Mental Health in the Collegiate Music Studio: Applied Instrumental Faculty Perspectives

Collegiate music students are at a unique intersection which may put them at an increased risk for mental health challenges and illnesses: the intersection of creatives and emerging adults. Research suggests that mental health in the United States is continuing to decline. However, there is little research and discussion about how collegiate music programs can support student mental health. Even more limited is research about the studio professor's role in supporting the mental health of their private students. This document is intended to shed light on the particularities of the studio professor-student relationship as it pertains to student mental health. The research took the form of interviews with studio professors for whom musician wellness is a professional interest. Through these interviews, research questions about studio professors' experiences and opinions about mental health were explored. I sought to explore how studio professors perceive student mental health and professional challenges with navigating mental health concerns, how they incorporate mental health topics and support into one-to-one and small group teaching, and how they establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries relating to mental health conversations. This document outlines preexisting information about mental health of musicians, emerging adults, and collegiate musicians. It explores the potential impacts, both positive and negative, of the studio professor-student relationship. The original research presented documents perspectives of the interviewees about the research questions. Finally, the document concludes with practical applications discovered through the research process and suggestions for how teachers might be better equipped to handle the sensitive issues that surface during their interactions with students. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]