Additionally, this is the first known study to investigate violists’ perceptions and attitudes regarding viola jokes and negative stereotypes associated with viola players and their effects on violists’ occupational health. Validated tools used to measure violists’ health problems included the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the Musician’s Identity Measurement Scale (MIMS).
Results: This survey yielded a cohort N = 324 that was diverse in age, education, and professional involvement. The overall prevalence for violists that experienced musculoskeletal pain in the past year was 79%. For violists in pain, 51% reported being reluctant to inform others of their playing-related pain. In the past year, 89% of violists experienced music performance anxiety. Regarding viola jokes, 49% of violists reported having negative thoughts about viola jokes, with 23% indicating they experience music performance anxiety because of viola jokes. The prevalence rates for non-musculoskeletal problems, perceived factors that influence pain, and the influence of viola jokes suggest that high levels of biopsychosocial stressors are often associated with the classical music genre and playing the viola. The results from this research can be used to enhance music teacher-training programs, inform performance practice and viola pedagogy, and educate clinicians about the health risks of playing the viola.
This research is the largest known instrument-specific, epidemiological study on the occupational health problems of violists. An online survey was developed based on a biopsychosocial framework to assess demographics, pain, musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal problems, music performance anxiety, and musician identity.
