Music, Mind & Miracles - Blog

Welcome to PRESTO PATRONUM!

I'm Teresa, born and raised in Munich, and already as a schoolchild, I had two great passions: music and science. This blog covers a wide range of topics at the intersection of musician medicine and music physiology, neuroscience of music, music psychology, audiology, and hearing protection. It is aimed at all active professional and amateur musicians, music educators, as well as music lovers, and aims to help you play music in a healthy and successful way. As a trained clinical neuropsychological psychologist (B.Sc./M.Sc.) with a doctoral thesis in the field of musician medicine (under the supervision of the renowned musician physician and neurologist Eckart Altenmüller at the Institute of Music Physiology and Musician Medicine in Hannover), an active musician (currently at the Zurich University of the Arts), and an engineer in the research and development of auditory solutions, I have accumulated knowledge and experience in these fields over the years (link to bio), which I would like to share.

Note: Although I officially submitted my doctoral thesis at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, I never conduct experiments on musicians. My mixed-breed forest cat, Smilla, would definitely object to that. :-)

Music, Mind & Miracles - Blog: the topics

The following topics will be covered in this blog:

• Background articles on how the brain processes music and achieves musical excellence, as well as the effects of music on the body and mind.

• Scientifically based articles, guides, and tips on how musicians can practice and work in a meaningful and healthy way.

• Reviews of specialist books and book recommendations on these topics, as well as links to further resources.

• Psychological contributions on stress management, social interaction and communication, relationship management, and coping with crises for musicians.

• Summaries of the latest research articles on these topics in accessible language.

• Guest posts by or interviews with other experts.

Presto Patronum - the format

I chose the Music, Mind & Miracles - Blog title "Presto Patronum" for the Music, Mind and Miracles -Blog as a reference to the books I read as a child, which, like many in my generation, taught me how to read (I'm referring to J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series). In this book series, the Patronus charm is performed with the incantation "Expecto Patronum" (Latin for "I summon my protector/patron") and conjures up a protective figure of light that is unique to each individual. This figure of light can be used as a shield against the dreaded Dementors, who bring cold and frost and suck the soul out of the body. Harry Potter himself learns to mentally conjure and strengthen this shield through training with his mentors. "Presto" (musical term meaning "fast") and "Patronum" (Latin for "protective person, patron") is a slight variation of this incantation for the music context. It aims to provide suggestions and information in digestible posts that can be read quickly during breakfast, coffee breaks, or just before a concert. Ideally, they strengthen the mental and physical shield of musicians, provide inspiration, or help use music as a protective charm, like medicine for the mind, promoting well-being.

I'm already looking forward to exciting comments, feedback, questions, suggestions, or any kind of nice messages! :-)

P.S.: You can regularly find cat pictures on Instagram - they work wonders for mental health too!!