A Pianist’s Technique Rehabilitation After Post-Traumatic Stress: An Autoethnographic Study

Abstract

Individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have access to a number of sources detailing the neuropsychological effects and influence of PTSD on their day-to-day lives. While the information on the effects and influence of PTSD may be helpful in understanding the scope of the disorder, there is a lack of knowledge on how to rehabilitate musicians, specifically pianists, who experience these effects. PTSD is especially detrimental to a pianist’s abilities, and consequently, without concentrated rehabilitation strategies designed to combat the effects of PTSD, pianists suffering from PTSD may forfeit professional opportunities resulting in loss of livelihood and income. After the first author’s experience with PTSD, she suffered from the same effects frequently described in the literature. Through personal journalling, informed music teaching, and self-reflection, she aimed to discover whether musical rehabilitation was possible.