Guitar and Bass Players' Perceptions about Health and Well-Being

Abstract

Guitarists and bass guitarists represent a large portion of the musician population yet little has been studied regarding guitarists' perceptions of health and well-being. Studies that have been conducted on guitar and bass players have focused mainly on the physical, musculoskeletal effects of playing the guitar and bass guitar. A few studies focused on the physical impact of playing an instrument also investigated the psychological health of musicians, but only limited to the context of playing-related injuries. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain insight into how guitar and bass players perceived the effects that playing their instrument had on their health and well-being and the meaning that being a musician held for them. The researcher utilized van Manen's (1994) hermeneutic phenomenological approach to the study. Fifteen participants voluntarily responded to a UMCIRB-approved study announcement that was distributed through on-line musician forums, online classified advertisement sites, word of mouth, and email invitations. Snow-ball sampling also yielded participants who were informed by study participants. The qualitative data was collected through one-on-one, in-depth interviews using an approved interview guide. The researcher collected qualitative data by means of one-on-one, in-depth interviews using an approved interview guide. The researcher transcribed all interviews verbatim and analyzed the data through a system of reading of transcripts, coding data, concept map, and a thematic exploration of data as well as an analysis of data using van Manen's lifeworld existentials. The researcher also engaged in phenomenological reduction, including reflexivity, and maintained a multifaceted audit trail throughout the study. The perspectives of the study participants revealed an overarching theme of Music as Connectedness and four sub-themes: View of Self as Musician, Social Connection Through Playing Music, Communicating Through Playing Music, and Promoting Wellness Through Playing Music. Findings from this study revealed participants' perceptions that playing the guitar or bass guitar was beneficial to their health and well-being, primarily through a process of connectiveness to self; musicians, including those with whom they played; and audiences with whom they shared their music. Perceived health benefits ranged from increased socialization which speaks to social connection, wellness promotion benefits through an increased sense of confidence, increased coping and stress-release skills, enhanced communication avenues as a result of playing music with and for other people, and an over-all sense of well-being.