Being A Musician In Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that affects the whole world and affects different professional groups in different ways, quarantine has been declared in Turkey at 11.03.2020. After this period, some occupational groups continued their jobs normally or online, and some people lost their jobs. This study was planned to evaluate how musicians who work as active musicians are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the reflection of this effect on the occupational, exercise and pain states of musicians. Methods: An online questionnaire consisting of questions such as demographic data, exercise status, pain, continuing to play music in pandemic, which was prepared on Google Forms was delivered to musicians via social media. Volunteers reached the questionnaire by clicking the appropriate box stating that they gave their consent for participation. Results: The research was completed with 211 participants with a mean age of 37.98±12.90. 94 of the participants (44.5%) had been playing instruments for more than 20 years. 161 people (76.3%) had their own studios. In the pandemic, 40 people (19%) stated that they continued their jobs in the same way, 87 people (41.2%) continued their jobs online, while 84 (39.8%) could not go to work. Concert activities were the most affected occupational activities during the pandemic process (n=118, 55.9%). 120 participants (56.9%) stated that they lost income during the pandemic period. During the pandemic period, the duration of playing an instrument significantly decreased (p=0.00). It was determined that 143 people (67.8%) warmed up before playing and 153 people (72.5%) did not cool down. The pain associated with playing an instrument was mostly in the back region with 44 individuals (20.8%). During the pandemic, the state of exercising compared to the previous period did not change (p> 0.05). Conclusion: It was found that the musicians were negatively affected by the pandemic period and there was no change in terms of exercise and pain status. It is recommended that musicians be informed about warming up, cooling down activities and regular exercise in order to minimize their physical stress during the quarantine periods when they are negatively affected professionally.