Nabeel Zuhdi earned his Master’s in Guitar Performance and Ph.D. in Music with a concentration in Performing Arts Health from the University of North Texas. His study “Occupational Health Problems of Classical Guitarists” is the first known designed to address musculoskeletal and mental health problems associated with classical guitarists. Through his chosen related field as a master’s student, he was exposed to interdisciplinary research in musculoskeletal, psychological, hearing, and vocal health associated with performing and practicing music.

Zuhdi was inspired by his mentor’s (Kris Chesky) research, which proposed that musicians’ health issues are primarily due to occupational behaviors inherent to the music field and its conventions. Consequently, Zuhdi began to explore topics related to the occupational identity of musicians, including its influence on behavior and health, its characteristics, social dynamics, and potential impact on the music discipline. By employing theoretical orientations related to identity and other health variables, he hopes to contribute to the efforts made to influence the discipline to become self-reflected, self-guided, and generative of knowledge regarding musicians’ occupational health.

As a researcher, guitar teacher, and performer, Zuhdi believes that music students at the tertiary level are at the heart of this effort. Having mentored and collaborated with several music students, Zuhdi trusts that undergraduate and graduate music students have an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their academic ability through interdisciplinary projects that are practical and applicable to issues associated with performance, pedagogy, and beyond.