Cross-Cultural Collaboration: JYU and EdUHK Unite to Explore the Power of Music and Physical Activity for Mental Wellbeing
Funded by the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at EdUHK, the collaboration seeks to explore the intersections of physical activity, music, and mental health, as well as to incorporate these findings into educational practices.
Highlights of Collaboration: seminars, workshops, and upcoming scientific outputs
One of the events of this partnership was an in-person seminar held at JYU in August 2024, where experts from both institutions came together to share insights on music and sports performance, music and physical education, and the use of motion capture technology. The seminar also included sessions on music therapy practices, providing practical insights into the application of music in therapeutic settings.
The series of seminars, both online and in-person, emphasized the potential of combining music with physical activity to foster improved mental health in various groups, including children and older adults. As the partnership goes on, it is set to produce significant scientific outputs by the end of 2024.
"We are excited about strengthening research together within these areas through a series of joint studies and coordinated funding efforts. Also, we are planning future opportunities for both teams to engage in shared conference participation, further solidifying our partnership and impact in the field", comments Dr. Andrew Danso, who co-leads the project together with Dr. Anna Wong.
Continuing collaboration and future initiatives
This collaboration will continue with further activities aimed at strengthening the understanding of how physical activity and music can be integrated to support mental health and wellbeing. The insights gained from this partnership are expected to contribute to the development of new educational strategies and therapeutic approaches at both institutions. The project is open for further collaboration and those who are interested in exploring the topic with the team are encouraged to get in touch.
The project is co-led by Dr. Anna Wong from EdUHK and Dr. Andrew Danso from CoE MMBB at the Ģֱ. Both have facilitated the collaboration, which involves researchers and educators from both institutions. The team from the Ģֱ includes Dr. Geoff Luck, Dr. Joshua S. Bamford, Alicia Lucendo-Noriega, Nandhini Natarajan, and Marianne Taipale amongst others who have expertise in the fields of music, movement synchronisation, and music therapy. Their counterparts at EdUHK include Dr. Claudia Wong and Dr. Gary Chow who bring their knowledge in sports coaching, sports psychology, and mindfulness practices for sports performance.
The online seminars can be viewed here:
Seminar 1: Integrating Physical Activity with Music to Enhance Mental Health and Wellbeing
Speakers:
Dr. Joshua Bamford – Music, Social Bonding and Movement: Implications for Well-being
Dr. Claudia Wong & Ms. Carmen Chan – Mindfulness and Self-Compassion in Sports Coaching & PE
Passcode: twf=8#43
Seminar 2: Supporting Children's Socio-emotional Development in Music and Physical Education (PE) Lessons
Speakers:
Alicia Lucendo-Noriega – Early Music and Physical Education for Children’s Social-Emotional Development
Dr. Anna Wong & Mr. Kenneth Ho – Using Music in the Teaching and Learning of Fundamental Movement and Its Effects on Children’s Wellbeing
Passcode: QU5ysjR?
Seminar 3: Music and Movement in Health Promotion and Treatment
Speakers:
Dr. Patti Nijhuis – Groove: The What and How of Movement Induction Through Music
Dr. Nerdinga Snape – Embodied Emotions: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?
Mr. Edmund Ma – Music-with-movement Based Interventions For Community Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment / Early-stage Dementia, and Their Caregivers
Passcode: p*muP2g4
For more information:
Dr. Andrew Danso
Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain
Ģֱ
Email: andrew.a.dansoadu@jyu.fi
Phone: +358 40 664 3034
Dr. Anna Wong
Education University of Hong Kong
Email: annawong@eduhk.hk
