Teresa Wenhart - Music, Brain, Psychology
Who I am
Dr. Teresa Wenhart
Psychologist | Neuroscientist | Musician
Education
Teresa studied psychology and musicology in her bachelor's degree and clinical psychology and cognitive neuroscience with a focus on clinical neuropsychology in her master's at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. She also pursued postgraduate studies (CAS) in cello at the Zurich University of the Arts. She earned her Doctor of Natural Sciences degree in the field of neuroscience of music perception through her doctoral work at the Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine (IMMM, Prof. Dr. med. Eckart Altenmüller) at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media in collaboration with the University of Cambridge (UK) as part of the Interdisciplinary Program in Systems Neuroscience (Center for Systemic Neuroscience, Hanover). Additionally, Teresa acquired various other skills through further training, including choir conducting (Lower Saxony Choral Association), leadership, emotional intelligence, project management, and numerous musical masterclasses (see: Music). She is also a certified psychological coach in schema-focussed therapy/coaching (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Schemaarbeit D-A-CH , after Young, 1993).
Psychological Councelling
In 2015, Teresa began her initial research work in the field of musician health and the neuroscience of music. Since then, in addition to her positions at the Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine (HMTM Hannover, Prof. Eckart Altenmüller), she has collaborated with numerous other renowned experts and institutions, including Prof. Lutz Jäncke (University of Zurich), Prof. Simon Baron-Cohen (University of Cambridge), and Prof. Vuust (Center for Music in the Brain). She was also a participant in a two-year neurological research colloquium led by Prof. Dr. Dr. hc. Oertel and contributed to teaching music physiology at HMTM Hannover.
In a clinical (neuro)psychological capacity, Teresa provided assistance to approximately 150 patients over a period of three years following neurological conditions such as stroke or brain tumors. She worked as an assistant at the Neuro-Reha-Team Munich Pasing, conducting neuropsychological diagnostics and assessments, leading various cognitive training groups, and providing neuropsychological individual therapy sessions as a substitute. Teresa repeatedly conducts psychological workshops for musicians, incorporating elements of neuropsychology, schema coaching, and gestalt psychology, as well as imaginative techniques. She is a member of the German Society for Musicians' Medicine (DGfMM), the Swiss Society for Musicians' Medicine (SMM), the Federation of Swiss Psychologists (FSP) and the Swiss Association of Sports Psychology (SASP). In 2024, she received federal recognition as a psychologist with professional authorization.
Awards
Teresa received scholarships from the Max Weber Program Bavaria, the German National Academic Foundation, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellowship from the European Union, and the Science Award from the German Society for Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine.
Volunteer activities
Teresa regularly volunteers in various capacities, including organizing chamber music weekends and charity concerts, serving as a working group leader for the educational program, and participating in the selection committee of the German National Academic Foundation. She is also a member of the Young Musician-Medical Professionals Germany (Jummeds).
Psychology of Music/Musicians' Health, Neuropsychology, Schema-Coaching
Federally acknowledged Psychologist (D,CH)
Psychologist FSP
(Förderation Schweizer Psycholog:innen)
Musician's Health/Music Psychology
DGfMM: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Musikphysiologie & Musikermedizin (D)
SMM: SwissMedMusica (CH)
Mental training
SASP: Swiss Association of Sport Psychology
"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."
Ella Fitzgerald (afroamerican Jazz-Singer)
Values & Philosophy
In addition to my passion for music and science, I hold ethical and humanistic values of society such as tolerance, respect, appreciation, curiosity, openness, as well as unity, social justice, and diversity very dear. I cherish and embrace interdisciplinarity, and I find collaboration with individuals from diverse backgrounds incredibly inspiring.
