Prof. Dr. Daniel Sebastian Scholz

Born in Tübingen in 1983, Daniel Sebastian Scholz studied psychology and jazz composition in Marburg and Osnabrück. He obtained his doctorate at the Center for Systems Neuroscience in Hannover. Since 2011, he has worked as a research associate at the Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians’ Medicine at the University of Music, Theater, and Media in Hannover. He engaged in various research projects exploring the impact of music on mental and physical health. Moreover, from 2015 to 2019, he taught as a lecturer in jazz composition and arrangement as well as educational psychology.

The 39-year-old gained experience in the field of musicians’ health during eleven years at the Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians’ Medicine in Hannover: “The demand for qualified advice is substantial and has grown significantly in recent years. Approximately 50 percent of musicians, for instance, experience stage fright at times. More and more universities are recognizing the necessity of prevention and support in this area. Our focus will be on prevention and the mental health of musicians.”

Since May 2021, Scholz has also been practicing as a licensed clinical psychotherapist, specializing in behavioral therapy with a focus on the mental health of music professionals.
Starting from the winter semester of 2022/23, Daniel Sebastian Scholz occupies the new position jointly established by both universities, namely University of Music and the University of Lübeck, for research, teaching, and consultation purposes, with a focus on the mental health of musicians, this position is unique in Germany.

CONFERENCE – “Making music as the only source of self-esteem?”

Professor Doctor Daniel Sebastian Scholz, heading the newly established musician health professorship in Lübeck, places a strong emphasis on mental well-being. As many musicians suffer from health issues such as painful tension, restricted mobility, stage fright, and performance anxiety. These problems can have significant consequences for their music careers and, in the worst case, lead to their premature end. Causes often include overexertion due to excessive practice, psychological stress, performance pressure, or instrument handling. His conference covers topics such as self-worth beyond the instrument, the destigmatization of mental stress in the professional lives of classical musicians, fundamentals of healthy musical practice, as well as on stage fright treatment.