- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Lachlan Hawkins
Griffith University, Queensland Conservatorium, Department Member
- Music Education, Autoethnography, Musicians' Health, Performing Arts Medicine, Ethnography, Percussion Pedagogy, Music Education, Performing Arts Medicine, Musicians Health, Drums, Injury Management, Drumming and Percussion, and 3 moreAutism, Social and Emotional Wellbeing, and Arts and Music for Health and Wellbeingedit
- First Class Honours QCGU Graduate & current Masters of Education student from Griffith University. Lachlan's Honours research paper investigated the frequency and severity of playing-related injuries and stress amongst 38 current tertiary drum kit players, spanning across 10 different Australian tertiary music schools.edit
This research project assesses the factors, both on and away from the instrument, contributing to musculoskeletal pain among current tertiary drum kit players in Australia. Whilst performing arts medicine continues to grow as a research... more
This research project assesses the factors, both on and away from the instrument, contributing to musculoskeletal pain among current tertiary drum kit players in Australia. Whilst performing arts medicine continues to grow as a research field, a lack of information and primary research exists for drum kit players wanting to take better care of their health and prevent playing-related injuries. Two new methods of data collection have been created, the Drummers’ Health and Pain Assessment Questionnaire and the Summary Index of Participants Self-Reported Pain, in order to assess the current state of health and injury prevention awareness within both drum kit majors and percussion majors who regularly play drum kit. Specifically, these methods generate new data concerning playing habits, the prevalence of PRMDs, injury history and treatment, most affected pain regions, internal/external pressures, general health, and stress levels.
Factor analysis has been undertaken along with a deconstruction of the questionnaire responses, and the researcher’s autoethnographic reflections geared towards optimal performance preparation in order to reveal emerging trends, patterns and overall findings. The outcomes of this study indicate that musculoskeletal problems are of concern to tertiary drum kit players and are exacerbated by contributing factors away from the instrument including performance anxiety, fatigue, stress, inconsistent warm up routines, lugging gear and a lack of muscular strength. My own experience of suffering a playing-related injury has sparked my interest in performing arts medicine and my desire to: 1) contribute new knowledge to the field; 2) provide new research data collection methods relevant to drum kit players; and 3) increase the awareness of injury risk factors and prevention for drummers, percussionists and educators of all levels.
Factor analysis has been undertaken along with a deconstruction of the questionnaire responses, and the researcher’s autoethnographic reflections geared towards optimal performance preparation in order to reveal emerging trends, patterns and overall findings. The outcomes of this study indicate that musculoskeletal problems are of concern to tertiary drum kit players and are exacerbated by contributing factors away from the instrument including performance anxiety, fatigue, stress, inconsistent warm up routines, lugging gear and a lack of muscular strength. My own experience of suffering a playing-related injury has sparked my interest in performing arts medicine and my desire to: 1) contribute new knowledge to the field; 2) provide new research data collection methods relevant to drum kit players; and 3) increase the awareness of injury risk factors and prevention for drummers, percussionists and educators of all levels.
