Registration now open: The Lifelong Healthy Musician – free online course for musicians and music professionals

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Looking for practical, research-informed ways to protect your health and well-being across a demanding music career? Registration is now open for The Lifelong Healthy Musician, a free online course for musicians and music professionals developed by the European University Alliance IN.TUNE.

The eight-session course runs on Monday evenings from 2 February to 23 March 2026 (19:00–21:00 CET) and brings together leading European specialists to explore physical, cognitive and psychological well-being designed for music professionals and individuals working in music-related fields. The focus of the course is how to maintain health and well-being throughout your entire career.

Register by 19 January 2026

About the course

The Lifelong Healthy Musician is designed for professionals working in music-related fields who want to build healthier, more sustainable practices — whether in music performance, teaching, leading ensembles, or creating and producing music.

Across eight interactive online sessions, participants will gain a holistic understanding of musician health and well-being, combining scientific insight with practical approaches that can be applied immediately in their daily work.

Who the course is for

This course is open to musicians and music professionals, including:

  • Performers 
  • Music educators and teachers 
  • Creators, composers and other music-related professionals

If music is central to your professional life and you want to maintain your well-being over the long term, this course is for you.

What you will gain

The course offers research-based knowledge and proven best practices to support musicians’ well-being throughout their careers. Participants will have the opportunity to:

  • Reflect on their own practice from a health perspective 
  • Explore strategies through guided individual assignments 
  • Exchange experiences with other professionals in an international learning environment

The sessions are designed to be directly relevant to real-world musical professional practice — supporting participants to prevent strain, strengthen practice habits, manage performance pressures and build overall resilience.

Themes: a holistic approach to musician well-being

The course is structured around three connected areas:

Physical well-being

Sessions address key aspects of physical health for musicians, including hearing protection, injury prevention, and building sustainable playing habits.

Cognitive well-being

You will explore how to practise effectively while managing limited resources—time, attention, and physical and mental energy—supporting both performance quality and long-term health.

Psychological well-being

Sessions focus on the mental and emotional aspects of a music career, including performance coaching, managing anxiety, and developing strategies for mindful, confident performing.

Each theme combines scientific understanding with practical tools and approaches that can be adapted to different musical contexts.

Format and duration

  • Online via Zoom 
  • 8 sessions (2 hours each) – 16 hours total
  • Dates: 2 February – 23 March 2026 
  • Time: Mondays, 19:00–21:00 CET
  • Price: Free of charge

Course schedule and session topics (2026)

Physical Health of Musicians

  • 2 February: Hearing Loss Prevention – trainer: Enric Guaus 
  • 9 February: The Musician’s Body and Injury Prevention – Karen van der Starre 
  • 16 February: Inspiration from Nature, Life and Arts – Building on The Musician’s Body – Alexandra Türk-Espitalier

Cognitive Well-being

  • 23 February: Quality Practice – Managing Your Resources – Susan Williams 
  • 2 March & 9 March: Performance Coaching and Well-being – Päivi Arjas & Erja Joukamo-Ampuja

Psychological Well-being

  • 16 March: Two Sides of the Same Coin – Challenges and Sources of Musicians’ Well-being – Dejana Mutavdžin 
  • 23 March: Mindful on Stage and Beyond – Angelica Postu

READ AND DOWNLOAD COURSE DETAILS

Meet the trainers

All sessions are led by European experts in musician health and well-being:

  • Enric Guaus, PhD – Researcher, ESMUC & Professor, Pompeu Fabra University (Spain). Focuses on hearing loss prevention and practical strategies for long-term hearing health. 
  • Karen van der Starre – Assistant Professor, Norwegian Academy of Music. Covers anatomy, physiology, strain injuries, and prevention strategies. 
  • Alexandra Türk-Espitalier, PhD, MSc – Flutist, physiotherapist, Senior Lecturer, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Explores sustainable approaches to building on physical musicianship. 
  • Susan Williams, PhD – Specialist in Baroque Trumpet, Royal Conservatoire of The Hague & University of the Arts Bremen. Examines healthy, efficient practice strategies and resource management. 
  • Päivi Arjas, PhD – Cellist, Senior Lecturer, University of the Arts Helsinki. Focuses on performance preparation, energy, and transforming anxiety into communicative performance. 
  • Erja Joukamo-Ampuja – Senior Lecturer in Horn, Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki. Addresses motivation, focus, recovery, and preventing overuse. 
  • Dejana Mutavdžin, PhD – Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Belgrade. Explores emotional challenges and resources that shape musicians’ well-being. 
  • Angelica Postu – Music Therapist, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin; President, Romanian Music Therapy Association. Leads a session on mindfulness on stage and beyond.

How to register

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.

Deadline: 19 January 2026

REGISTER HERE: https://forms.mdw.ac.at/frontend-server/form/provide/203/

If you are looking to strengthen your health, refine your professional habits, and connect with peers across Europe, this course offers a focused and supportive way to invest in your long-term well-being—without cost and without travel.