WHERE ARE WE NOW?
It is summer and the world is just beginning to emerge from many seasons of fear and isolation. I am extremely fortunate and privileged to be in a place where the prevalence and dangers of COVID-19 are fading and restrictions are lifting. As soon as I was eligible, along with thousands of others, I became vaccinated at Gillette Stadium, the giant football stadium here in Massachusetts. Too bad I wasn’t in western Massachusetts to witness the awe of a spontaneous concert by cellist, Yoyo Ma, a generous offering after his own vaccination. But now that I have this protection, I am able to gather with loved ones once again, and look forward to being back at Berklee for in-person classes in the fall.
The pandemic is far from over, with new variants and worrisome statistics across many countries. But it appears that we are at a turning point, with hope that access to vaccines and vigilance to iterations of the virus will allow us to rejoin our communities safely. At times of transition like these, we have the opportunity to reflect on our experiences and use this wisdom to help others and contribute to society at large. So I have been asking my students what they will remember about this global pandemic. Yes, there have been so many losses, but what about moments of gratitude and meaning? I remind them that they have shown resilience by staying with their studies during this challenging time. But when they learn from their encounters, re-evaluate how they are living, and use their talents to serve others, they can triumph over adversity. Psychologist Jamil Zaki says: “Resilience is staying the course through a storm. Growth is charting a new course” (see Zaki’s “The War for Kindness”).
After we have lived without live music-making, ensembles, and concerts for so long, what will this “new course” look like in the world of music? How can we create a new musical world that celebrates our common humanity, makes music of all kinds more accessible, and reminds us of what is beautiful and right (or must be righted!) in the world?
AFFIRMING A NEW COURSE OF ACTION
In my solitude, I felt powerless, overwhelmed by the state of affairs, and despondent about how I could possibly grow out of this. Then I met Emmy-winning producer, guitarist, and composer, Chris Sholar, who urged me to create an affirmation (just like the personal jingle I mentioned in a previous blog post) and offered to orchestrate it. Here it is:
“My presence in this world has purpose. What I do and who I am can make a difference. I pledge to be present. I pledge to be good. I pledge to bring peace wherever and however I can.”
Collectively, if we weave together our imaginative threads of hope for the future, what a colorful quilt we can embroider! Already, the creative spirits of the world have written, researched, and recorded their experiences through the era of COVID-19. I asked the students in my research class to investigate how music has been applied during this time, and their findings appear in a blog for the International Association for Music & Medicine.
“Virtual music-based interventions have helped people connect with music, music therapy, and music medicine strategies, and musicians have been using their talents to share their creations and personal expressions via online platforms.”
Indeed, tele-health has added a new dimension of care to reach those who are home-bound or unable to travel. Music of almost every genre is available and ready for downloading. What can we learn from this time and from the musical offerings of this time?
EXPLORING THE WISDOM OF MUSIC
There is wisdom in connecting with music. “The Symphony of Science” chronicles the musical backgrounds and talents of nine Nobel Laureates, and gives us an inkling of what we can learn from music.
“From seeing problems in a new way to fostering discipline, expressing creativity to working as a team, music has helped many laureates in both work and life.”
“The code of life is like Beethoven’s Symphony – it’s intricate, it’s beautiful. But we don’t know how to write like that.” – Chemist Frances Arnold in her 2018 Nobel Lecture, regarding how she applied genetic change and selection to create proteins
Actually, we do know how to write like that. We write our lives, our stories, our sounds, our messages, and our feelings – not just like Beethoven, but very much from our own hearts and souls. Thomas Südhof, another Nobel Laureate, states:
“I think trying to be marginally successful in learning how to be a musician taught me how to be a scientist: there is no creativity if one does not master the subject and pay exquisite attention to the details, but there is also no creativity if one cannot transcend the details and the common interpretation of such details, and use one’s mastery of the subject like an instrument to develop new ideas.”
MAKING LASTING MEMORIES
It’s certainly a good time to generate new ideas for a better future. Yet we must acknowledge the struggles and losses that have led us to this time and place. Music pays tribute to the legacy of a life as nothing else can. My dear friend and colleague, Daniel Kobialka, memorialized my son Sam, of blessed memory, in his music, “Labyrinth of Imaging Mirrors,” and later asked me to record Sam’s words alongside wisdom of the “Tao Te Ching” in “The Remembrance of One.” Sadly, Daniel passed away this year, but in his lifetime, he created music for health, wellness, and a profound understanding of what is meaningful to all of us.
HOW CAN WE GROW AT THIS TIME?
Here are some thoughts:
*Reflect on life since the coronavirus came into our lives
Acknowledge the challenges and losses
Detail the lessons learned, the superpowers used, and the moments of gratitude and meaning
*Identify music that represents your experience in some way
*Meditate, muse, and/or journal about something you feel strongly about or wish to carry with you
*Express a kernel of your learning in a phrase, affirmation, or thought; set it to a jingle, song, or use it as inspiration for an entire piece of original music
*Reach out to others to explore your common experience, and collaborate, form an ensemble, perform, teach/learn, or compose music together
*Create a musical tribute to/for someone else e.g., playlist, original music, performance
*Commit to engaging with music in a new way
Mastering a musical skill/Developing your talent
Giving/Attending a performance in a safe setting
Learning new repertoire or a new instrument (including your voice)
Sharing your favorite music or new music with others
Supporting the arts through your attendance, donation, or leadership
LET’S EMBROIDER THAT COLORFUL QUILT!
