Walking in wellness: Preventative care and whole-body engagement in jazz double bass education

There is a large output of double bass literature about biomechanics, healthy habits in music performance, postural engagement, and preventative care. However, one of the challenges of jazz double bass pedagogy is to bring this knowledge to the teaching studio and help students to reduce the risks of developing performance-related injuries. Therefore, this research aims to investigate jazz double bass students’ study routines to understand healthy habits and preventative care better as they currently exist in jazz double bass programs. The guiding research questions were: 1) Is preventative care promoted in core curricula at universities?; 2) Is jazz double bass education geared towards preventing practice-related injuries?; and 3) How can teachers incorporate promoting healthy habits into their teaching of jazz double bass? A multiple-question online survey was distributed to higher education jazz double bass students of twelve universities in the United States, and fifty-seven participants (n = 57) answered the questionnaire. Data analysis showed that 83,9% of the group (n = 47) dealt with injuries, with a higher incidence of playing-related neuromusculoskeletal disorders (PRNDs) in the hands and lower back. In addition, students enrolled in Bachelor’s programs showed less engagement with healthy habits in the practice room and, consequently, a higher incidence of playing-related injuries. Overall, students did not show concern in dealing with pain and stated they do play through the pain. Lastly, academia was pointed out as a safe place to help deal with PRNDs because students see teachers as the best professionals to share information about their injuries. This study starts a new dialogue on fostering injury-free environments, encouraging and supporting jazz double bass students as they adopt preventative care activities as part of their practice.

Name thesis:degree_name

A.Mus.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Junca Goncalves, Andrey

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sweet, Bridget
• Gray, Lawrence
• Carrillo, Tito
• Silvers, Michael

• Jazz
• Double Bass
• Double Bass Education
• Music Education
• Preventative Care
• Whole-body Engagement
• Playing Posture
• Body Mapping
• Alexander Technique
• Muscle Management

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Andrey Junca Goncalves

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117667

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F117667