Baltimore’s Peabody Institute Launches New Performing Arts and Health Programs

The music conservatory of John Hopkins University has launched new initiatives to address an increasing need for sustainable arts and health services

Founded in 1857, the Peabody Institute music conservatory has been affiliated with Johns Hopkins University since 1977 — one of the world’s preeminent research universities and medical institutions.

The Peabody Institute’s research on musicians’ health began with Otto Ortmann’s work on the subject in the early 20th century, and is now expanding its development through new initiatives addressing musculoskeletal, vocal, auditory, and mental health concerns connected to the music and dance professions. 

According to Peabody’s research statistics, reported rates of playing-related musculoskeletal and neurological disorders in musicians have ranged from 39% to 89% in professional musicians, 17% to 38% in high school musicians, and 67% in children. 

Supported by partners across Johns Hopkins University and the Baltimore community, Peabody’s new Performing Arts and Health initiatives will build on scientific research and artistic practices to serve locals, artists, arts administrators, patients and care partners, plus healthcare providers and administrators.

The aims of the sector include creating access to specialized healthcare for musicians and dancers; de-stigmatizing performance health issues; elevating health awareness in the arts to drive change in culture, practice, and policy; and integrating music and movement into well-being and recovery.

To address these needs, Peabody has developed the following programs: Injury Prevention Education, Clinical Care for Performing Artists, and the Research Lab.

The initiatives also recognize artists’ ability to enhance the clinical environment through performance, education, and arts engagement. Feedback from patients, caregivers, and staff at the Johns Hopkins Hospital state that live music has positive effects on mood and reduces stress. 

The Peabody arts and health teams comprise professionals in performing arts medicine, performance science, sports medicine, creative arts therapies, arts in health, arts education, arts therapy, and more.

In addition to advancing performing arts medicine to inform practices in the arts industry, Peabody’s programs will also provide students and industry professionals access to career development in the arts and health sector.

“Spearheaded by Peabody faculty and staff, a team of Johns Hopkins educators, researchers, and clinical specialists is building an unprecedented and long overdue transdisciplinary model of healthy education for musicians and dancers,” states Peabody’s website. 

“While health benefits may result from engagement with Arts in Health programs, the practitioners’ aims are aesthetic rather than therapeutic, with a focus on positive distraction, entertainment, and creative engagement and, in certain circumstances, education.”

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Established by George Peabody in 1857 as the first music conservatory in the U.S. the Peabody Institute involves undergraduate, graduate, and preparatory studies in music and dance. 

The school’s current faculty includes Pulitzer Prize winners, plus Tchaikovsky and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium international Competitions. Its alumni include pianist André Watts, vocalists James Morris and Richard Cassilly, and composer Dominick Argento.