Musicians are three times more likely to experience depression...

...according to study

By CLASSIC FM, LONDON

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A concerning new piece of research reveals the scale of the mental health crisis facing the UK music industry.

‘Can Music Make You Sick?’ is a new study commissioned by Help Musicians UK, which explores the effects of a career in music on musicians’ mental health.

The study, completed by University of Westminster, investigated 2,211 musicians, 71.1% of whom said they had suffered from panic attacks or anxiety, with 68.5% saying they had struggled with depression.

Researchers Sally-Anne Gross and Dr. George Musgrave cited a few major issues including money worries, because of juggling many different jobs and dealing with precarious and unpredictable pay, and poor working conditions.

They also found musicians were more likely to be subject to sexual abuse, bullying and discrimination – as well as antisocial and unsympathetic working environments.

While relationships with family and the support of close friends and partners are highly valued, they are also “open to abuse and feelings of guilt”. Plus, musicians often lack the financial means to seek professional support.

This news follows a recent study in the scientific journal Eating and Weight Disorders which revealed that a third of musicians suffer from eating disorders due to stress, concerts and perfectionism.

Since publishing the study, Help Musicians UK have promised to establish a music industry mental health taskforce, launch a 24/7 mental health service, Music Minds Matter, and to advocate change across the industry.

Christine Brown, director of external affairs at Help Musicians UK, told M magazine: “Help Musicians UK is uniquely placed to commission and share the results of this important, game-changing study. The charity granted nearly two million pounds last year to those that need it most in the industry, so it is a natural step to examine the key issues and make a call to action to help implement wider, lasting change in the industry. 

“The British music industry is in rude health and has a world class reputation – but to continue the long-term wellbeing of the industry and its workers, we aim to create a constructive forum for discussion, partnership and collaboration.

“Through the new Music Minds Matter service, we are closer to providing the crucial support, advice and education the music community desperately needs. Together we can continue to chip away at the stigma, so that in the long term those working in the community never have to suffer in silence.”

Researchers Gross and Musgrave added: “This research is a crucial step forward in our understanding of the complex relationship between the working conditions of musicians and mental health conditions. 

“The honesty and poignancy of our interviewees has made possible this important work, and informed the service provision being implemented by Help Musicians UK, and for that we are truly thankful. We welcome the new service Music Minds Matter and hope that this research can spark a wider debate both in the music industry about the welfare of those at its heart, and more generally about the challenging nature of precarious work.”

49 sentences all musicians will find intensely annoying

By ClassicFM London

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If you're a musician, these will make you curl up on the floor and weep. We've all heard them before, but it doesn't make it any less painful...

If you're a musician, these will make you curl up on the floor and weep. We've all heard them before, but it doesn't make it any less painful...

1. ‘You’re a singer? Sing us something then.’

2. ‘No space in the cabin I’m afraid. This will have to go in the hold.’

3. ‘We’ll be playing all the repeats in Pachelbel’s Canon.’

4. ‘I didn’t think anyone still wrote classical music.’

5. ‘It’s nice to have teaching to fall back on.’

6. ‘I loved Amadeus. It’s great to see an accurate portrayal of historical events.’

7. ‘You’re a musician? So what do you do for your actual job?’

8. ‘We will pay you in exposure and experience.’

9. ‘The bar will be closing as soon as the concert finishes.’

10. ‘So that’s like a big violin, right?’

11. ‘So that’s like a small cello, right?’

12. ‘So that’s like a… actually, what is a viola?’

13. ‘Is there a machine gun in there?’

14. ‘Is there a dead body in there?’

15. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, please be aware that the toilets are unfortunately out of order. And now, the complete Ring Cycle.’

16. ‘OK, we’ll break for tea just as soon as we finish this 18-minute movement.’

17. ‘You’re a singer? Have you thought about trying out for The X Factor?’

18. ‘We’re bringing classical music to a new audience by adding a rap.’

19. ‘We’re bringing classical music to a new audience by adding electronic beats.’

20. ‘We’re bringing classical music to a new audience by creating a fusion of multiple non-traditional influences.’

21. ‘We’re bringing classical music to a new audience by playing the piece exactly as intended by the composer.’

22. ‘Opera is such an expressive art form, any Lloyd Webber show will tell you that.’

23. ‘Aren’t you too young to be a classical musician?’

24. ‘I could’ve been a professional musician too.’

25. ‘Ah, you’re a musician. How do you pay for things?’

26. ‘I adore classical music. All the greats. Mozart… uh… yeah, Mozart.’

27. ‘It must be so romantic to live like an impoverished artist.’

28. ‘You play music for a living? That must be so relaxing.’

29. ‘You understand good music, don’t you? Have you heard Justin Bieber’s mature new album?’

30. ‘I wish I could just do my hobby all day like you.’

31. ‘Would you listen to my band’s demo tape? We’re equally influenced by Schoenberg
and Metallica.’

32. ‘Ticket prices are £30, but we can’t actually afford to give you a fee.’

33. ‘Actually I’ve composed a song of my own. Can I play it to you?’

34. ‘I know a musician, do you know them too?’

35. ‘Have you ever thought about using a microphone?’

36. ‘We’re all meeting up this weekend, can you make it?’

37. ‘Of course you’re invited to our wedding! But could you bring your violin?’

38. ‘If you like music you should come along to my band’s gig, it’s a darkwave-ska sound installation with musical theatre elements.’

39. ‘But you don’t LOOK like a classical musician.’

40. ‘Can you bring your own piano?’

41. ‘I listen to all genres. Rock, pop… err… yeah, all genres.’

42. ‘So we want two sets of two hours, and no repetition please.’

43. ‘I went to a classical concert once.’

44. ‘I’m a musician too. I played the recorder at school.’

45. ‘Are you one of those singing waitresses?’

46. ‘You can’t call practising work, really, can you?’

47. ‘So if you could play for an hour and then clear up all the empty glasses, that’d be great.’

48. ‘Can we negotiate your fee down a little bit?’

49. ‘Who’s your favourite composer?’

Classical cartoons from 'don't shoot the pianist'

By: ClassicFM London

Wonderfully simple (and at times delightfully geeky) classical music cartoons from Eugene Chan.

1. 

   1. Für Elise

   Don't Shoot the pianist Fur Elise
2. 

   2. Lesson

   Don't Shoot the Pianist Lesson
3. 

   3. On hold
4. 

   4. Priorities
5. 

   5. Flat
7. 

   6. Applause
8. 

   7. Overwhelmed
9. 

   8. Procrastination
10. 

    9. Chopin

    Eugene Chan cartoon
11. 

    10. Daydreaming conductor
12. 

    11. Orchestral imbalance
13. 

    12. Movie-Night
14. 

    13. Natural-Cellist
15. 

    14. Antidepressants
16. 

    15. Posture
17. 

    16. Trill

    Eugene Chan cartoon

J.S.Bach Piano Concerto in D Minor Polina Osetinskaya Anton Gakkel

If this music gives you goosebumps ...

... you might have a special brain

By Classic FM, London

By Maddy Shaw Roberts

4K

Think of your favourite piece of music, and think about how you might react to it.

If you’re having trouble, have a listen to this spine-tingling vocal version of Elgar’s Nimrod, by Voces8:

Lux Aeterna – Elgar

Voces8 perform a stunning version of Nimrod

h

Did you feel chills, a lump in your throat, or perhaps a tingling sensation on the back of your neck? Then you might have a more unique brain than you think.

A study, carried out by PHD student Matthew Sachs at the University of Southern California, has revealed that people who get chills from music might have structural differences in their brain.

The research studied 20 students, who listened to three to five pieces of music. 10 of the students admitted to feeling shivers, while the other 10 didn’t. The researchers then took brain scans of all the participants.

“[The 10 who felt shivers] have a higher volume of fibres that connect their auditory cortex to the areas associated with emotional processing, which means the two areas communicate better,” Matthew told Neuroscience News. These 10 participants also had a higher prefrontal cortex, which is involved in certain areas of understanding, like interpreting a song’s meaning (Quartz).

“People who get the chills have an enhanced ability to experience intense emotions,” Sachs said. “Right now, that’s just applied to music because the study focused on the auditory cortex. But it could be studied in different ways down the line,” he pointed out.

The study also found that people who are open to experience – as well as people who have more musical training – are more likely report strong emotional responses.

If you didn’t feel chills at the first piece, have a listen to this impromptu moment of Nordic vocal music, from Åkervinda. It might just tease out a few goosebumps...

Read more about the study here.

4K

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