About my music-life
I studied music at the Musikakademie Basel, Switzerland from 1966-1973 and in Winterthur from 1974-1976. Now they are called Musikhochschule. (Hochschule in German means University, not high school)
In Basel I studied in both professional departments, the Konservatorium (general classical), and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (Early Music) simultaneously.
1970 I graduated with a diploma for Organ (Now called MA in music education)
and an auxiliary diploma for Recorder through the Schweizerischer musikpädagogischer (SmpV) which is now the equivalent of a Bachelor level.
1976 I graduated through the SmpV in Winterthur with a diploma (now MA) for Piano.
In addition to the obligatory classes I took further auditioned professional level classes in Harpsichord, Choirmaster, Composition, Percussion and Dalcroze Eurythmics.
The first master thesis I wrote on integrating ear training in regular private lesson settings, the second thesis I wrote on integrating music therapy in regular music lessons.
To hear some of my music, visit my YouTube channels Tobias Jenny and tobialphorn. Other sound files are on the “About Music” page
My teachers were:
Eduard Mueller, Organ
Eduard Mueller and Jean Goverts, Harpsichord
Hans Martin Linde, Recorder
Ulrich Sandmeier and Hadassah Schwimmer, Piano
Hans Vosseler, Dalcroze Eurythmics
Robert Sutter, Composition
Jean Claude Forestier, Hans Schiesser and Erich Schmid, Percussion
Mimi Sterk Vocal
Further Studies and masterclasses:
Music Therapy, Maria Schueppel
Composition, Giörgy Ligeti
Medieval voice training, Andrea von Ramm
Therapeutic voice training, Ilse Siekbach
Gregorian chant, Pater Roman Bannwart OSB
Harpsichord, Gustav Leonhard
Organ, Hans Vollenweider
Jazz Vibraphone, Dave Pike
2004-2008 I studied theology at the Newman Theological College in Edmonton AB, Canada receiving a Diploma with distinction.
2008-2009 I studied Addiction and Psychosocial Rehabilitation, completing with a Certificate in Community Mental Health Counseling from Douglas college in Vancouver BC
I taught all levels from pre-school to university, taught, worked and studied at the Musiktherapeutische Arbeitsstätte e.V. in Berlin, performed in twelve countries on three continents playing following additional instruments (instruments listed in brackets not played in public):
Brass, or brass mouthpiece:
Trumpet, Euphonium/Tenor Horn, Alphorn, Büchel, (Cornetto/Zink)
Percussion:
Hammered Dulcimer, Timpani, Drums, Marimba- and Vibraphone, Tibetan Singing Bowls
Stringed instruments:
Viola da Gamba, Violin, Viola, Double Bass, Crwth
Lyres, (Folk Harps, Mandolin)
Renaissance and Baroque woodwinds and reeds:
All wind capsule instruments like Krumhorns;
Dulzian, Shawms, (Baroque flute, Piccolo) Various ethnic shepherds flutes, (Bagpipes, Clarinet, Saxophones)
Keyboards:
Accordions, Dutch Carillon, Clavichord
So, people may ask how I managed all this? I am only now (2020) coming to answer this question to myself. As the saying goes, “hindsight is 20/20”.
The first answer becomes obvious in the fact that I was studying up to seven majors simultaneously. This was possible because I had a basically hypo-manic tendency, which later on evolved into a soft bi-polar disorder (diagnosed finally some 10 years ago). A classic way this disorder develops is that at a young age the manic, or in my case hypo-manic phases are much longer than the depressive ones. The older one gets, the manic stages become shorter, and the depressive ones longer. In my manic stages I could practice up to 18 hours non stop and get away with as little as two hours of sleep. But when in a depression, I could sometimes hardly move a finger. In my manic stages I could sight-read music way beyond my usual grade, while during depressed phases I could not play a simple grade 4 tune without mistakes.
Up to my late thirties the manic stages were long enough to produce enough repertoire to carry me through the depressions without realizing that I had depression. I just thought I was screwed up (which was actually accurate), and blamed myself, which was anything but helpful.
As the manic phases became shorter and the depressions longer and more severe, I began screwing up many concerts that fell into depressive phases. By the end, manic phases became as short as a few hours, followed by months of severe depression and I could hardly spend a Sunday at church without screwing up at least one hymn per service. This was aggravated by the fact that the side effects of the medications for bi-polar disorder caused dementia, panic attacks and Parkinson like tremors. 2016, the neurologist confirmed that I have pharma-induced Parkinson disease (up to this time I was on medications for about 5 years). So I had to quit public performing (except in community band settings).
Fortunately this was the time I could collect my pensions. I completely retired, most importantly also from ambition, went off medication, avoided any music that triggers depression such as my favorite music by Brahms and Rachmaninoff. My music therapy training came in quite handy. Rowing too, helped me to keep an even keel. As I went off the medications, my energy levels increased and the tremors gradually disappeared. By mid-2020, I managed to play music I had never been able to play before, which I was quite chuffed about.
Since December 2020 I realized that the Parkinson symptoms have reappeared. This time, I engaged my inner music therapist immediately, signed up for acupuncture and TCM treatment, adjusted my diet and went off alcohol. I now record the development and my observations in the hope that fellow sufferers may glean some tricks for themselves or for friends and perhaps even share in what they think might be helpful for me. Hence the Parkinson”s blog.
P.S. My (hopefully) last Parkinson’s blog provides links to essential sources helping in recovering from Parkinson’s. Since November 6, 2023, I have no signs of Parkinson’s symptoms anymore and am fully “functional”.
Reflections 