In July 2025, the in Tertiary Music Institutions was formally presented at the Global Summit on Occupational Health in Music, hosted by Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC. Bringing together contributions from 121 experts worldwide, the paper sets out a framework for how music education institutions can embed health and wellbeing into their teaching, culture, and community.
Among those contributors was Matt Frost, Clinical Audiologist and Hearing Therapist at Harley Street Hearing & Musicians’ Hearing Services, who attended the conference online. The publication marks a significant step toward global collaboration in musicians’ health, drawing on expertise across audiology, psychology, performance science, and education to improve the way institutions prepare musicians for healthy, sustainable careers.
“The conference was a resounding success,” says Matt. “It was wonderful to witness so many professionals, from so many sectors all over the globe, gather together to better musicians’ occupational health.”
Seven Recommendations for a Healthier Future in Music
The Position Paper outlines seven key recommendations designed to help tertiary music institutions take a more holistic approach to health. These range from transforming institutional culture and curriculum design to empowering students as advocates for wellbeing.
Particularly relevant to audiology and hearing health, the paper highlights the importance of:
– Cross-sector collaboration, encouraging institutions to partner with health professionals such as audiologists, physiotherapists, and psychologists.
– Embedding health within the curriculum, so that topics like hearing conservation, sound exposure awareness, and injury prevention become part of everyday teaching.
– Accessible health support systems, ensuring students and staff can easily access clinical expertise when needed.
These recommendations recognise that musicians’ health is not solely an individual responsibility. It is a shared institutional and professional commitment.
Harley Street Hearing’s Commitment to Musicians’ Wellbeing
At Harley Street Hearing & Musicians’ Hearing Services, these principles are already part of everyday practice. Through initiatives such as the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme, which has helped over 20,000 musicians since its inception, and through the provision of diagnostic hearing tests, audiological evaluations, and custom-made hearing protection designed specifically for performance environments, the clinic supports musicians in safeguarding their hearing.
Building on this, the Musicians’ Hearing Services continues to actively support the music community. This includes delivering educational talks at conservatoires and music colleges, offering hearing aid and tinnitus support services tailored to musicians, and strengthening partnerships with institutions seeking to improve health outcomes for their students and staff.
These efforts align closely with the Position Paper’s vision of collaboration between health professionals and music educators to promote safe, sustainable musicianship.
A Personal Perspective
For Matt, musicians’ hearing health is both a personal and professional passion:
“As a hearing aid user and having trained as an orchestral percussionist, musicians’ hearing health is a long standing passion, which inspired my route into working as an audiologist for the Musicians’ Hearing Services. It was a real honour to be invited by lead author Dr Raluca Matei to contribute to such an important piece of international work. This collaboration reflects exactly what we strive for at Harley Street Hearing—uniting clinical expertise, lived experience, and education to make music a safer profession.”
Looking Ahead
The Position Paper provides an inspiring blueprint for the future of music education, where health and artistry go hand in hand and the paper is currently being submitted for publication. Harley Street Hearing & Musicians’ Hearing Services is proud to contribute to this movement, working with musicians, educators, and institutions to protect hearing and promote wellbeing at every stage of a performer’s journey.
If you’re a musician, educator, or institution looking to strengthen your approach to hearing health, get in touch with Harley Street Hearing today. Together, we can ensure that the sound of your future remains clear, vibrant, and enduring.
Book a consultation
If you’re interested in hearing protection or simply want to learn more about looking after your hearing, contact Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services to arrange an appointment and get expert advice tailored to your needs, so you can keep performing at your best for years to come.
