Ep 12: Musicians’ Occupational Health with Christine Guptill
about christine
Dr. Christine Guptill is Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta. Her program of research focuses on musicians’ health, which she investigates using an occupational health perspective. Dr. Guptill holds a BMus (oboe performance) from Western University in London, Ontario, where she studied with Ian Franklin, former principle oboist with Orchestra London Canada. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Performing Arts Medicine Association, and as Chair of Education and Vice Chair of Research. She was a founding member of the Health Advisory Team at National Youth Orchestra Canada (NYOC). In 2012, she was awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for her work with NYOC. In her spare time, she continues to perform as a freelance oboist.
in this episode
It was so nice to reconnect with my former classmate and to hear about the amazing work she is involved in! In this conversation, we cover:
Christine’s background and training as a musician
Christine’s first encounter with occupational therapy and how it helped her recover from a playing-related injury
What are occupational therapy and occupational science
Why taking a holistic view of the musician’s life — including hours of practice, set-up, repertoire, overall stress-level, general health, etc. — is essential for prevention of and recovery from injury
Christine’s research on the phenomenology of musicians’ injuries and the surprising variety of experiences her research revealed
Possible risks associated with flow states
The problems with treating musicians’ injuries as an individual responsibility and some ideas for systemic change
Christine’s involvement in the development of an online course in health literacy for tertiary music students called Sound Performers
learn more
Christine’s page on the University of Alberta website (including where to find her papers and her contact info)
Christine’s Facebook page, Health and Music Performance
Short video about the Sound Performers course
Video interview with Christine about musician’s health and injury prevention
