Project Identifier: LLNL-95-117
Project Title:
Biomechanical Differences in Playing Styles Among Pianists at the Dorothy Taubman Institute of Piano
Principle Investigator:
Dr. William A. Pereira
Project started in: 1995
Project Funding Information:
Project received funding in Fiscal Year 1995.
Project used human subjects in Fiscal Year 1995.
Funding Sources:
Project does not involve use of multiple protocols/subprojects.
IRB Review:
Type of Review: Full Board
Most Recent Approval: July 19, 1995
IRB Approval Number: 95-117
Number of Human Subjects in the Last Reporting Period for this Project: 72
(Reporting periods vary.)
Type of Human Subjects Involvement:
Overview:
This study measures various risk factors in pianists for overuse injuries, also known as repetitive strain injuries (RSI's) or cumulative trauma disorders (CTD's). For the study, subjects will fill out a questionnaire, and then various measurements relevant to their piano playing will be made as described later. The measurements are not expected to cause any discomfort at all and are essentially risk-free.
Context:
Cumulative trauma disorders are the number one specific occupational health and safety problem in the United States, according to National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The incidence of occupational CTD's has reached epidemic proportions, currently accounting for over 60% of all reported industrial injuries. CTD's affect workers in a broad range of industries, affecting unskilled laborers and highly-trained professionals alike.
The rapid increase in computer use in the workplace has resulted in an equally rapid increase in the number of CTD cases resulting from their use, and computer use is expected to continue to grow at an exponential rate. Projections predict a veritable epidemic of computer-related CTD's by the year 2000 unless preventive measures are implemented. Few of the currently available preventive approaches have been well-documented.
The current study evaluates the Taubman Approach to piano technique, which in terms of its approach to CTD's is effectively a movement retraining approach. Dorothy Taubman is a distinguished New York piano teacher whose approach to teaching piano keyboard technique seems consonant with currently accepted physiologic, ergonomic, and biomechanical principles. Mrs. Taubman developed her approach in order to help pianists play with more virtuosity by developing a coordinate technique; however, it became evident that a coordinate technique also can prevent or lead to reversal of injury. Not surprisingly, therefore, Mrs. Taubman and her faculty enjoy international reputations within musical circles for being able to help injured musicians, the majority of whom suffer from playing-induced CTD's.
While CTD among musicians is in itself a matter of significance, this study is undertaken primarily because of (a) the applicability of the biomechanics of piano keyboard technique to computer keyboard technique, and (b) the instrumentation available for force and impulse measurement in the piano, which does not yet exist for computer keyboards. Documentation of the efficacy of the Taubman Approach could represent a major breakthrough in the as yet unsuccessful effort to lower the incidence of CTD.
Data Collection Techniques:
a. QUESTIONNAIRE and EXAMINATION
All subjects will fill out a questionnaire in order to obtain demographic data,
to determine the subjects' Taubman experience, and to determine any history of
injury. At his discretion, Dr. William A. Pereira, the Principal Investigator,
may perform a limited and directed physical examination to determine if there
are any signs of overuse injury.
b. TAPE MEASUREMENT
Various standard bodily measurements will be made with a tape measure. After
adjusting and positioning a height-adjustable piano bench in front of the grand
piano, the height of the seat and of the subjects' elbows above the floor will
be measured.
c. PLAYING MEASUREMENTS
All subjects will play pre-distributed musical passages while being
simultaneously recorded in the following four ways:
i. MIDI
Subjects will be playing a Yamaha Disklavier®, a full-sized grand piano
that has been equipped to electronically record (and play back) piano
performances. MIDI is an acronym meaning Musical Instrument Digital Interface,
and the Disklavier® supports this recording and playback language.
ii. Dual Video Recording
Subjects will be videotaped from two angles, from above and from the right side.
iii. Wrist Angle Measurements
Subjects will have the angles of their wrist joints (flexion, extension, radial
deviation, ulnar deviation) recorded electronically, using the Greenleaf
WristSystem®. The subject wears a special glove onto which electronic
sensors are attached that do the recording.
iv. Electromyography (EMG)
Subjects will have the electrical activity of their forearm (flexors and
extensors) and shoulder (trapezius) muscles measured using a BioPac®
surface electromyograph. Disposable electrodes will be placed on the forearms
and shoulders. Similar to EKG (electrocardiogram) recordings, the subject feels
nothing during the recording process.
Confidentiality:
Subjects will be assigned numbers and the data obtained will be encoded. Subjects' names will not be disclosed to anyone outside the research project, and any publications arising from this study will be made without specific references to subjects' names.