Music and health

What is it about?

The focus is on health issues that play a role in musicians' day-to-day studies - for example

• Physical strain (e.g. overloading of arms, shoulders or neck)
• Psychosocial issues (e.g. stage fright, stress and recovery)

Each session consists of two parts:

1. Theoretical introduction
   Basics, background and contexts relating to healthy practicing, performing and studying.
2. Practical part
   In the second half of each seminar unit, exercises are presented and tried out directly under physiotherapeutic guidance - with a focus on what is important in everyday musical life

Short exercises for in between

You can find some short and easy-to-implement exercises for at home from our physiotherapy course with Julia Keyser here:

• Warm up
• Balance
• Stretching

Organization

• Frequency: Wednesdays, every two weeks
• Time: 15:00
• Location: Music therapy seminar room
• Course duration: 2 semesters
• Next course start: October 2026

Further information and registration modalities in the course catalog.

What's it about?
The focus is on topics from pedagogy and psychology that have been developed for instrumental pedagogy students, but are also open to other students:

• The body in instrumental lessons (self-perception, breaks, self-care)
• Learning and motivation
• Music and performance (dealing with pressure to perform and performance expectations)
• Relationship aspects (closeness / distance)
• Communication (self-esteem-boosting feedback)
• Stage fright and performance anxiety

We will work with theoretical inputs and practical exercises and - depending on the students' willingness - their own "cases" from practice.

Organization:
The seminar takes place in blocks (Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., usually once a month) in the music therapy seminar room (Bib.building ground floor).
Course duration: 2 semesters, always starting in winter semester
Lecturers change depending on the topic and block: Prof. Dr. Eva Bleckwedel & Magdalena Appelhans, Lona Frießner, Viola Kobabe, Dr. Lisa Prechtl, Iris Hammacher-Schneider
Introduction and coordination: Prof. Dr. Dorothee von Moreau

For further information see course catalog.

At Power Jam, we want to activate our bodies together and strengthen and tone our muscles. It's 45 minutes of varied exercise to compensate for practicing your instrument, sitting in seminars/lectures and the fast pace of everyday life.

The program takes place weeklyon Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30 to 13:15 in the music therapy seminar room. Sportswear is requested.

Course leader: Sara Bögeholz-Gründer

The "Moving Break" is an offer for the administration and teaching staff of the university. As part of a 15-minute exercise program during the lunch break, the muscles of the upper and lower back as well as the shoulder and neck area are specifically loosened and slightly strengthened. Problems and requests are assessed weekly and incorporated into the next lesson.

In the long term, a small self-exercise program is gradually developed that can be carried out independently on site in the office.

The program takes place weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00-12:15 in the music therapy seminar room.

Participants do not need any sportswear or equipment.

Learn to release tension, improve your mobility and stability and understand the connections between the whole body network.

Registration / information at julia.keyser@hfmt-hamburg.de