The Lived Experience of No Longer Being Able to Play a Musical Instrument Due to Physical Impairments: A Heuristic Study

For musicians, injury or illness can mean not only the loss of performance opportunities but also the end of a lifetime's calling. What is it like to face such a profound change? This study explores the lived experience of musicians who could no longer play their instruments due to a physical impairment. Using collective heuristic inquiry, we talked to 13 musicians across four countries. Phenomenological analysis revealed the deeply personal and far-reaching impact of their experience, with the following elements: (a) being shaken to the core, (b) in turmoil: the pounding waves of uncertainty, (c) grieving the lost spark, (d) feeling left out, (e) new body awareness, (f) yearning to fill the void, (g) a shift in one's relation to music, and (h) the dawn of meaning. These findings offer a deeper understanding of this life-altering experience and provide insights for those seeking to offer meaningful support.