Music Uniting the World During COVID-19

During times like these where the coronavirus keeps spreading through the world and we're told to stay in our houses as much as possible, it's easy for us to become depressed, anxious and lonely. However, looking on the bright side, so many good things have come from this time of quarantine. The waters in Venice are clean and translucent, women are supporting each other by doing the #24hourchallenge on Instagram, and fitness influencers are releasing free workout programs along with free live workouts for all those gym junkies who can no longer go to the gym. Another thing that I've noticed that I think is extremely significant is the fact that not only are people in Italy singing to each other from their balconies but opera houses and music theaters are releasing free online shows to the public so people can enjoy watching their favorite musicals, operas, and music artists perform without needing to leave their houses. Oh, how significant this is.

The debate on the importance of music in society has existed for what feels like forever. But can we just take a moment and appreciate how much bonding is happening over music during this uncertain and stressful time? Not only are people turning to music for comfort in their personal lives, but they are also using music as a means to comfort and support one another. Music is uniting. It's during times like these where we get to see JUST how much music unites people, whether they live next door to each other or on the other side of the world.

This was something that I, personally, always felt strongly about and wished was discussed more when it came to the debate in schools over the importance of music programs. I felt so strongly about this in high school that I did extensive research on it. In my senior year of high school, I wrote a 20-page senior thesis on the importance of music education. In this thesis I included a section about the uniting qualities to music. I specifically talked about how music unites people of different races. I would like to share this research with you all:

Music had always had a significant impact on culture and society and has always been unifying. Music performance and education have the amazing power of crossing cultural lines. Many singers and performers throughout history have made history by simply being talented and trained in musical areas. For example, Abraham Silver's choir at Northeastern High School was an African American choir directed by a Caucasian man. Motown groups also contributed to crossing racial lines. In short, music education has made history by unifying some of America's most separated races. Teaching children music is also teaching them to develop skills that have, in the past, contributes to dividing racial lines. Why would schools want to eliminate something that encourages students to not be discriminating? Because, quite often, music education is not given enough credit for all the power it contains.

McCarthy, Marie. "Musical Culture in Schools." Music Educators Journal, vol 99, no. 3, Mar. 2013, pp. 39-40. Accessed 30 Nov. 2017.

That last sentence is perhaps one of my favorite sentences I have ever written, "Because, quite often, music education is not given enough credit for all the power it contains." Music is truly powerful. If you don't believe me now, when music is uniting people left and right during such an uncertain time, then I'm not sure if you would ever be convinced. To all of my fellow musicians, consider this a call to go out and use your talent to give someone comfort today and contribute to this wonder, powerful gift that has been uniting the world!