Musicians’ Dystonia: A Neurological, Pedagogical, and Technical Perspective

Joaquín Farias – University of Vienna, Department of Music

Musicians’ dystonia is a highly specialized movement disorder that challenges performers at the highest levels, often disrupting technique, confidence, and artistic expression. In this four-hour lecture and workshop, Joaquín Farias—researcher, clinician, professional musician, and pedagogue with more than three decades of pioneering work in neuroplastic rehabilitation—will offer an integrated and accessible exploration of this condition and its major subtypes.

Through a multidisciplinary lens, the session will address:
Musicians’ Hand Focal Dystonia
Mechanisms influencing finger coordination, timing, and precision.
Embouchure Dystonia
Neuromuscular disruptions affecting tone production, stability, and airflow in brass and woodwind performers.
Drummer’s Foot Dystonia
Lower-limb dystonia impacting rhythmic control and technical execution in percussionists.

Joaquín Farias will bridge neuroscience, performance pedagogy, and technical training to illuminate the origins of dystonia, the factors that contribute to its development, and the pathways toward meaningful recovery. Drawing on clinical experience, research findings, and his background as a performing musician, he will demonstrate practical neuroplastic retraining strategies that musicians, teachers, and therapists can apply in real-world settings.
The workshop component includes demonstrations, guided exercises, case discussions, and opportunities for participants to experience foundational neuroplastic training principles firsthand. Join us for a comprehensive and inspiring session that reframes musicians’ dystonia not as a definitive limitation, but as a condition that—through targeted understanding and retraining—can be improved and often overcome.

Joaquín Farias is an internationally recognized researcher, clinician, and professional musician specializing in neuroplastic rehabilitation for movement disorders. For more than three decades, he has investigated the mechanisms underlying focal dystonia and developed innovative retraining approaches that have helped thousands of people worldwide improve motor control and quality of life. 
Throughout his career, Farias has coached artists from Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Classical, Philips, and EMI, as well as Grammy Award–winning performers. His expertise has also been sought by elite athletes, including Olympians and Paralympians, who have applied his neuroplastic training methods to optimize performance and recovery.
He is the author of influential books on dystonia and neuroplasticity, a frequent lecturer at universities and medical centers, and a leading figure in the development of holistic, evidence-informed strategies for motor retraining and recovery. As both a clinician and a performing musician, Joaquín Farias offers a uniquely integrated perspective that bridges neuroscience, pedagogy, athletic performance, and artistic practice.