BAPAM deliver expert health and wellbeing services in the performing arts. Our events give artists, creators, technicians, teachers, and organisers the knowledge they need to improve health and enjoy sustainable careers.
Three-quarters of musicians have health problems that can impact their creative work, ranging from minor inconveniences to career-limiting conditions (Ackermann, Kenny 2014). Many of these conditions could be prevented by healthy practice.
This session focuses on evidence-based practical skills and draws from performance experience, research findings, psychology, and proven vocal health clinical pathways. Participants will learn how to avoid vocal problems and identify the signs and symptoms if they do occur, how to manage issues, promote good health, and where to go for help.
Trainer: Lucie Rayner
Lucie Rayner is a Performing Arts Physiotherapist, researcher and assessing clinician for The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM). She has extensive experience in managing acute and chronic injuries in musical theatre performers, dancers, instrumental musicians, singers, and other performers from amateur to elite level. Since graduating in physiotherapy 20 years ago, she has worked in the NHS, private and education sectors. She set up her private practice, Rebalance Physiotherapy, in 2012 and works freelance in a variety of settings including supporting West End/UK touring theatre performers.
In 2020, she achieved a distinction in an MSc in Performing Arts Medicine at University College London (UCL) and was awarded the Dean’s Prize for her research. Lucie is now an honorary lecturer and module lead on the Performing Arts Medicine programme at UCL. In addition, she has an honorary research post at BAPAM, conducting research on voice disorders in performers in collaboration with UCL. She is a member of BAPAM’s Vocal Health Working Group.
Research looking at health issues within the performing arts workforce consistently finds that 70-75% of our population report both mental and physical health problems, which is much higher than the national average. We are lucky to be working with a number of health and wellbeing experts who can offer training to performers across the UK, with the aim of reducing the levels of poor health and supporting performers to have a sustainable career. Working with our partners in Equity, Musicians’ Union, Help Musicians UK and Performing Arts Education Providers – who are very kindly giving us free use of training venues – we are expanding our national training programme supporting healthy performance in the UK.