An integrative intervention program for college musicians and kinematics in cello playing

Abstract

IntroductionCollege musicians preparing for performing careers must sustain physical-mental fitness as deficiencies can cause pain and injury and compound stress and anxiety. An integrative intervention program was embedded in a college music course. MethodsThe program included yoga, physical therapy exercises, and mental fitness & improvisation practices. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 34 over six semesters. We assessed the effects of the program by comparing pre-post data of (1) physical strength-flexibility-endurance tests and (2) psychometrics containing health-practice inventory (HPI), physical-musical efficacy (PME), and mental fitness and improvisation (MFI). Nonparametric Paired Sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests were used to assess statistical significance of pre-post changes and Matched Pair Rank Biserial Correlation r was applied to demonstrate the effect size. (3) We observed kinematics of string players by plotting pre-post motion capture. ResultsPhysical strength showed significant changes with left pectoral minor length (p = .01, r = .64) and deep neck flexor strength/endurance (p < .001, r = .92). HPI revealed healthy practice habits and life style in our collegiate musicians. Survey results showed significant changes in all PME and MFI composite indices: physical awareness (p = .002, r = .66) and comfort (p = .004, r = .60), musical awareness (p = .01, r = .68) and comfort (p = .001, r = .74), calm mind (p = .043, r = .49), mental practice (p = .028, r = .51), calm recital (p = .002, r = .74), recall recital (p = .022, r = .53), comfort improvisation (p = .001, r = .78), in-the-moment improvisation (p = .004, r = .72), and satisfaction improvisation (p < .001, r = .85). Kinematics showed positive changes in range of motion and fluency. ConclusionCollege musicians’ integrative intervention program was effective with a modest postural change in our purposive sample (250).