April 9, 2020 | Blogs and News
By Mireille K. — 2 min. read —
Empty shelves, closed schools, and state-wide lockdowns – life feels apocalyptic. The sudden and swift arrival of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has plunged us into a state of pain, fear and anxiety. It seems like the situation is worsening rather than getting better as death tolls rise, families are torn apart and mass hysteria renders the news nothing short of terrifying. It’s hard to find even a shred of good news amidst these tough times, but the strength and perseverance that humans possess proves we can defeat this pandemic. We are not lost as a nation, just remade. Love, hope and music surround us, in even the darkest corners, uniting us against this uncertainty.
Even though Children’s Music Fund had to temporarily suspend in-person music therapy sessions for the safety of our young patients and their families, hope and music remain ever present. Many countries around the world are singing and playing instruments as a way to stay close to one another. Italy especially has persevered despite having a high number of cases of COVID-19. Many of us watched as the quarantined Italians found ways to connect with their loved ones and neighbors to boost morale. Families stood on their balconies, across from one another and sang their hearts out. In Siena, one of the central regions in Tuscany, one man starts singing a popular, patriotic song and soon the whole block joins in, even the dogs who bark along to their beautiful voices. In Naples, they sing a song called, “Abbracciame,” which translates to “hug me,” a sentiment that made everyone feel a little less lonely. Even as the world appears to crumble around them and distance aches the lonely heart, the Italian community has found a way to reconnect through the healing and unifying power of music.
An Irish priest known as Hendrick, has been inspiring people with his own form of music – poetry. A friar in the Roman Catholic order, he recently shared a poem on Twitter after Ireland announced they would implement serious isolation measures to combat the spread of COVID-19. He acknowledges the fear and isolation, but he reminds the world that there doesn’t have to be loneliness or hate. Hendrick said in an interview with HuffPost, “No matter the restrictions or dangers that this pandemic may bring, it will never touch the human soul and that we always have the opportunity to see beauty, offer compassion and touch the Divine, no matter our circumstances.” You can listen to Hendrick read the poem on BBC Radio London, where his beautiful words remind us all that things like music, family and love can keep us anchored in these tumultuous times. “Open the windows of your soul, and though you may be able to touch across the empty square – sing,” says Kendrick.
Music transcends all boundaries, all obstacles and all difficulties – this truth resonates now more than ever. It joins people together and inspires a hope that seemed lost before. As the world works to find its equilibrium again, we as a community can work to find ours by connecting with one another and sending out the message that this pandemic will not destroy us, only bring us closer and make us infinitely stronger. We may be socially distant, but we remain emotionally close through the impact of music. In fact Children’s Music Fund is moving toward Tele-Music Therapy to help reconnect with the sick children, our CMF Kids, that we serve. As if being isolated in the hospital or the home wasn’t enough, some of the children we help now cannot be visited by their siblings or friends. Imagine your social isolation in the past few weeks now being a way of life! That is how these kids feel daily with no end to their chronic illness in sight. Read more about about the plight of these children in the Power of Community message from our founder, Raffi Tachdjian, MD, MPH. Let’s help our CMF Kids return to jamming, playing and singing notes of joy.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter for more inspiring messages showing how Music Unites Us… one more beautiful moment to share here: “Imagine” Empty Metro Station Piano (coronavirus)