Week 1- Annamarie Dwozan

One week down, and 4 to go! I can’t believe how much we, as students have come together and solved so many of the cultural complications. You push the doors, instead of pull. There is no air-conditioning (but having all the windows open in class is fun!) We immediately learned how to ride bikes as a group (much harder than it looks). Thank goodness a lot of people speak English here, but the barrier is prevalent in some situations, and I’ve had to really think about my own facial expressions in order to make sure I’m conveying things properly. All in all, it is purely amazing being around students from all over North America and Germany that are just as passionate as I am about this profession! 

It was amazing to me that from the moment all of us students stepped off the plane, we had to work as a team. We quickly taught each other the German words and phrases in order to get around on our own. We’ve had to adapt to different personalities, and learn how to live with new people. We’ve had accustom ourselves to the expenses of the country, and learn how to get around on trains. In class, we are constantly sharing our different perspectives and experiences from training and practicums. I’ve seen the importance of Music Therapists being able to work as team, it’s still such a young profession that we must communicate, and update each other on what’s going on (from all over the world). It’s key in expanding a profession.  

As a musician I’ve learned that sometimes “finding expression is a task.” When I heard this from one of the German music therapists, a light bulb went off in my mind. This is a simple phrase that I’ve NEEDED to hear all my life. I think this is half of my frustration with Piano. Besides my lack of practice, I tend to get very frustrated when I can’t convey what I feel through the instrument (improve), it’s been easier for me to receive feeling through reading music. I miss my Piano already!

The REM museum in Mannheim taught me that you can make a musical instrument out of anything. Humans have been making instruments out of all types of materials for centuries. To be a therapist you don’t have to use the best, most expensive instruments because expression and creativity is the most important part in therapy!

It didn’t take me long to learn a lot as a therapist and as a musician. If I’ve learned this much in 1 week, I may be a genius after another month! J