Play Guitar in Phila
Reduce stress and anxiety: play the guitar
If you’ve ever had a bad day and turned to music for relief, you already know something about how it works to reduce stress. Music is a natural soother and right now we all need some stress relief. Playing the guitar has a calming effect on the mind and body. Music is one of the top ten stress relievers along with sleep and laughter, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Right now our world is turned upside down. We can’t go anywhere and we have to keep safe distances from others. Luckily, in the world of technology that we live in, we don’t have to be completely alone. We can be alone together.
Let’s use this time of isolation to get creative. Here are a few ways you can be with your community using music as a tool when you can’t physically be with them.
Play a song and post it on social media
If you are a seasoned musician, grab your guitar and play a song and record yourself. Post it on social media so your friends and family can see it. Better yet, have a live session with someone you love who is far away. Mom may not be able to hug you, but she can listen to your creativity and it will make her feel like she is right there with you.
Organize a video conference call with other musicians and have a “jam” session
Get some of your fellow musician friends together via a video conference and play your hearts out. You never know what beautiful ideas and music will come from a brainstorming session like that!
Tune into your favorite artist
Many of your favorite artists are playing music for free on social media just for you. They are holding concerts and jam sessions in their own homes so that you have an outlet. Many of them are allowing streaming comments as well and they will actually answer you! Use this as an opportunity to connect with your musical influences and learn from them and apply it to your own playing. If you can’t attend a live concert, watch one on social media!
See if you can get your guitar lessons online
With FaceTime or Skype, it’s a sure-fire way to tune in with your guitar teacher and keep those lessons going. Ask your guitar teacher if it’s a possibility to do distance learning. There are so many online tutorials as well. There is no excuse to stop playing or practicing. If practicing is an issue for you, do not use this time of isolation as an excuse not to practice. You have nothing but time right now so there is absolutely no excuse!
Whatever you do, don’t stop! Don’t stop playing, learning and growing. While we can’t be out in the real world, it doesn’t mean we have to completely isolate ourselves. Thanks to technology, you can express yourself, get creative and share your love of music with the whole world.