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The online course opened new perspectives on the physical and mental wellbeing of musicians

Interviews

At the beginning of this year, the European IN.TUNE university alliance organised the Lifelong Healthy Musician online course, which attracted several hundred participants. The course offered a comprehensive overview of themes related to musician’s physical, cognitive and psychological wellbeing, bringing together leading experts in the field to share knowledge and practical tools to support musicians’ health.

Each course instructor contributed their own specialised expertise. The vast number of participants from across Europe perhaps revealed something essential: the themes of holistic wellbeing are now more important to musicians than ever before.

Two true trailblazers from the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki – French horn lecturer, music pedagogue and specialist in musicians’ health Erja Joukamo-Ampuja, and cellist, lecturer, pedagogue and developer of the Joyful Performance approach Päivi Arjas – were part of the course’s teaching team.

Interdisciplinarity as a strength – shared expertise deepens understanding

Arjas and Joukamo-Ampuja have worked in this field for decades. Both emphasise that work related to musicians’ wellbeing is never the achievement of a single individual. Their long-standing partnership – shared lectures, materials and insights – exemplifies how knowledge evolves over time and grows through collaboration.

“New information is constantly emerging, and it is simply no longer possible for any of us to learn everything alone. That is why the opportunity to specialise and to combine our expertise in a course like this is invaluable,” Joukamo-Ampuja notes.

It is known that over 90% of musicians experience some form of physical problem during their career. Knowledge about the mechanisms behind these issues and ways to prevent them is no longer a mere ‘nice addition’ to a musician’s skillset – it is essential for sustaining a career all the way to retirement age.

The Lifelong Healthy Musician: a pilot with the potential to become a phenomenon

The IN.TUNE pilot course held in spring 2026 was initially intended to be a small-scale, interactive course in which participants could try out exercises and take part in discussions. Then something unexpected happened: hundreds of people signed up.

This transformed the entire delivery: there was far less possibilities for interaction, and the instructors found themselves lecturing to a “green dot” on a computer screen.

“We are used to teaching these subjects in interaction with people. When you do not know who is on the other side, it creates an entirely new kind of situation,” Arjas observes.

Nevertheless, the course exceeded all expectations. The number of participants illustrated – in a stark but important way – how great the need is for a holistic approach to musicians’ wellbeing. Feedback, the assessments of coordinators and available resources will determine what happens next. One thing, however, seems to be very clear: there is an evident need for continuation.

Arjas and Joukamo-Ampuja suggest that the future courses should be more interactive and tailored to the participants’ level: so more information is needed about who the audience is.

“It is reassuring to see that knowledge is spreading; that we are not the only ones carrying the responsibility and that new people are getting involved, becoming interested and taking the work forward. This is also an important message for the Sibelius Academy: expertise in musicians’ wellbeing is one of the fields in which we are internationally strong. It is valued around the world, and it must be made visible,” Joukamo-Ampuja emphasises.

Joukamo Ampuja and Arjas have carried out long-term, determined work for decades. The impact of their work can be seen in countless students, teachers and musicians – and now, through the IN.TUNE alliance, across Europe. Their message is simple: when the music professional thrives, the music thrives. Building this wellbeing is a shared task.

Finland as a forerunner in performing arts medicine and musicians’ wellbeing

In Finland, a multidisciplinary and trust-based community has developed over the decades around performing arts medicine and musicians’ wellbeing. Physicians, physiotherapists, pedagogues, researchers and musicians genuinely work together, making the Finnish context unique on a European scale.

In Finland, for example, the Finnish Society for Music Medicine has brought together an exceptional multi-professional community to address musicians’ health and wellbeing. This is something that remains rare internationally.

“We also see some musicians come to Finland because they have not been able to access the expertise and support they need elsewhere. Here, medical and pedagogical expertise have come together in a unique way. It shows how far we have come, and how deeply the discussion on wellbeing is rooted,” Joukamo-Ampuja says.

“Combining strengths across professional boundaries creates a true centre of expertise. A person is a psychophysical whole – we cannot focus only on the mind or, for example, on shoulder symptoms,” Arjas adds.

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IN.TUNE is the only European University Alliance in the field of music and arts. It brings together eight universities from North, East, South and West Europe striving to deepen their cooperation to bring about institutional transformation and the enhancement of their quality, performance, attractiveness and international competitiveness. In line with the goals set by the European strategy for universities, underlining the important role of higher education in shaping sustainable, democratic and resilient societies, IN.TUNE members are committed to the development of a joint long-term strategy with a strong artistic dimension for high quality education, research, innovation and service to society, becoming a role model for the wider higher education community across Europe and beyond.  Read more about the IN.TUNE alliance