts Medicine MSc, presents a one-day CPD course for musculoskeletal practitioners:

AN INTRODUCTION TO TREATING THE PERFORMING ARTIST

Sunday April 15th 2012

10.00am – 5.00pm

at

THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHY – Berthon Room

275, Borough High Street. London. SE1 1JE

The day will include:

Common injuries in Dancers, Instrumental Musicians, Vocalists & Actors

Assessment, treatment & management approaches for performers

The postural, ergonomic & technique issues faced by performing artists

The environmental challenges for performing artists

7 Hours CPD

Course Fee £85 (Students £70)

Course Tutor:

Jennie Morton BSc (Hons) Osteopathy

UCL Honorary Lecturer & Module Leader for the MSc in Performing Arts Medicine, UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science

Osteopath & Lecturer for The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine

Speaker for Dance UK: Healthier Dancer Programme

For further info or to request a booking form, please email jennie@jenniemorton.co.uk

Hypnosis Unit UK provide an Introductory Course in Applied Hypnosis. The next course takes place on Saturday 28th April 2012, at UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences.

Further information (pdf)

BAPAM Newsletter February 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)

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

On Sunday 15th January 2012, the British Voice Association hold a study day suitable for all voice professionals (speech
therapists, surgeons, singing teachers, voice teachers).

More information and application form

Topics include:

Brain function in relation to voice, in both therapy and education.

Recent research into neural processing for both spoken and
sung voice

The role of brain plasticity in rehabilitation and learning.

Gender differences between child and adult voices explored from
an evolutionary basis.

SPEAKERS:

Prof Sophie Scott (Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL)
Dr Katie Overy (Senior Lecturer in Music Psychology, University of Edinburgh)
Prof John Rothwell (Professor of Neurophysiology, UCL)
Dr David Reby (Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of Sussex)

Speakers include Professor Paul Carding, Mr John Rubin and Mr Julian McGlashan, and topics to be covered include meeting the challenges faced in voice clinics and new technologies such as high speed, high definition and 3D imaging.

BAPAM’s next Training Day for Performing Arts Medicine practitioners is scheduled in London the next day, Saturday 19th November, and covers areas relating to woodwind and lower strings players, disability rehabilitation, chronic pain, lifestyle and injury prevention. The full programme is to be announced.

In the nearer future, the BVA have organised an Interactive Rock & Pop Day for singers, teachers and voice therapists. It takes place on Sunday 25th September in Chiswick, London. Click here for more details and an application form.

MSc / Diploma in Performing Arts Medicine

at

University College London

From September 2011

in conjunction with

British Association for Performing Arts Medicine

The Royal College of Music

Trinity-Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

Do you work with elite or recreational dancers, actors, musicians or vocalists and want to learn more about performing arts injury prevention and management?

Do you care for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions that limit their activity?

Do you want to understand more about the links between health, performance and physical activity?

Do you want to know about the pharmacology prescribed and its effects on performing artists?

Do you need to understand the psychology of performance and current management strategies?

Do you want to be able to prescribe a range of rehabilitation exercises for a range of conditions?

If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, then this is the programme for you!

This programme will provide specialised training in Performing Arts Medicine to clinicians interested or already involved in treating this very special subset encompassing instrumental musicians, singers, dancers, actors and all performing artists. It will equip clinicians with specialised knowledge and provide a baseline qualification which may eventually become a minimum requirement for health professionals working in this field.  It is also intended to be a vehicle for stimulating Performing Arts Medicine research.

The programme is designed for clinicians from many backgrounds, including, but not limited to General Practitioners, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Hand therapists, Sports and Exercise Physicians, Rheumatologists, Orthopaedic Surgeons, Specialists in Psychotherapeutic Treatments.

The course ranges widely across musculoskeletal & neuromuscular injury, ergonomics, focal dystonias, differential diagnoses, performance psychology, drugs and self medication and assessment and rehabilitation of performance related injury. Alongside detailed clinical teaching and method there will be practical content relating to the performing arts industry,  law, research, dance and voice science and a guide to NHS and other clinics to which patient referrals should be made.

Click here for more details: MSc Diploma in Performing Arts Medicine – Further Information

Here is the UCL course description: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/surgicalscience/courses/msc_performing_arts_medicine/msc_arts_medicine_modules

Contact Information:

BAPAM: Development Director for Performing Arts Medicine: Ian MacDonald +44 (0)20 7404 8444 ian.macdonald@bapam.org.uk

UCL: Programme Administrator: Mark Armstrong +44 (0)20 7472 6220 mark.armstrong02@ucl.ac.uk