Injury and the Orchestral Environment: Part II. Organisational Culture, Behavioural Norms, and Attitudes to Injury

Abstract

The organisational culture, behavioural norms, and attitudes of a workplace have a profound influence on levels of injury and illness amongst its workers. While this is well established in Work Health and Safety literature, very little research has attempted to understand the influence of organisational culture on injury risk in the orchestral profession. To address this, the current study aimed to investigate the influence of organisational culture on injury outcomes for orchestral musicians. Using a qualitative case study methodology, in-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 10 professional orchestral cellists (2 freelance and 8 fulltime members) from a single Australian orchestra. After initial data analysis, further interviews were undertaken with a set of 5 orchestral management staff as a means of data triangulation. All data were analysed using a themes-based “analysis of narrative” approach. The findings indicate that an orchestral culture exists in which musicians see injury as a sign of weakness, failure, and poor musicianship. Such negative perceptions of injury influence musicians to play through considerable levels of pain and continue performing with injuries. Because of perceived judgment from the orchestral group, musicians were found to conceal injuries from colleagues and management staff. Freelance musicians felt that disclosing injuries may lead to decreased work opportunities, and both full-time and casual musicians felt that “opening up” about injury may subject them to group judgment about their technique or musicianship. The study suggests education measures which may be effective at influencing individual behaviours and attitudes as well as cultural change initiatives which could lead to long-term positive health outcomes in the orchestral workplace.

Have musicians’ musculoskeletal symptoms been thoroughly addressed? A systematic mapping review

“…Some appeared to be collections of instruments where there were small numbers of participants (e.g., keyboards, or harps in orchestras) [46,54,93], while others grouped instruments according to their biomechanical exposures; namely, symmetrical or asymmetrical playing postures [93]; whether their musical activity (e.g., instrument or singing) was thought by the researchers to place Where there were duplicate reports of a study, the oldest publication was counted. This classification refers to the target population that was not necessarily the same as those from whom data were collected (e.g., Rickert et al [61][62][63]151], Ackermann and Driscoll [175], Ajidahun and Phillips [186], and McKechnie and Jacobs [177]). , and university orchestral students with those who had not played any music for at least the past year [116].…”

“…A wide range of outcomes were reported, including the lived experience of MSS, illness perceptions, and perceived risk factors for musicians in general, not necessarily their own symptoms ( Table 7). With regards to these outcomes, Rickert et al's [61][62][63] qualitative study of professional orchestral musicians also involved collecting data from orchestral managers in addition to musicians, while their study of university music students involved collecting data from students, as well as professional orchestral musicians and orchestral managers [151]. All musicians in these studies were cellists; hence, the generalizability of these findings to the population of interest is questionable.…”

The prevalence of chronic pain in orchestra musicians

“…Frequently, chronic pain develops precisely because the problem is ignored and no effective pain therapy is applied during the acute stage. Affected persons often continue their normal activities despite injuries or overuse syndromes over long periods, or try to cope with health problems unassisted [37]. This behavior reduces the chances of effective pain therapy and professional rehabilitation.…”

Exploring Professional Circus Artists’ Experience of Performance-Related Injury and Management: A Qualitative Study

“…Injuries disrupt musicians' perception of time, space, social relations and body (16,17) and is considered a sign of weakness, failure, and poor musicianship within orchestras (18,19).…”

“…Consequently, this culture encourages musicians to play through considerable pain and conceal injuries (18,19).…”