Health promotion in tertiary music institutions: a position paper

Authors

• Raluca Matei, Birkbeck Business School, Birkbeck, University of London
• B. Ackermann, School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
• J. Allen, Music Therapy, Berklee College of Music
• U. Alpagut, Bolu Abant İzzet, Baysal University
• K. Ananda-Owens, St. Olaf College
• L. S. Araújo, Schulich School of Music, McGill University
• R. Arnold, University of Bath, Department for Health
• K. Árnason, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Iceland
• T. Babyak, Independent Scholar
• M. Baroody, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
• F. Barreto Kochem, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of the Philippines College of Medicine
• S. Bastepe-Gray, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
• K. Behel, Independent Researcher
• K. R. Beuschau, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Esbjerg and Grindsted Hospital, University of Southern Denmark
• M. Bidlack, Johns Hopkins Voice Center at GBMC, Johns Hopkins University
• C. Blouin, Department of Innovation in Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval
• A. Bull, Department of Education, University of York
• A. Bush, University of Bath, Department for Health
• S. Callan-Harris, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester
• K. Chesky, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
• J-Y. Chi, Research Center for Music, Technology, and Health, National Tsing Hua University (NTHU)
• R. Chiu, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
• V. Cornett, Keyboard Studies, University of St. Thomas
• M. Cortesi, Centre for Music Education and Human Flourishing, School of Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York
• S. Couth, Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, the University of Manchester
• A. Détári, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London
• U. Devadas, Department of Speech and Hearing, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
• M. Doğantan-Dack, Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge
• S. Dunbar, Department of Music, Jacksonville State University
• G. Ege, Haukeland University Hospital

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Health promotion in tertiary music education lacks shared guidance despite rising concern for musicians’ well-being. This position paper addresses that gap with a consensus-based, evidence-informed framework developed by 122 contributors across six continents and a variety of disciplines, including musicians and student representatives. It advances a broad understanding of health—physical, psychological, social, cultural, and occupational—and positions health promotion as integral to musicking rather than an add-on. We offer seven adaptable recommendations for institutions: (1) Reframe musicianship through health-informed cultural transformation; (2) Transform institutional culture and governance; (3) Collaborate across disciplines and expertise; (4) Equip educators, leaders, and staff to promote health; (5) Empower students as agents of change; (6) Build a health-informed music curriculum; and (7) Establish health education as core requirement. To support implementation, the paper outlines concise curriculum content areas (e.g., mental, physical, hearing, and vocal health; disability and neurodivergence; critical thinking and artistic identity; professional advocacy) and learning outcomes mapped to Bloom’s taxonomy, progressing from awareness to application, evaluation, and creation. Designed for contextual adaptation, the framework enables institutions to improve student and staff well-being, enhance educational quality, and model a more inclusive, sustainable music ecosystem.

DOI Link

10.1080/10632913.2026.2720853

Publication Date

2026-08-30

Publication Title

Arts Education Policy Review

ISSN

1063-2913

Deposit Date

2026-09-07

Funding

Adam Spira has served as a consultant to Sequoia Neurovitality, BellSant, Inc., Amissa, Inc., and Synaptic Health, LLC. The other authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional Links

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10632913.2026.2720853

Keywords

Institutional culture, professional advocacy, arts education, cultural policy, arts policy

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

First Page

1

Last Page

26

Recommended Citation

Matei, R., Ackermann, B., Allen, J., Alpagut, U., Ananda-Owens, K., Araújo, L., Arnold, R., Árnason, K., Babyak, T., Baroody, M., Kochem, F., Bastepe-Gray, S., Behel, K., Beuschau, K., Bidlack, M., Blouin, C., Bull, A., Bush, A., Callan-Harris, S., Chesky, K., Chi, J., Chiu, R., Cornett, V., Cortesi, M., Couth, S., Détári, A., Devadas, U., Doğantan-Dack, M., Dunbar, S., & Ege, G. (2026) 'Health promotion in tertiary music institutions: a position paper', Arts Education Policy Review, , pp. 1-26. Available at: 10.1080/10632913.2026.2720853