“Music brings people together,” explains Dennis Buss from experience. The musician from Gronau has made it his mission to promote people musically. “As a Gronauer, I know the Wittekindshof well, so I am particularly pleased to be able to strengthen participation in the world of music.” “Even people who cannot express themselves verbally are included,” he is quoted in a press report.
His concept is based on the idea that music doesn't know right or wrong. “It is a part-time offer from the workshops. These offers aim to promote skills and competencies. The music project is about the social development of the participants. “The group creates a complete song together,” explains Wittekindshof employee Tobias Plugge. The trained master carpenter supports the men and women in the workshops as a certified professional for career development and work education.
At the beginning of the project, the participants get to know their own musical interests. “We discuss what is important to each individual and what he or she would like to sing about.” “Then we choose the style of music and the instruments,” reports Dennis Buss. Some participants prefer pop music, others prefer rock. Rattles, bells and drums are used and played by the participants, and the harmonies are also tuned and recorded. Dennis Buss composes the songs from these elements. He develops suitable song lines for each and every one of the conversations that address the cohesion in the Wittekindshof.
For the recording, the small shop area of the workshop on Losserstrasse, where decorative items for the Advent season are already on display, is transformed into a mobile recording studio. Christina Hackfort is the first to dare to record. She still looks a little nervously at the equipment: microphone, headphones and laptop. “Don’t worry, we’ll do it together.” “I’ll cut the individual sentences together later and it will become a complete song,” Dennis Buss reassures her.
Christina Hackfort
Christina Hackfort gathers her courage, the track starts and she sings: “Everyone has respect and is friendly, the colleagues and the bosses, that's good for me.” “Great, exactly in time!” Buss praises and stretches Hand out to high five. Christina Hackfort strikes and beams. “I’m glad that Dennis supports us so well.” “It’s really fun working with him,” she says happily. Then it's Luca Fritzenwanker's turn. “I feel a bit like a rapper,” he says with a laugh before singing about solidarity and friendship. “It’s strange to hear your own voice,” he adds.
The project participants then hear the finished song “Party Dancing” a few weeks later during a presentation in the workshops. Commercial use is not planned. However, the music project should be continued. “We see how proud the participants are and how much it increases their self-esteem,” says Tobias Plugge. And Dennis Buss adds: “It’s always nice to see how people without much musical experience blossom in front of the microphone.” Music simply brings people together.”
