Who Protects the Musician? Exploring Wellbeing Responsibility in the Music Industry

Christabel has recently been published in the journal of Music & Science. Her paper titled, "Using Vocal Improvisation within the Vocal Coaching Studio to Mitigate Music Performance Anxiety: An Exploratory Study of Three Cases" delves into a crucial issue for musicians: music performance anxiety (MPA). This challenge often impacts instrumentalists and singers, hindering their ability to perform. While music coaches are typically a go-to for help, many vocal coaches currently lack the specialised training to effectively address MPA in singers.

Her innovative research explores the potential of sung improvisation as a strategy to alleviate MPA specifically for vocalists. Previous studies have shown the benefits of improvisation for instrumentalists dealing with performance anxiety, but until now, its application for singers has remained largely unexamined.

This study followed three singers of varying ages and gender identities through a unique intervention. After an initial performance in front of an audience, participants underwent six 30-minute vocal coaching sessions over two months, incorporating sung improvisation. Following these sessions, they performed again under similar conditions. To measure the impact, participants completed self-report measures like the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) and the Music Performance Anxiety Inventory for Adolescents (MPAI-A) both before and after the intervention. Participant feedback and observations also provided valuable insights into the experience.

The results are promising: all participants reported reduced MPA symptoms after the sung improvisation intervention. While only one participant showed a statistically reliable change in anxiety levels, the overall data suggested strong "social validity." This indicates that, from the participants' perspective, improvisation holds significant potential as a valuable strategy for managing MPA within the vocal coaching studio. This research offers crucial insights for both vocal coaches and singers, contributing to a deeper understanding of how coaches can play a more effective role in helping singers overcome this common hurdle, ultimately unlocking their full performance potential.

Working alongside Research Supervisor, Dr. Heather Fletcher, Christabel is now embarking on a vital new project: a discussion focusing on where the responsibility lies for improving well-being in professional musicians and singers. This critical work explores the roles of various stakeholders, including management, labels, educational institutions, teachers, parents, individual musicians, and education policy makers, in fostering a more supportive environment for artists. Her ongoing project aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of shared responsibility in creating a healthier, more sustainable future for professional musicians.

Dr. Fletcher brings extensive expertise to this project as a lecturer and voice teacher at The University of Melbourne. Her PhD in music psychology focused specifically on the practices of expert classical and music theatre voice teachers in Australia, and her broader research explores the impact of music-making and listening on everyday well-being. An accomplished mezzo-soprano herself, with performances at Carnegie Hall and with companies like Opera Australia, and as the current President of the Australian Voice Association, Dr. Fletcher's multifaceted background deeply informs this crucial work on musician well-being.