Alarming Statistics on the Health of Music Students
In 2016–17, the University of Osnabrück surveyed music students about physical and mental health issues, with alarming results. It now plans to take action through a research project.
According to Christoph Louven of the Institute for Musicology and Music Education at the University of Osnabrück, about 30 percent of students were affected by physical pain related to playing music; about 27 percent suffered from performance anxiety that limited their performance. It has also become clear, Louven said, that despite these high prevalence rates, there are no programs or structures in place during the course of study to identify emerging problems in a timely manner. According to him, this increases the risk of developing crises that threaten one’s professional and personal well-being.
For the approximately 250 music students at the University of Osnabrück, a program of courses, workshops, and counseling will therefore be created to provide timely prevention of physical and mental health issues specific to musicians. It is also intended to enable students to continue making music in a healthy way throughout their lives. Furthermore, students are expected to pass on the skills they have acquired to their future students in their later careers as music teachers.
Entitled «Healthy Music-Making: Promoting Physical and Mental Health for Music Students,» the university’s research project aims to address these issues early on. The project is scheduled to last 2.5 years and is funded by Techniker Krankenkasse with 75,000 euros.
Original article:
https://www.uni-osnabrueck.de/campusleben/uni-news/detailseite-news/2026/09/gesund-musizieren-koerperliche-und-mentale-gesundheitsfoerderung-fuer-musikstudierende
