Top Notes – Making Music

Music certainly plays a large part in living beautifully. So much so that it requires its own post. Having suffered from an extremely irritating infection (not Corona – just a bog standard cold), I found that my vocal range didn’t extend much above middle C. This was somewhat problematic, as I’m a soprano!

Imagine my joy, therefore, when I found my voice had recovered sufficiently to sing. Imagine my despondency, though, after finding my voice, I lost my choir! Like all group enterprises, it has been forced to stop while the Corona virus stalks the nation. It will reconvene when it is deemed safe to do so, but that could be months away.

Fortunately, there is a solution. A few years ago, my choir mistress designed an App that allows you to sing as if you were at an actual choir session. This is a tool that I have often used to help me learn my part, but now it does much more than that.

With my little App, I can learn the lyrics, separate out the sopranos from altos, tenor and bass or bring them in to give me a sense of everyone being there. If I’m feeling brave, I can even record myself.

As things stand, this was clearly very prescient of Jane. So if you fancy singing in a choir but are unable to attend, this is perhaps the next best thing!

Sing Along – with YouTube!

When I’m on my exercise bike, I often use YouTube to find music to keep my spirits up. Occasionally, I would notice that the lyrics were included on the video and I’d try to sing along. (This does give away how weedy I am, as one should never be able to sing whilst exercising. But I’m just trying to keep my parts moving!)

The upside of this discovery was that I realised all I needed to do was key in the name of the song and add plus lyrics to give me an interactive experience. Now there is no excuse for only remembering the chorus.

Join a virtual choir

If you want to go one step further, you may want to check out Gareth Malone’s virtual choir. https://www.classicfm.com/artists/gareth-malone/choirmaster-gareth-malone-home-chorus-coronavirus/

I’m not sure if there are any places left in it, but I’m sure the results will be informative and entertaining as always.

Make a joyful noise

Since most of us have considerably more time than we are used to having, now might be the time to get the guitar out of the attic, wipe off the dust and start strumming.

I have played the piano intermittently since I was eight, but the pleasure I gain from the activity never wanes. And the joy of music is that you can share it. Only a total philistine would fail to be delighted by a delicate piano piece in the evening and if classical music is not your thing, it is not difficult to master a few chords on the guitar. With these, you can invite the family to sing along to their favourite rock or folk tunes. Even the humble recorder can make a truly lovely sound.

A word of caution though. Only the saintly (or your mother) will wish to listen to your practice, so if you are thinking of buying or returning to play an instrument, I’d recommend an electronic one you can play with head phones or commandeering a spare room. There are few things more demoralising to a budding musician than being asked to stop playing a piece again.

Listen

We are not always in a position where we can sing or play, but we are usually in a position to hear. And what we listen to will bring different benefits. I’ve outlined the key forms here.

Classical music

Classical music is often seen as a ‘high brow’ option, but if we remember that opera – the most elitist of all musical forms – was originally a sort of soap opera with music for the masses, we should not be intimidated.

In addition to being, well, exquisite, classical music can be seriously good for us. The benefits to cognitive function, are, I believe well-known, but I was surprised to learn that it can also combat pain and depression as well as lowering blood pressure and aiding sleep. A dose of Classic FM a day may well keep the doctor away and make us more creative and productive in the process.

Pop and Rock

Whilst most of the benefits from music accrue from learning an instrument or listening to classical music, its popular cousin has its advantages also. The main one appears in fitness training: it should make you run faster (though I am hardly in a position to verify this). I certainly does make the time pass happily and aids in my motivation whilst on my exercise bike, though.

Whilst there is no evidence to suggest it will make you smarter, it can certainly make you happier. A good blast of a pop anthem is pretty much guaranteed raise as smile and listening to music when driving helps relieve boredom and even road rage. It can assuage anxiety too by providing a distraction from the stress of negotiating busy roads or apprehension concerning an upcoming meeting or appointment.

But if you really want to relax, then meditation music is designed for you.

Mood and meditation music

Music and spiritual practice are as co-joined as Siamese twins. The use of music in religious ceremonies is as old as time itself. The music may vary, but the intention is the same: to link the human with the divine.

When we listen to or sing certain forms of music our brain frequencies tune in and begin to mimic them, which is why listening to gentle mood music is so calming.

Meditation music helps an individual focus and become relaxed and mellow.

Zliving.com

Meditation music has all the benefits one would expect from a restful and gentle sound: reducing stress, heart rate, anxiety and even muscular pain (by relaxing the muscles). It can also help with those suffering from tinnitus by providing a background noise that quietens the ringing in the ears. And if you want a good night’s sleep – listen to meditation music for forty-five minutes before you go to bed and enjoy an adult version of the lullaby.

Whatever form of music you enjoy – singing, playing or listening – it is sure to add a beautiful note to your life. As for me, I’m keeping my spirits up by practising the wonderful Andrews Sisters’ song, ‘Accentuate the positive’. Here’s the first verse:

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with mister in-between

Definitely the song of the season.