The online course opened new perspectives on the physical and mental wellbeing of musicians

Over 90% of musicians experience physical problems during their careers, making health knowledge essential rather than optional. Earlier this year, the IN.TUNE alliance organised the Lifelong Healthy Musician online course, attracting hundreds of students and professionals from across Europe. Led by expert teachers, the course explored physical, cognitive and psychological wellbeing, offering practical tools to support sustainable musical careers. We spoke with two of the course teachers about their experiences and why this topic matters.

The following interview is republished with the kind permission of its author and Uniarts Helsinki. The original article is available at the Uniarts website.

Each course instructor contributed their own specialised expertise. The vast number of participants from across Europe perhaps revealed something essential: the themes of holistic wellbeing are now more important to musicians than ever before.

Two true trailblazers from the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki – French horn lecturer, music pedagogue and specialist in musicians’ health Erja Joukamo-Ampuja, and cellist, lecturer, pedagogue and developer of the Joyful Performance approach Päivi Arjas – were part of the course’s teaching team.

Interdisciplinarity as a strength – shared expertise deepens understanding

Arjas and Joukamo-Ampuja have worked in this field for decades. Both emphasise that work related to musicians’ wellbeing is never the achievement of a single individual. Their long-standing partnership – shared lectures, materials and insights – exemplifies how knowledge evolves over time and grows through collaboration.

“New information is constantly emerging, and it is simply no longer possible for any of us to learn everything alone. That is why the opportunity to specialise and to combine our expertise in a course like this is invaluable,” Joukamo-Ampuja notes.

It is known that over 90% of musicians experience some form of physical problem during their career. Knowledge about the mechanisms behind these issues and ways to prevent them is no longer a mere ‘nice addition’ to a musician’s skillset – it is essential for sustaining a career all the way to retirement age.

The Lifelong Healthy Musician: a pilot with the potential to become a phenomenon

The IN.TUNE pilot course held in spring 2026 was initially intended to be a small-scale, interactive course in which participants could try out exercises and take part in discussions. Then something unexpected happened: hundreds of people signed up.

This transformed the entire delivery: there was far less possibilities for interaction, and the instructors found themselves lecturing to a “green dot” on a computer screen.

“We are used to teaching these subjects in interaction with people. When you do not know who is on the other side, it creates an entirely new kind of situation,” Arjas observes.

Nevertheless, the course exceeded all expectations. The number of participants illustrated – in a stark but important way – how great the need is for a holistic approach to musicians’ wellbeing. Feedback, the assessments of coordinators and available resources will determine what happens next. One thing, however, seems to be very clear: there is an evident need for continuation.

Arjas and Joukamo-Ampuja suggest that the future courses should be more interactive and tailored to the participants’ level: so more information is needed about who the audience is.

“It is reassuring to see that knowledge is spreading; that we are not the only ones carrying the responsibility and that new people are getting involved, becoming interested and taking the work forward. This is also an important message for the Sibelius Academy: expertise in musicians’ wellbeing is one of the fields in which we are internationally strong. It is valued around the world, and it must be made visible,” Joukamo-Ampuja emphasises.

Joukamo Ampuja and Arjas have carried out long-term, determined work for decades. The impact of their work can be seen in countless students, teachers and musicians – and now, through the IN.TUNE alliance, across Europe. Their message is simple: when the music professional thrives, the music thrives. Building this wellbeing is a shared task.