Teresa Wenhart - Music, Brain, Psychology
Contributions in the media
Newspaper articles, book contributions, program booklet articles & lectures
Teresa Wenhart
MusiciansBackstage
Psychology for Musicians
“After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well”
Albert Einstein
100 Years of Miles Davis: What We Can Learn from Him
Radio Broadcast in the Swiss Radio Channel SRF 2 Kultur
(in german)
“Miles Davis is more than a jazz icon: over the decades, as an innovator and visionary, he continually challenged his fellow musicians to reach new creative heights, creating something new again and again. How did he do it?
A creativity researcher and two musicians reflect on Miles’ leadership style, his approach to mistakes, and his courage to take risks: Grammy-winning jazz bassist Christian McBride, a key figure in the African American jazz scene; Austrian trumpeter Thomas Gansch, who has a close connection to Miles Davis; as well as psychologist, neuroscientist, and musician Teresa Wenhart. Together with them, jazz specialist Annina Salis dives into the life and work of this musician of the century. What can we learn from Miles Davis’ unique creative mindset in times of AI and societal change?" (Source: SRF)
Listen to the full episode here on the SRF media library (in german):
100 Years of Miles Davis: What We Can Learn from Him
SRF-online article (in german):
Goodby perfection! What Miles Davis teaches us about creativity
Emotions in Practice & the Inner Orchestra (Schema Work)
Podcast Episode
Guest in the Podcast "What is practice...?" byPatrick Hinsberger
(in german)
"May is Mental Health Awareness Month — and, just like in the past two years, I’ve once again invited an expert to talk about this important topic.
Dr. Teresa Wenhart is a psychologist and cellist who is considered a pioneer in adapting schema-based coaching specifically for musicians. In our conversation, we not only explored what makes her work as a schema therapist so unique, but especially how emotions can both support and hinder us while practicing.
We talked about our inner critic, the inner protector, and what Teresa means by our “Inner Orchestra".”
"
Episode in written text (in german): Schema Therapy for Musicians – How the ‘Inner Orchestra’ Changes Your Practice
Earworm & Nostalgia effect of Music
Interview
Interview for the swiss commuter newspaper "20 Minuten"
(in german)
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Interview for an article in the commuter newspaper "20 Minuten"
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Why do certain songs, like "Last Christmas," get stuck in our heads as earworms on repeat?
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How do earworms form in the brain?
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What emotional effects do Christmas songs have?
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Which memories and personal emotions does music evoke (the nostalgia effect)?
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The socially bonding power of music
Link: Interview für 20 Minuten
Music & Health
Interview
Interview for the swiss commuter newspaper "20 Minuten"
(in german)
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How does constant auditory exposure affect the brain?
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Positive aspects of listening to music on health and creative performance
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Hearing protection & hearing health, including SUVA recommendations
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Distractability caused by background music depending on one's own musical experience
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Listening fatigue and neurodiversity
Link: Interview for 20 Minuten
Music & Writing: Cognitive Performance & Personality
Interview
Interview for the german magazine "Federwelt" for professional writers
(in german)
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More productivity in writing through music?
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Effects of music on the brain, cognitive functions, emotions, and the body
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Different effects depending on personality types?
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The influence of music in neurodiversity (high sensitivity, ADHD, autism)
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Personal insights into Teresa’s writing process for her blog for musicians
Link: Interview for Federwelt
Mental Health & Support Services in Music Studies
Interview
Interview for the German Music and Orchestra Association"Uni-Sono"
(in german)
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Critical Reflection on Values in Music Studies
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Effectiveness of Professional Support: Experiences and Insights
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Schema Work with Musicians
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Self-Competence and Coping Patterns Among Music Students at the Zurich University of the Arts
Link: Interview for Uni-Sono
Feature Story - Annual Report Sonova AG
Feature Story
Sonova AG
"While some love to get lost in sound, for others it’s about being taken somewhere else. Teresa is fascinated by the connection between sound, health and wellbeing. She speaks from the heart when she says, “Music has this ability to transport us out of our daily lives into an emotional world of sounds.”
"Music is more than a language of emotions"
Guest article - Phonak Audiology Blog
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The universal language of mankind
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Structural similarities of Music and Speech
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The neurochemical magic of music
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Audiological care & professional ear user
Read more: Phonak Audiology Blog - Music is more than a language of emotions
Backstage - About the incredible physiological and mental performances of orchestra musicians
Book chapter
On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Bavarian State Orchestra (Orchester der Bayerischen Staatsober München), one of the oldest orchestras in the world, a book with contributions from various authors will be published in 2023. The book (in german) "500 Jahre gelebte Tradition: Das bayerische Staatsorchester" is aimed at a broad audience and will be released by Florian Amort, dramaturg of the Bregenz Festival and music journalist at several institutions (e.g. FAZ, crescendo, Deutschlandfunk), under support of the Musical Academy of the Bayerian State Orchestra e. V.. Teresa Wenhart contributes to the book with a book chapter on physiological and mental aspects of performaning orchestra musicians
Release date: 07/2023, Bärenreiter-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-7618-2642-3, BVK 04020,
500 Jahre gelebte Tradition / Bärenreiter Verlag (baerenreiter.com)
Order here: In all book stores, online or directly from Bärenreiter Verlag
Diversity & Inclusion: Aspects of music perception
Invited talk at the University for Music, Hamburg
Title (german) "Ich höre was, das du nicht hörst – Autismus und absolutes Gehör als Beispiel für Neurodiversität an Musikhochschulen" in the course of the lecture series (german) "Nicht ohne uns!" at the University for Music and Drama, Hamburg (11/2022)
Six evenings were devoted to the central question of which prerequisites must be met in the academic-artistic training of a university for music and theater in order to qualify disabled people for a professional life as musicians, composers or school musicians or as actors, directors or dramaturges.
Talk in german language!
Autism and Music
Article in "Schweizer Musikzeitung"
Wolfang Böhler, president of the Swiss Society for Musicians' Medicine, pianist, musicologist, and mathematician, summarized Teresa Wenhart's dissertation in the article "Autism and Music - The evidence for complex relationships between absolute pitch and autism is growing stronger." (03/2021).
Link (article in german): https://www.musikzeitung.ch/basis/2021/03/autismus-und-musik
Science Prize 2019
German Society for Music Physiology & Musicians Medicine
Article in "Musikphysiologie und Musikermedizin"
Doctoral Thesis
Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine (HMTM Hannover) &
Center for Systems Neurosciences Hannover (CSN)
"Absolute pitch ability, cognitive style and autistic traits : a neuropsychological and electrophysiological study" (2019)
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. med. Eckart Altenmüller, Prof. Dr. Felix Felmy, Prof. Dr. Bruno Kopp
External examination: PD. Dr. Peter Schneider
research cooperation: Autism Research Center, University of Cambridge (Prof. Simon Baron-Cohen)
Link: https://elib.tiho-hannover.de/receive/tiho_mods_00000207
"FANomen" - Neuropsychological Aspects of Music and Sports
Contribution to concert booklet (in german)
Moritz Eggert: "Die Tiefe des Raumes. Ein Fußballoratorium" (Libretto: Michael Klaus)
for large orchestra, four soloists, mixed choir and three speakers
24.8.2019, Gustav Mahler Saal, Toblach (Festspiele Südtirol)
25.8.2019, Philharmonie im Gasteig, München
Conductor: Moritz Eggert
Choir rehearsals: Christian Jeub
Artistic direction: Martin Wettges
Choir and Orchestra of the Music Academy of the German National Academic Foundation
I hear what you do not hear
Interview | Article in the Magazine of the Berlin Philharmonic
"Only a few people have an absolute ear - and yet they are not more musical."
For this article by Annette Kuhn in the magazine of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Teresa Wenhart was interviewed by the author about her research. The results of the interview have been summarized and published by her in this article. (No. 3, 2017)
(in german)
"A Matter of Perspective"
Article in the magazine "Pressto" of the University of Music, Drama and Media, Hannover
"Perfect Pitch, Autism and Connectivity in the Brain"
Teresa Wenhart summarized her research work at the Institute for Music Physiology and Musician's Medicine (IMMM) for the series "What I'm about" of the university magazine of the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (No. 1, 2019).
(in german)
