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Singing away the coronavirus blues: making music in a time of crisis reminds us we belong
March 24, 2020
By Michelle Langley and Leah Coutts
In being confined to our homes, we are missing our normal social support from friends and family, and our freedom
to control our day-to-day lives. But making music provides a means to regain control.
People in Spain have been filmed acting out with music, creating duos across apartment buildings. The citizens of
Wuhan chanting “Keep it up, Wuhan!” and singing patriotic songs from their windows encouraged themselves and
[5] their neighbours in their efforts to save their city. In Italy, citizens have been playing instruments and singing from
their balconies during their lockdown. Parodies on YouTube are both lifting community spirits and reminding people
to look after each other.
For some, this behaviour might have begun with trying to break the tedium of staying confined at home. But others
clearly wished to support their community in one of the only ways they had left available to them: by making music.
[10] It is an antidote to the growing sense of alienation and isolation in society in general – even more so now we are
being asked to actively practise social distancing and isolation. In the face of uncertainty and panic, music is a social
balm for soothing anxiety, enhancing community connections and acting in defiance of a threat to community spirit.
During the coronavirus crisis, community support has evolved from a series of spontaneous musical flash mobs to
connect with each other to coordinated displays of appreciation – including clapping, shouting and singing – to
[15] acknowledge the health workers on the front lines. Much like singing, this external expression of gratitude is helping
people to cope in times of crisis: providing personal and social development, mental health and well-being benefits,
and community strength and harmony.
Finding the first evidence for singing – likely our first foray into music – is impossible, though instruments dating
back some 40,000 years have been found in Europe. These bone flutes would not be the first instruments to be
[20] created, however, as they already show signs of complex design and most musical tools, such as skin drums,
couldn’t survive the many thousands of years to discovery by an archaeologist.
Today, music is the most consumed form of culture. People listen to music to regulate their mood, to achieve self
awareness, and as an expression of personal and collective identity and social relatedness.
The ability of music to increase social cohesion and direct human attention was probably a key reason for its
[25] development throughout human behavioural evolution, allowing early humans to convey emotions and intentions
effectively. This communication could prove decisive in times of stress, and ultimately mean the difference between
life and death. Now, we are seeing this age-old human adaptation once again being mobilised in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic to keep communities pulling together.
Retrieved and adapted from https://theconversation.com/singing-away-the-coronavirus-blues-making-music-in-a-time-of-crisis-reminds-us-webelong-133790. Access on April 20, 2020.
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