Prof Liesl van der Merwe and Master’s graduate Ms Carla Lewis published this article in Qualitative Health Research in January 2024. This study is a personal account of a professional pianist who experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emphasising the damaging effects of the stigma associated with the disorder as well as the effects of PTSD itself on her piano playing. After enduring intense flashbacks, physical pain, and a loss of confidence, she found that her musical skills — such as memory, rhythm, and expression — were deeply affected. In addition, she found that more than standard therapy was needed to rehabilitate the effects of PTSD. To enable piano technique rehabilitation, she decided to take an active role in her recovery by keeping a detailed journal and using self-reflection to better understand how PTSD disrupted her ability to perform and how she could improve these effects.
The researcher documented her daily experiences, noting every obstacle and breakthrough. She observed that the psychological impact of PTSD not only led to memory lapses and performance anxiety but also caused physical symptoms like muscle tension and disrupted hand movements. In response, she experimented with different practice strategies designed to rewire her approach to playing. These strategies involved breaking down music into smaller sections, focusing on one technical problem at a time, and incorporating various types of memory — such as visualizing sheet music, listening to the melody in her head, and feeling the movement of her fingers.
Her journey led her to develop a new method, the Redelinghuys-Lewis approach, which emphasizes preparation, targeted practice, and self-evaluation. This method helped her gradually overcome the challenges imposed by PTSD and improved her overall performance. Although her progress was slow, her work shows that tailored rehabilitation techniques can make a significant difference for musicians facing similar struggles.
In essence, this study not only sheds light on how PTSD can impair a musician’s career but also offers a hopeful, step-by-step approach towards recovery. It calls for more research into rehabilitation methods that address both mental and physical injuries, ultimately supporting musicians in reclaiming their passion and livelihood.
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Lewis, C. & Van der Merwe, L. 2024. A Pianist’s Technique Rehabilitation After Post-Traumatic Stress: An Autoethnographic Study. Qualitative Health Research, 34(8-9):732-741. doi:10.1177/10497323241226565
