health platform

Within the Rotterdam Conservatoire there was a clear need for a coordinated centre for physical and mental health. It has become apparent that all too often students must interrupt their study or even terminate it altogether as a consequence of study-related injuries. That is why the Health platform was founded March 2006

The Health Platform has developed a general policy that is specially geared towards injury prevention. Further investigation into what causes injury is therefore necessary.

Besides prevention, the Health Platform is also responsible for better healthcare and, where necessary, provides extra training.

The goals of the Health Platform are:

- it is a centre where students and teachers can report study-related injuries and ailments;
- it offers students and teachers information and advice through symposia, workshops and courses;
- it establishes and keeps up to date an address list/network of doctors and paramedics who specialise in treating musicians;
- it initiates scientific research in response to specific medical complaints that surface in the various instrumental/vocal departments, in collaboration with universities and higher education institutes. The results of such research will be published.

By means of regularly published newsletters (also to be found on the Codarts intranet) student and teachers are kept up to date about the activities of the Health Platform.

Member’s introduction:

Ineke Drabbe: platform coördinator, mentor and Gestalt Therapist (and teacher piano as a minor subject)

Since the founding of the tutorage in 2000, Ineke has – besides as mentor and coach – also been active as trainer for the course ‘Stage Fright’ and ‘Stress Prevention’ in cooperation with Karin Bijl. Musicians are top-class athletes. It is valid to say that the better the state of their physical and mental condition, the better their performance. Doctors and paramedics take a lively interest in musicians and their ailments. This is confirmed by the extensive research being undertaken, both in Holland and elsewhere.

Through a four-year Gestalt Therapist course and a study ‘Comparative Neurosis Theory’ Ineke learned about the person behind the musician. What, in a literal sense motivates him/her?
Gestalt therapy takes a ‘here and now’ approach: the past is history and the future belongs to fantasy. Students are encouraged to make contact with themselves in the here and now. They learn to listen to what motivates them. Taking responsibility for this means: yóur reaction to your environment. That, in a nutshell, is what Ineke as a coach works on with students.

Marjolein van den Boogaard: Mensendieck exercise therapist

Musicians –as mentioned before- are top-class athletes, who have to be very careful with their body. During the years a wrong posture or a wrong way of moving can cause different complaints. Mensendieck exercises can reduce or prevent them, e.g. when you suffer from aches in back, shoulders or neck, RSI or stress complaints, or breathing difficulties .

You can get in touch with Marjolein directly, but be sure to check your health insurance because Mensendieck exercise therapy is not always covered. If it’s not, you have to pay for it yourself.

Mensendieck@codarts.nl 06-28418366 Roomnr. 6.08

For first-year students Marjolein also offers the workshops ‘Listen to your body’ and the optional module ‘Physical injury prevention’. These are meant to promote student awareness with regard to injury prevention and stimulate students to seek timely medical advice.

Connie de Jongh: singing teacher for classical & world music and teacher of vocal teaching methods

Besides singing lessons, instruction in teaching methodology and internship counselling, Connie coaches students in an ‘Awareness of Playing’ course. This (optional) subject came forth out of the ‘Body, Breathing and Playing’ lessons initiated here. Work can be undertaken in groups or individually.

The basis of these lessons is to investigate/restore the contact between the musician and his/her instrument in order to set free space and energy for the music itself and the joy of playing. This occurs through playful exercises aimed at rediscovering your own body. Instrumentalists from different disciplines can register to take part.

Karin Bijl: mentor coordinator and student counsellor (as well as teacher flute as a minor subject & teaching methodology)

By undertaking a four-year training as psychosoial worker and various courses, including schooling as a Rational Emotive Therapist, Karin specialized in the psychosocial help students might need during their study. Karin is active as mentor and mentor coordinator and developed during the last few years –together with Ineke Drabbe- a number of couses at the conservatoire, among them 'Coping with Stage Fright' and 'Stress Prevention'.

Conservatoire students can attend consultation hours twice a week and are either counselled by Karin herself or referred to another medical specialist in- or outside the institute.

Sandra Roosenburg: speech therapist (also working in the IKAZIA hospital)

Speech therapy is a paramedical profession and focuses on the treatment of vocal disorders, speech, language, swallowing and hearing. In this wide-ranging profession Sandra has concentrated increasingly on the voice.

The voice is a ‘multidimensional phenomenon’: steered and dictated by many factors, like parts of the brain, muscles, emotions, images, aural conception, convictions, opinions, culture, concentration, ambition –to name but a few.

There are differences between the voice in daily life and the circumstances of training, an exam and performing. Between talking, speaking on stage and singing. Between the strained voice, the impaired voice and the trained voice. Limitations and injuries often have a deep impact.

Sandra's job is to help prevent this or remedy the consequences and to further develop the voice.

Connie de Jongh: singing teacher for classical & world music and teacher of vocal teaching methods

Karin Bijl: mentor coordinator and student counsellor (as well as teacher flute as a minor subject & teaching methodology)

By undertaking a four-year training as psychosoial worker and various courses, including schooling as a Rational Emotive Therapist, Karin specialized in the psychosocial help students might need during their study. Karin is active as mentor and mentor coordinator and developed during the last few years.

–together with Ineke Drabbe- a number of couses at the conservatoire, among them 'Coping with Stage Fright' and 'Stress Prevention'.
Conservatoire students can attend consultation hours twice a week and are either counselled by Karin herself or referred to another medical specialist in- or outside the institute.

Sandra Roosenburg: speech therapist (also working in the IKAZIA hospital)

Speech therapy is a paramedical profession and focuses on the treatment of vocal disorders, speech, language, swallowing and hearing. In this wide-ranging profession Sandra has concentrated increasingly on the voice.

The voice is a ‘multidimensional phenomenon’: steered and dictated by many factors, like parts of the brain, muscles, emotions, images, aural conception, convictions, opinions, culture, concentration, ambition –to name but a few.

There are differences between the voice in daily life and the circumstances of training, an exam and performing. Between talking, speaking on stage and singing. Between the strained voice, the impaired voice and the trained voice. Limitations and injuries often have a deep impact.

Sandra's job is to help prevent this or remedy the consequences and to further develop the voice.

How to get in touch:
Ineke Drabbe: cmdrabbe@codarts.nl
Marjolein van den Boogaard: Mensendieck@codarts.nl 06-28418366
Connie de Jongh: ccjmdejongh@codarts.nl
Karin Bijl: cpbijl@codarts.nl
Sandra Roosenburg: sroosenburg@codarts.nl