MUSIC AND MEDICINE: INTEGRATION OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Emeritus Professor Steve Reid, Department of Family, Community and Emergency Care, University of Cape Town; Dr Bridget Rennie-Salonen, Music Department, Stellenbosch University; Dr Linda Muller, researcher, University of Cape Town
Wednesday 28–Friday 30 January 3.00 pm COURSE FEES R345; Staff and students R173
This course explores the intersection of music and health. Beginning with the common ground of rhythms in the body and in music, the conceptual basis of the healing power of music will be explored, including some practical examples and performances. The second lecture delves into the fascinating lives of health professionals and doctors who were and are artists in their own right; it will include a discussion of the occupational health of musicians themselves. Alongside the artistic passion and fulfilment, musicians face a range of preventable health issues that impact on their performance and wellbeing, including pain and injuries, hearing and vocal health problems, and mental health challenges. Finally, the possibility of consilience between artistic and scientific modalities, two different languages for understanding the world, will be presented and discussed in terms of prevailing theoretical frameworks. This will be followed by a final short performance.
Lecture titles
- Music and health Prof Steve Reid
- Musical health professionals, musicians’ health Prof Steve Reid & Dr Bridget Rennie-Salonen
- Consilience: integration of art and science Prof Steve Reid & Dr Linda Muller
Recommended reading
Davidoff, F. 2011. Music Lessons: What Musicians Can Teach Doctors (and Other Health Professionals). Ann Intern Med, 154(6), pp. 426–429. https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/ what-doctors-can-learn-from-musicians/
Musgrave, G. 2022. Music and Wellbeing vs. Musicians’ Wellbeing: Examining the Paradox of Music-making Positively Impacting Wellbeing, but Musicians Suffering from Poor Mental Health. Cultural Trends, 32(3),
pp. 280–295. https://doi.org/10.1080/09548963.2022.2058354
Popova, M. 2016. A Shelter in Time: John Berger on the Power of Time. The Marginalian. https://www.themarginalian.org/2023/06/27/john-berger-some-notes-on-song/
Reid, S. 2008. Music as a Metaphor for the Medical Consultation. South African Family Practice, 50(1),
pp. 62–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/20786204.2008.10873670 South, J. 2021. The ‘music of the spheres’ in Greece and beyond.
https://www.conductinggonesouth.net/blog/blog-post-title-three-48k6t Health professionals can earn CPD points for this lecture.
TO BOOK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/performance.aspx?itemid=1575450700
Prof Steve Reid is Emeritus Professor of Primary Health Care at UCT, and the previous Head of the Department of Family, Community and Emergency Care in the Faculty of Health Sciences. He is a family physician with a background in rural medicine in KwaZulu-Natal, with research interests in rural health, health sciences education and human resources for health. His inaugural lecture in 2011 was entitled “The Music of Health for All”, and as a musician, he is involved in developing the Medical and Health Humanities within the African context.
Dr Linda Muller is a freelance percussion teacher, performer and researcher at UCT.
Dr Bridget Rennie-Salonen is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Woodwinds at the Music Department of Stellenbosch University.