Abstract
Summary
Presenters: Elvira van Groningen (BMus, MSc) & Kitty Bazalgette (BMus, MMus, MSc)
Affiliation: Recompose
Email: thisisrecompose@gmail.com
Meeting musicians where they are - Bridging the gap between performance science and practice through social media
Musicians face significant mental and physical challenges in their pursuit of excellence, yet the wealth of knowledge in performance science research often remains out of reach for those without a scientific background. There is a pressing need to make high-quality, evidence-based information accessible and to normalise conversations around musicians’ health.
This poster presents Recompose, an online community dedicated to bridging the gap between performance science and practice, ensuring that musicians have access to valuable knowledge and resources to support their wellbeing and optimise their performance. Rather than focusing solely on crisis intervention, our mission is to educate, empower, and inspire musicians to think critically, make informed choices, and cultivate sustainable habits that enhance both their artistry and health. By fostering collective knowledge sharing and encouraging a supportive environment, we strive to build a performance community where musicians can grow, connect, and flourish in every stage of their careers.
To illustrate the potential of digital engagement in the 21st century, this poster highlights recent examples of Recompose’s content, including evidence-based information on injury prevention, mental health, and wellbeing events for musicians. We also showcase data on follower engagement and reach to demonstrate the impact of our approach. Meeting musicians where they are—on platforms they already use—offers a valuable complement to traditional education. By leveraging social media, we can deliver reliable and relatable information directly to musicians, making it easy for them to engage, whether they simply encounter a post in passing, choose to save and share it within their networks, or integrate the information into their own practice and teaching.
This strategy creates a vital bridge between researchers and musicians who need access to the latest knowledge. In the words of Rebecca Herman (cellist and PhD candidate RCM London): ‘Given the challenge of finding information which is both accessible and reliable, I was so excited to come across Recompose on Instagram. The content is delivered in a really friendly and accessible way, and is all backed up with rigorous scientific evidence, which they cite within the content. This is exactly the kind of information and support musicians need.
Kitty Bazalgette is an English vocalist, facilitator, and researcher focused on connection, community, and authenticity. Her work spans the arts and education sectors, with research interests in psychological safety, performance psychology, and wellbeing. She is part of Guildhall Ignite and co-founder of Recompose.
Elvira van Groningen is a Dutch violinist and Timani teacher with a Master’s in Performance Science (RCM). After recovering from focal dystonia, she now helps musicians prevent injury and optimise performance. She performs with leading chamber orchestras and co-founded Recompose, a platform linking performance science and music practice.