Graduate Studies Reports Access

Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - MUS6806
Tracking Number - 4894

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2014-12-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: to GC. For MM. Elective. To Chair. Apprd 5/19/14. to USF Sys 5/20/14. to SCNS 5/28/14. Apprd eff 11/1/14. Subm as 6800 - appd as 6806

Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2014-01-27
  2. Department: Music
  3. College: FA
  4. Budget Account Number: 240200
  5. Contact Person: Sang-Hie Lee
  6. Phone: 8139742311
  7. Email: slee@usf.edu
  8. Prefix: MUS
  9. Number: 6806
  10. Full Title: Fit to Play: Mind-Body Integration for Musician
  11. Credit Hours: 2 hrs
  12. Section Type: O - Other
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: N
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?: N
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Fit to Play: Healthy Musician
  19. Course Online?: C - Face-to-face (0% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites: Music major
  23. Corequisites: MVB, MVK, MVP, MVJ, MVS, MVV, MVW, MVX 5000-6000
  24. Course Description: This course is open to graduate performance majors, designed to help develop healthy, injury-free and effective life and practice style primed for the rigorous physical and mental regimen required in music study.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed to compete with national trends
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? Fifty percent of collegiate musicians in a test conducted at two prominent music colleges in UK were found to have scored average or below average of the general population in their cardiovascular fitness; and barely ten percent surpassed the target BMI (Body Mass Index) of the general population (Williamon et al 2012). Lee et al study (2012) showed that while college instrumental musicians’ general health habits were adequate, their eating and exercise behaviors are found to be poor. The study also found that the collegiate instrumentalists are inefficacious of their body movements and tension while keenly aware of their musical efficacy (awareness and comfort level). A combined set of breathing-strengthening-flexibility exercise program developed for the study was found to have helped improve both the physical and musical efficacy of these musicians (awareness and comfort of technique, tone and musical flow). These studies along with several other recent studies show that our collegiate musicians, whose musical activities demand high levels of physical, emotional, and mental fitness (Wynn Perry, 2004), are poorly equipped to handle the tasks on hand. These factors engender a compelling rationale for a need to include a musicians’ fitness course in our music curriculum. USF is fortunate to have an opportunity to create a course that satisfies the need of a comprehensive performance- training program that includes physical and mental components, without incurring a major budget. There is a real push at the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM, the primary accreditation agency for music programs) since 2003.
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 2 times
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) The minimum qualification to teach this course is Master of Music, with additional training and research in musician's health.
  29. Objectives: The purposes of this course are:

    1) to impart research-based physical ad mental fitness factors that are essential in preparing a life and career of a performing musician/teacher;

    2) to provide a program of exercises to improve physical and musical fitness for college musicians that are designed specifically for the performing musician.

  30. Learning Outcomes: • Students will learn about mind-body fitness issues necessary in music study and lifelong career.

    • Students will practice daily a musician-tailored fitness program.

    • Students will participate in a study that is designed to examine the benefits of the program.

    • Students will develop a lifelong habit of musical-physical-mental fitness.

    • Students will develop skills to teach others the musical fitness program.

  31. Major Topics: • The Art of Practicing

    • Settling the Environment

    • Yogic Breathing and Flexibility Exercises

    • Musician-Tailored Strengthening and Flexibility Exercises

    • Mental Exercises

    • Deeply Practicing

    • Basic Mechanics of Body and Mind

    • Coordinating Body-Mind

    • Musical Collaboration

    • Performance Anxiety: Crafting Confidence

    • Memorization Strategies

    • Becoming an Artist

    • Injury Prevention

    • Lifelong Creativity

    • Mental Skills Training

  32. Textbooks: The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Makign Music From the Heart. By Madeline Bruser. NewYork: Bell Tower, 1997.

    The Musician’s Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness. By Gerald Klickstein. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.

    Musical Performance: A Guide to Understanding

    Edited by John Rink. Cambridge, London: Cambridge University Press, 2002.

    Musical Excellence: Strategies and techniques to Enhance Performance. Edited by Aaron Williamon. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/3d/index.html The Secret Life of the Brain—3-D Brain Anatomy.

    http://www.anatomytrains.us/at Myofascial Release

    http://www.somatic.com/ Feldenkrais

    http://www.exploratorium.edu/memory/braindissection/index.html Sheep Brain Dissection: The Anatomy of Memory.

    http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/spinal.html Neuroscience for Kids: The Spinal Cord.

    http://www.alexandertechnique.com/ The Complete guide to the Alexander Technique.

    http://www.artsmed.org/program_info.htm Performing Arts Medicine Association

  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: Students are expected to (1) actively engaged in class discussion of the reading materials (i.e., textbooks, supplemental readings), (2) participate in class hands-on fitness programs, (3) practice daily 20-minutes each in musician-tailored yoga and prescribed physical strengthening and flexibility exercises and keep record, (4) participate in the study by completing survey instruments, physical measurements, motion capture, and (5) develop an individual project to present to class. Class participation counts for 80%; project 20% of the grade.
  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: Assignments: daily practice of 20-minute yoga; daily practice of 20-minute physical exercise; complete pre and post surveys; complete pre and post physical measurements; complete pre and post motion analysis; and present the final project.
  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work: Students are allowed up to three absences before dropping a letter grade. There is no make-up for extended absence.
  38. Program This Course Supports: Master of Music
  39. Course Concurrence Information: Bachelor's of Music (undergraduate section of this course).


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.