Outline

Overview

So how do musicians achieve and maintain their health? This unit of study explores the science of music health and wellbeing through investigation of health promotion, a range of health issues (including mental health) and by giving students practical examples of how to incorporate healthy lifestyle and strategies into their everyday life. It includes a detailed exploration of age-old and millennium debates in the scholarly and practice-based fields of music and health. Topics include: mindfulness; music psychology; Alexander Technique/Yoga/Tai Chi; performance science; growth mindset programs; music therapy; mental health; work-place safety; physiotherapy.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jennifer Rowley, jennifer.rowley@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Helen Mitchell, helen.mitchell@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Research method design and written report	40%	STUVAC	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reading portfolios Reading summaries	15%	Week 06	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Poster presentation A poster presentation	30%	Week 11	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reading portfolio Reading summaries - one from weeks 1-5 and the other from weeks 6-10.	15%	Week 12	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Please note that for any text-based assessed work submitted through Turnitin such as essays or other assignments, you must not include your name or any other identifying information on your assignment. You may only include your Student Number. This is to ensure that you are assessed fairly and without bias (as much as is possible).

Assessment criteria

Description of assessment: You will develop a way to implement MHW in an existing cohort. You will develop your written method and prepare your materials to conduct your project. You will prepare a written research proposal for your project.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per the Sydney Conservatorium of Music resolutions, http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/conservatorium/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml (Item 11): (1) It is expected that unless an application for Special Consideration has been approved, students will submit all assessment for a unit of study on the due date specified. If the assessment is completed or submitted within the period of extension, no academic penalty will be applied to that piece of assessment. (2) If an extension is either not sought, not granted or is granted but work is submitted after the extended due date, the late submission of assessment will result in an academic penalty as follows: (a) For work submitted after the deadline but up to three calendar days late, a penalty of 10 per cent of the possible marks awarded for the assignment will apply. (b) For work submitted after 3 days and less than one week after the deadline, a penalty of 15 per cent of the possible marks awarded for the assignment will apply. (c) For work submitted more than one week late but less than two weeks after the deadline, a penalty of 20 per cent of the possible marks awarded for the assignment will apply. (d) Work submitted more than two weeks after deadline will not be assessed (Fail).

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to Music Health and Wellbeing A holistic view on musician's health Helen Mitchell and Jennifer Rowley	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	Musculoskeletal Health for the Rising Musician - performance-related musculoskeletal health and fitness. Music performance posture and biomechanics Cliffton Chan	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	Health of Music Students: research from Conservatoires Helen Mitchell	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	Breathing and mindfulness Jennifer Rowley	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	Healthy Instrumental Set-Up: From an anatomical/biomechanical perspective). Injury Prevention Instrument-specific exercise programs to reduce injury risk Cliffton Chan	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	Poster Presentation Session	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 13	Preparing for MHW in musical performance Helen Mitchell and Jennifer Rowley: what would you tell your future self?	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

As per the Sydney Conservatorium of Music resolutions, http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/conservatorium/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml(Item 12):

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned. The Dean, Head of School or professor most concerned may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items where attendance is lower than 90%.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Veronika Schoeb MHA, P. T., & Amélie Zosso BSc, P. T. (2012). " You Cannot Perform Music Without Taking Care of Your Body": A Qualitative Study on Musicians' Representation of Body and Health. Medical problems of performing artists, 27(3), 129.

Clark, T., & Lisboa, T. (2013). Training for sustained performance: Moving toward long-term musician development. Medical problems of performing artists, 28(3), 159-168.

Ginsborg, J., Kreutz, G., Thomas, M., & Williamon, A. (2009). Healthy behaviours in music and non-music performance students. Health Education, 109(3), 242-258.

Kreutz, G., Ginsborg, J., & Williamon, A. (2008). Music students' health problems and health-promoting behaviours. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 23(1), 3.

Lee, S. H., Carey, S., Dubey, R., & Matz, R. (2012). Intervention program in college instrumental musicians, with kinematics analysis of cello and flute playing: a combined program of yogic breathing and muscle strengthening-flexibility exercises. Medical problems of performing artists, 27(2), 85.

MacDonald, R., Kreutz, G., & Mitchell, L. (2012). Music, health, and wellbeing. Oxford University Press.

Panebianco-Warrens, C. R., Fletcher, L., & Kreutz, G. (2015). Health-promoting behaviors in South African music students: A replication study. Psychology of Music, 43(6), 779-792.

Williamon, A., Wasley, D., Burt-Perkins, R., Ginsborg, J., & Hildebrandt, W. (2009). Profiling musicians’ health, wellbeing, and performance. In A. Williamon, S. Pretty, & R. Buck (Eds.), Proceedings of the international symposium on performance science. Association of European Conservatoires (AEC).

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate broad understanding of music, health and wellbeing studies in music
LO2. Critique and write about research literature
LO3. Describe research design and evaluate research outcomes
LO4. Discuss research with others
LO5. Facilitate the exchange of ideas between musicians and researchers

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Participation in this unit of study permits the University to use your learning analytics for the purpose of improving your learning. This includes data from the CANVAS website, and the results of the Unit of Study Survey conducted at the end of the semester

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

MUSC1604: Music, Health and Wellbeing

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links