Professional musicians are athletes. That’s not just a metaphor — at least not for the speech pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, laryngologists, vocal coaches, and other providers who care for them at Michigan Medicine.

The physical gestures that chamber ensembles and other musicians enact in order to seamlessly perform ‘as one’ include cues such as a fleeting glance, a subtle nod of the head, or the rise of the torso. These physical gestures are the root of how musicians share vital information to one another – empowering them to share ideas and stay open to improvisational interpretations.

David A. Gier, professor and director of the University of Iowa School of Music, has been appointed dean of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. His appointment, approved Thursday by the Board of Regents, is effective Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2023. Gier, who also was named the Paul…

  SMTD’s new Wellness Initiative is addressing the unique physical and psychological challenges faced by performing arts students. With the exception of intercollegiate athletics, there is no program at the University of Michigan that is more physically taxing than the study of the performing arts. Instrumentalists, singers, dancers, and actors constantly use their bodies in service…