Tracy Cowden studies music’s positive impact on the brain and body

UTSA’s Tracy Cowden researches how music positively impacts the brain and body.

(March 21, 2019) -- UTSA researcher, Tracy Cowden, D.M.A, the Roland K. Blumberg Endowed Professor in Music and chair of the UTSA Department of Music, is fascinated with the idea of music as medicine. The pianist and lecturer studies the ways music positively impacts physical and mental health, frequently reducing the need for pain medication.

As a collaborative pianist, Cowden enjoys making music with others, whether in duos, chamber music or orchestral settings. She has presented master classes and workshops on topics related to collaborative music-making and creative programming across the nation. Cowden has also been a presenter or performer at several different national music conferences.

Cowden is a Michigan native and first-generation college student. She received her D.M.A. and M.M. degrees in piano accompanying and chamber music from the Eastman School of Music, and a B.M. degree in piano performance from Western Michigan University.

We asked Cowden about her research on music as medicine, which is a topic she recently discussed during UTSA’s 50th Anniversary Scholars Speaker Series.

Can you tell us about your research?

This is a relatively new area of research for me, but as a performing artist, I’ve been interested for a long time in how I can use my performances to directly benefit the health and wellbeing of those around me. I’ve performed in various health care settings on and off throughout my career, and I’m now trying to pair that with research opportunities to clarify the connection between music and health.

I’ve had preliminary meetings with potential research partners across various fields, including music therapists, social scientists at UTSA, leaders of non-profit arts organizations, and medical professionals in San Antonio, and I am very excited to launch new research opportunities soon.

Tell us about the most important thing going on in your field that people aren’t talking about enough.

There is mounting evidence of the health benefits of listening to or participating in music making, and yet arts-based experiences are not yet a part of the entire picture of health and well-being in the United States. Sound Health is a new initiative, a partnership between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Kennedy Center, and these organizations are both supporting research in this area and serving as a hub for promoting and disseminating this transdisciplinary work in music and wellness. This is one of the most exciting large-scale initiatives in this work in the United States.

What makes the UTSA Department of Music so unique

Our students and faculty have such a wide range of experiences and interests, and as a result, they create really interesting career portfolios in music. We have several very entrepreneurial faculty members who work in multiple sub-disciplines within music, and being in such a vibrant city as San Antonio gives them an opportunity to use those skills in vastly different ways. They are always willing to share those experiences and mentor students to develop their own unique path in music and beyond, and this helps our students not only see what is possible, but gain practical and artistic skills that will help prepare them for their professional careers. The department also has a strong focus on pedagogy; we prepare future music educators of all types (school music, individual studio instruction, community music), and they have a wide range of opportunities to practice those skills while they are students at UTSA.

How has your personal journey influenced your work

As a pianist, I primarily perform with other musicians in duos, chamber music and orchestral settings. Those experiences of working with so many different types of musicians have built my interest in looking at the bigger picture of music in higher education and trying to help all areas within that be successful. I still really enjoy performing, but I especially enjoy helping others strive for success, no matter what the task is. And as a former first-generation college student, I am especially passionate about helping those students succeed.

What’s your favorite thing to do in San Antonio?

Explore the city! My husband and I love learning about what makes San Antonio unique, and we have enjoyed experiencing new (to us) food, culture, nature, neighborhoods and historic sites in the area.

— Kara Soria

Learn more about Tracy Cowden.

Learn more about the UTSA Department of Music.

Celebrate UTSA’s 50th Anniversary and share social media posts about the 50th using the hashtag #UTSA50.

Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.