Music therapy and me!

Welcome to my brand new first ever Blog all about music therapy and me!

My name is Anwen Hedd Mulligan (my parents chose names that, upon translation, do not accurately describe me at all; Anwen means 'fair one,' and Hedd means 'peace'; I am neither fair nor peaceful!). quite the opposite, I'm a dark brunette and love the sound of my own voice.

Moving on.... I am a mother to two incredibly amazing children, wife to an awesome husband (also a phenomenal guitarist), and daughter to two of the strongest people I know! I am also a sister to my beautiful twin, Lowri, who I miss every day, and my gorgeous brother, Rhodri.

More family stuff will unravel over time as I share with you all.

I have always been musical and can't remember being interested in anything else. I was lucky enough to have very musical parents who gently guided me towards the creative side of life. They started us on piano lessons at 7 years old. I was also part of a local recorder group, and after seeing my older brother playing cornet in Mickey's Club brass band, Mountain Ash, I soon took up the cornet, which became my principal instrument. Soon, I was in the junior band playing solos in concerts. Growing up, I moved on to the trumpet so that I could attend the County youth orchestra with my friends. I made it into the Mid Glamorgan Youth Orchestra and Wind Band, and had the best experience any teenager could expect with residential courses (4 a year) and being exposed to some of the most incredible music and musicians.

I studied for my music degree at Surrey University and had the best three years. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so I auditioned for a place on the Master's in performance at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I was offered a place, but knew deep down I didn't really want to be a professional musician. I also didn't want to be a teacher (my parents successfully put me off that). What I really wanted to be was a Music Therapist! I had wanted to be one since I was about 15 years old, after reading about it and meeting one of the most talented music therapists Wales has produced, Helen Gwyllim.

Cutting a long story short, the summer in between the end of my degree and the start of my Master's, the UK was allowing under-25-year-olds to apply to be a music therapist! My decision was made! I was going to become a music therapist!!!

I waited until my parents were in another country holidaying before I told them that I had dropped out of the Master's course and was going to apply to be a music therapist. I feel awful now for doing this, but I knew it was the right decision, and even though my father was worried I would never make money, I didn't want to be anything else.

They loyally supported me through the application and interview process and kindly let me live with them again during the two-year course. They had already turned my old bedroom into a guest room, so I knew my stay needed to be short!

It was during this period of time that I met my husband. How he put up with all the stress of having a post-grad girlfriend, I don't know, but let's just say he was ace at it! Soon, we moved in together, much to my parents' relief, and I graduated in 2004 and was finally a certified music therapist!!!!

Wow, that was a big introduction!

I guess I have started this Blog as I want a space to share my thoughts, experiences, funny stories, and challenges with anyone interested in reading about it. I am also trying to write a bigger piece on a bigger topic, and this is a good way to get into writing, apparently!

So if you have gotten this far, stick with me, I promise it will get better!

Follow me and find out!