Fit to Perform

Profiling Musicians’ Physical and Mental Health

Part of the RCM Fitness Awareness Scheme (since 2006)

From beginner to seasoned professional, physical and mental health can shape how musicians pursue their art and the pleasure they take from it. The results of recent research, however, suggest that injury and ill health are widespread among musicians and that healthy approaches to making and working in music are far from uniform throughout the profession.

This project aims to generate new knowledge of the physical and mental demands of music making and to shed light on the ways in which musicians meet those demands. Specifically, we are investigating musicians' health lifestyles, wellbeing, cardiovascular fitness, and physical strength and flexibility through a series of profiling and questionnaire-based studies.

For further information, including details of published reports, navigate via the right-hand menu or email Aaron Williamon (awilliamon@rcm.ac.uk).