We’re all responding in our own unique ways as the coronavirus races around the world, with more and more of us finding our selves in lockdown. We’re having to self-isolate, or, as Samuel L. Jackson puts it, Stay the F**k at Home. Despite our differences, so many of us are turning to one thing — music. Separated from others, we come together through music. We’ve seen it on the balconies of Italy . We’ve seen it on the internet — from celebrity musicians to local neighbors in their home concerts. We’ve even seen it on the balconies in my hometown of Montreal. Hungering for human connection, we know that music is our path.
The powers of music are undeniable. One of its greatest powers lies in its diversity. There are so many different music styles. Something for everyone in every taste, in every walk of life, in every moment in life. It is evident in Yo-Yo Ma’s rendition of Dvorak’s Going Home.
It is evident in the indie music of the Indigo Girls’ Gallileo. And it is as evident in the haunting pop vocal of P!nk’s To Make You Feel My Love cover.
In these and all the other stay-at-home concerts, we see the rich diversity of music and its power to connect. But that’s not all. Music moves us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. That’s as true when we listen to others making music as when we make music ourselves. It’s as true when we create our own music as when we re-create someone else’s music. In listening to and making music, we make it our very own. Music allows us to express the inexpressible. When words fail, music is there. In this way, the explosion of music we are seeing now is not only the result of the pandemic and our forced isolation; it may be the antidote. As a music therapist, I can confirm that there is considerable research documenting the incredible powers of music for ourselves alone or within music therapy. More on that later. For now in these times of pandemic, let me recommend you go get yourself a daily dose of music.
As I go get my own dose, I’ll leave you with one final selection. Whether saying goodbye to an old love (earlier days of freedom?) or kicking Coronavirus’ butt, you can’t go wrong with Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”.