Dr. Isabelle Cossette

Biography

Isabelle Cossette holds degrees in flute performance and has completed postdoctoral studies focusing on respiratory mechanics. Her research interests include respiratory mechanics, music performance enhancement, biomechanics, and instrumental pedagogy. She collaborates with leading international researchers and physiologists to bridge scientific knowledge and musical performance. As the founder and director of the Music Performance Body Lab at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, she developed a North American respiratory laboratory utilizing optoelectronic plethysmography. Her work supports multidisciplinary research, focusing on the interaction between performers and their instruments, the mechanics of musicians’ respiratory systems, and performance anxiety. She has published in esteemed journals, served as an external reviewer, and organized numerous research lectures and workshops. Since joining the Schulich School of Music in September 2003, her teaching integrates scientific, performing, and pedagogical insights into music making, with an emphasis on developing new, scientifically-based pedagogies for instrumental learning.

Research Interests

Experience