Special seminar combines music and health

Charleston Southern University’s Horton School of Music will host a week-long seminar on Musician’s Health and Safety Thursday, January 24 through Wednesday, January 30. This special event will focus on issues facing musicians of all levels with regard to physical, mental, and emotional health and safety demands. This includes those in the music field such as professional and avocational performers, music teachers and students, music therapists, worship leaders and church musicians. These events are free and open to the community. 

Presenters will include guests Lucinda Halstead, MD, ENT-Voice and Swallowing and Krysten Sears, MS, CCC-SLP, both of the MUSC Evelyn Trammell Institute for Voice and Swallowing, as well as Dr. Ann Rhodes, voice teacher, and Alexander Technique, clinician of Poise and Performance Studio. The seminar will also feature several Charleston Southern faculty and students including:

• Katherine Smith, PT, DPT, PCS, assistant professor of kinesiology
• Sara Dungan, MSHS, PA-C, MS, AT Ret., principal faculty, physician assistant program
• Nancy Lorena Moore, intern, counseling services
• Heather J. Thompson, PT, DPT, GCS, assistant professor of kinesiology

Additionally, students of Dr. Jennifer Whipple will present research projects in the field of Music Therapy.

“Musician’s health and safety is a fast-growing field in our industry,” said Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis, CSU professor of music. Lewis founded and chairs the Musician’s Health and Safety Seminar committee. “Musicians are reliant on their bodies and minds to function at the highest levels and in peak condition. It is important for musicians in all fields and levels of study to arm themselves with information and resources to first preserve and care for themselves and to then refer for help if or when they develop problems. We want to better equip our students, faculty and the community at large by providing access to these resources.”

The seminar will kick off in the Whitfield Center for Christian Leadership – Drew Conference Room on Thursday with a panel of presenters giving short talks on health and wellness, vocal health, repetitive use injury, and mental health and musicianship followed by a Q&A with the panelists.

For the full schedule and additional information on the sessions and presenters, visit charlestonsouthern.edu/music/events or to the Horton School of Music Facebook event here. 

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