Music can be healing for all of us, but what about the mental health of musicians themselves grappling with the challenges of their working lives?
Research in the International Journal of Arts and Technology has looked at the emotional and psychological challenges apparently faced by almost three-quarters of jobbing musicians. Stress, anxiety, and depression are all high on the agenda it seems and part of the problems arise because of the highly competitive nature of the music industry and earlier in the world of music education competitions.
Crismary Ospina Gallego, Maria Nuria Lloret Romero, and Valeria Herrero Ruiz of the Universitat Polytecnica de Valencia, in Spain, delve into the connection between the pressures of music education competitions and the alarming rates of mental health issues among musicians. The work reveals how these competitions can trigger negative emotions and conditions detrimental to artists, including isolation, loneliness, anxiety, stress, and even aggression. The study looks at the historical roots of authoritarianism in the world of music, tracing the lineage of dictatorial teaching styles that contribute to a toxic work environment and foster individualism among musicians. Even in putatively one of the most collaborative of environments, making music, the team found that musicians can often struggle with sharing and empathy. The competitive world within music can improve musical proficiency but can also inadvertently foster counter-empathetic behaviour.
Critically, the team does not simply offer a diagnosis but develops a possible solution to the problem. They advocate a more holistic approach to music education aimed at promoting healthier performance results, mitigating the adverse effects of competitions on the mental health and physical well-being of artists.
Drawing from the past, the research offers valuable lessons for the music industry. They underscore the importance of artists supporting one another, creating together, and utilizing platforms prioritizing their well-being and fair compensation. The team also advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration, where musicians combine their expertise with other fields to find innovative solutions to common challenges.
In the digital age, where loneliness and isolation can become rife, the researchers discuss the potential of collaborative initiatives to reduce any harmful effects of this isolation.
Gallego, C.O., Romero, M.N.L. and Ruiz, V.H. (2023) ‘Present and past of competition versus sharing economy in the music live industry’, Int. J. Arts and Technology, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp.257–270.