The intent of this research encompasses two main objectives. The first being to delve deeper into the impacts of injury in the brass industry and identify the body parts most affected by pain and tension in brass playing musicians. The second was to evaluate the effectiveness of yoga as a form of injury prevention. Due to a culmination of a literature review of existing relevant material, self-experimentation and documentation, interviews of injury prevention and yoga specialists, and a case study - conclusions were made in response to the primary research questions:
The body parts most affected by pain and tension in brass-playing musicians are the shoulders and lower back. Both body parts showed consistency in experiencing pain and tension in the case study and literature review that warrants further research and preventative measures.
The data provided from the case study, interviews, and self-experimentation indicates that regular yoga practice provides benefits such as reduced tension and heightened body awareness that could successfully aid injury recovery but as a form of injury prevention - it should not be used in isolation.
This research has produced results in reduced tension and increased body awareness in the context of musicians suffering with pre-existing injury and pain/tension/discomfort in brass playing. Additionally, an insight into the body parts that require an awareness of injury prevention in brass playing has been provided. This research has the potential to be developed further as more comprehensive data could be obtained if the case study were to be conducted on a wider scale. Possible applications of this research into the field of playing-related injury prevention could be custom yoga sequences that can be prescribed to aid recovery of specific injuries. However, sufficient research in a medical context would need to be acquired before being put into practice.
On a personal level, this research has led me closer to a practice of my instrument that is without pain and tension. For this reason I am extremely grateful for this process and I feel thankful to have begun playing with more ease, flexibility, and body awareness. Moving forward I aim to continue to apply the principles of yoga to my practice and pedagogy to insight a practice that embodies more self-awareness, acceptance, and compassion.