Benefits Of Learning To Play An Instrument During Quarantine
So, it's been well over 3 months of quarantine for most of us, and the world is starting to look a little grey around the edges. You've binged watched every episode of Star Trek, The New Girl, and Grey's Anatomy, and it's starting to feel like you're having legitimate conversations with your toaster. So maybe it's time to start expanding your mental stimuli. There is a myriad of options out there as far as indoor hobbies, as we've all seen the successful and not-so-successful attempts to build birdhouses out of toothpicks and peanut butter, sew home-made masks out of unmatched socks, and bake an "I'm-sorry-I-used-your-socks-for-a-face-mask" cake for your housemate.
But consider maybe now's the time you finally hunker down and learn to play that instrument you've always wanted. And if you don't already own it, monthly rentals for most instruments are the equivalent of a few cups of Starbuck's Mocha Latte Frappuccinos.
Studies have shown the benefits of not only learning a new skill helping with increasing brain function and staving off dementia but also, playing a musical instrument can be a rock-solid form of self-soothing when you feel like you just can't keep your marbles together for one more minute. Focusing on learning a new skill requires concentration, dedication, and consistency. All of these are things that might be in shorter supply these days.
And while it may be frustrating in the beginning, learning that instrument will give you a new sense of purpose and accomplishment, which is something that we all could use a little more of right now.
Britney’s ‘Oops I Did It Again’ Is 20
Millennials everywhere are collectively reaching for the bifocals and mom jeans in disbelief. Yes, kids of the ’90s, your once-upon-a-time Pop Princess is now a middle-aged mom with an Instagram account. And one of her earliest and most epic hits just turned 20 years old.
It’s been a pretty amazing career for Spears. She’s been a hitmaker, a tabloid icon, enjoyed a residency at a Las Vegas resort, and is now channeling every divorced white woman on Instagram, showing off her younger boyfriend, and trying on new outfits.
Below is a video flashback for all you nostalgia-craved member berries.
I’ll give you a moment to grab your hearing aid and finish your call to The Olive Garden to make reservations for your book club’s celebration of finally finishing The Da Vinci Code.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CAQkpLtFkV5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Celeb Musicians Doing Good Things During Quarantine
It’s nice to see celebs doing good works during this incredibly difficult time in our global history. There’s nothing better than seeing someone who you dig as a musician who also happens to be a decent human being paying it forward. Here are some good people doing good things who also happen to be celebs.
Post Malone- The rapper's Shaboink brand has partnered with Direct Relief to donate 40,000 N95 masks to help keep front-line workers safer during the global crisis.
Miley Cyrus has created a daily talk show on her Instagram called, “Bright Minded” which focuses on positive ways to cope with quarantine. She speaks with mental health experts, fellow musicians, and those on the front lines. She’s spotlighting a lot of great causes with the intent of “staying positive and engaged”.
Watsky The rapper and poet raised over $140,000 for Sweet Relief's COVID-19 Fund, which provides financial assistance for musicians and industry workers affected by the pandemic. Watsky is raising money by performing non-stop, rapping over 33 hours, which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest continuous rap. Glad he’s doing it and not us.
Ariana Grande has a slew of organizations that she has been supporting during the crisis, including Fund For Families, The Bail Project, The Mental Health Fund, and more.
Billy Ray Cyrus, another Cyrus doing good, has created with Native American communities, donating 20,000 masks to use for their protection against the virus. The announcement came during the Native Americans & Coronavirus Virtual Town Hall.
Madonna has teamed up with REFORM Alliance to donate 100,000 masks to jails and prisons with the hope of curbing the spread of the coronavirus behind bars. REFORM has donated 100,000 masks to those at Rikers Island in NYC.
Willie Nelson-He’s no stranger to helping those in need. He’s been successfully raising money for others for thirty plus years. His virtual Farm Aid concert on April 11 raised more than $500,000 for family farmers and ranchers who have been impacted during the crisis. "The coronavirus has disrupted our entire country and is a grave threat to all of us. One of its many impacts is that it has helped us to better see the value of essential people like healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, delivery truck drivers, and farmers and ranchers," Nelson said in a statement.
Eleven Songs To Put You In A Better Mood Than The One You’re In Now
By this point, most people are beginning to feel the fatigue of the quarantine. If you haven’t been affected by the virus itself, the challenges of isolation have most likely set in. If you find yourself down, try checking out these tried and true happy tunes to help boost your spirits. There’s no magic bullet, but these songs have been making feel empowered and uplifted for years.
- "Happy," Pharrell (2013): You can’t help but dance around like an eight-year-old at a bar mitzvah when you hear this song.
- "Better Be Good to Me," Tina Turner (1984): And here, you’re guaranteed to have a new swagger when listening. Even if you’re not wearing a leather skirt.
- "Blessed," Elton John (1995): He promises us we are blessed. Everyone needs to hear this right about now.
- "Neutron Dance," Pointer Sisters (1983): Sideways hop-dancing, check. Big bangs, check. Shoulder pads, check. What more does a person need?
- "24K Magic," Bruno Mars (2016): Now just go find that gold chain.
- "Rainbow," Kacey Musgraves (2018): if it isn’t Kermit The Frog telling us about the importance of rainbows, it’s this woman.
- "Good as Hell," Lizzo (2016): Put your hand to the sky and testify with this and add another, “I’ll have another!”
- "I Feel for You," Chaka Khan (1984): Does anyone else remember their first crush when they hear this song? Asking for a friend.
- "You Make My Dreams," Daryl Hall and John Oates (1980): These two will forever and ever make a person dance like a teenager. Braces and acne may be a side effect but well worth the groove-on you will promptly receive.
- "Don't Stop Me Now," Queen (1978): Ok, so this one is for use inside the house, outside the house if you are alone or accompanied by a dog that has been thoroughly washed and is willing to be your dance partner.
- Rapper’s Delight- Sugar Hill Gang (1979)- The song that started it all. We all have permission to be groovy when this is on. Do it now, I dare you to not shake your tailfeather.
Tips On Starting A Podcast During Quarantine
In an age where we are suffering from both anxiety and ADD, the podcast is a beacon of calm amidst the selfie pandemonium. So if you’re looking to start up your own podcast during quarantine, here are a few tips to help you find your way to that beacon.
- Podcasts are a genuine way to connect with an audience. Instead of the short-lived and fractured connection you may or may not make through Facebook, Twitter, IG, or Tik Tok, listen to or creating a podcast allows for engagement with an audience in a long-form content. People can listen while exercising, driving, cleaning the house, or knitting next year’s scarf for their brother.
- There’s a lot of unexplored space in the podcast world. There are 23 million YouTube channels, 600 million blogs, but only 800,000 podcasts on Apple Podcasts. That’s a pretty substantial differential. So there’s still room for you to make your mark, and have fun doing it.
- Develop a podcast concept that you are passionate about. When you figure out your “what” and “why” you will then have a strong foundation as to where to target your direction.
- Identify your goals. Why are you doing it? Is it for income, to share your ideas with the world, or to simply have fun? Knowing why is helpful in keeping you on track with meeting your deadlines, goals, and helping to shape your creative concept.
- Choose your format. Do you like to improvise? Then you’ll do well to have a co-host to bounce all those brilliant jokes off of. Do you like the idea of drama or intrigue? Then maybe a scripted show is more your direction. Or maybe you love learning from others, and if so, then the interview format might be your perfect match.
- Determine the length beforehand. Whatever your length is, whether it’s tasty 10-minute segments or more extensive 45-minute long interviews, determine your length and stick to that format.
- Consistency is key! It’s best to get a handful of shows in the can before going to broadcast because you’re going to want to keep to a consistent schedule. If weekly seems daunting, then go to a bi-monthly format. Whatever your schedule is, stick with it and watch as your listenership grows over time.
- Don’t be afraid to edit out the boring stuff. Listen back to the recording and make note of the parts that aren’t completely engaging. If it loses your attention, then it will most likely lose your listener's attention too.
- Have Fun! Even if you are creating a podcast to rake in the big bucks, remember to have fun doing it. There’s a lot of hours that will be put into your new endeavor, and if you’re having fun doing it, you’re a lot less likely to peter out when you’re in the doldrums.
Podcast Listenership Surges Under Quarantine
Because not everyone can watch ten hours of Netflix at a time, there has also been a surge in other binging activities during lockdown. Aside from the rampant increase in baking, gardening, and stalking of one’s ex’s on social media, there’s also been a giant increase in podcast listenership.
In March Spotify noted they had nearly 150,000 podcasts uploads, which was a 69% increase from February and the largest monthly increase in Spotify’s podcast catalog overall.
And, at a time when many productions in the film and television market have been put on hold, Spotify continues to build out its podcast business. As more and more people are craving for entertainment and news while in lockdown, the demand has created more necessity for quality content. Further, since podcasts can be produced remotely with little more than a good microphone and a decent internet connection, it is a viable way to create low-cost new and ongoing shows.
Now that Spotify has bought Gimlet Media and Parcast, two large podcast companies, they have large steaks in the game. So hold on to your hat because The Obamas just signed a deal to do their own podcast. So from here on out, it’s no longer just your cousin doing weird movie reviews from his basement.
Dua Lipa Talks About The Value Of Social Media Breaks
Dua Lipa has recently been quoted as saying her second record wouldn’t have been made if she hadn’t dropped social media like a bad date at Chilli’s. When speaking with Adwoah Aboah’s, Gurl’s Talk podcast, the singer expressed that “Future Nostalgia” wouldn’t have been possible if she “hadn’t taken a step back” from many online platforms such as Facebook and Twitter when she was recording it.
After taking what she saw as a much-needed break from social media she said she was able to make the record. The record has received widespread acclaim as Dua is seen as a strong pop voice to listen to in 2020. So it just goes to show that even the biggest names in pop and social media need a break from it every once in a while. Cheers to that.
Listening To Music Helps Ward Off Depression
Netflix binging is great and a cheaper route than Xanax. But if you’re feeling some level of screen fatigue like most human beings right about now, and needing to evade the blues, try taking a listen to some songs that will help you to get to your happy place, even if it’s for just a little while. Not to mention, there are loads of scientific studies showing music can improve your mood and ward off depression. It can also improve blood flow in ways somewhat similar to statins as well as lower your levels of stress-related hormones such as cortisol. Lastly, listening to music has been shown to ease pain. As a matter of fact, listening to music before surgery has been shown to improve post-surgical outcomes.
Listening to music seems to “selectively activate” neurochemical systems and brain structures associated with positive mood, emotion regulation, attention and memory in ways that promote beneficial changes, says Kim Innes, a professor of epidemiology at West Virginia University’s School of Public Health. Further, there’s no one single music listening center in the brain as it has the ability to activate nearly every region of the brain mapped out so far. This then would speak to the reason music is indeed so universal and why it’s such a powerful tool in affecting our moods.
So do yourself a solid and listen to some happy music the next time you’re starting to feel down. Who knows, it might just put a little spring in your step. And right now, that’s something we all could use a little more of.
Ten Songs To Put You In A Better Mood Than The One You’re In Now
Tags: Better Mood, Dance, Happy, Mental Health, Music
By this point, most people are beginning to feel the fatigue of the quarantine. If you haven’t been affected by the virus itself, the challenges of isolation have most likely set in. If you find yourself down, try checking out these tried and true happy tunes to help boost your spirits. There’s no magic bullet, but these songs have been making feel empowered and uplifted for years.
- "Happy," Pharrell (2013): You can’t help but dance around like an eight-year-old at a bar mitzvah when you hear this song.
- "Better Be Good to Me," Tina Turner (1984): And here, you’re guaranteed to have a new swagger when listening. Even if you’re not wearing a leather skirt.
- "Blessed," Elton John (1995): He promises us we are blessed. Everyone needs to hear this right about now.
- "Neutron Dance," Pointer Sisters (1983): Sideways hop-dancing, check. Big bangs, check. Shoulder pads, check. What more does a person need?
- "24K Magic," Bruno Mars (2016): Now just go find that gold chain.
- "Rainbow," Kacey Musgraves (2018): if it isn’t Kermit The Frog telling us about the importance of rainbows, it’s this woman.
- "Good as Hell," Lizzo (2016): Put your hand to the sky and testify with this and add another, “I’ll have another!”
- "I Feel for You," Chaka Khan (1984): Does anyone else remember their first crush when they hear this song? Asking for a friend.
- "You Make My Dreams," Daryl Hall and John Oates (1980): These two will forever and ever make a person dance like a teenager. Braces and acne may be a side effect but well worth the groove-on you will promptly receive.
- "Don't Stop Me Now," Queen (1978): Ok, so this one is for use inside the house, outside the house if you are alone or accompanied by a dog that has been thoroughly washed and is willing to be your dance partner.
11. Rapper’s Delight- Sugar Hill Gang (1979)- The song that started it all. We all have permission to be groovy when this is on. Do it now, I dare you to not shake your tailfeather.
New Songs In May To Help With The Quarantine Blues
We are either all fools or no one is at this point, but most of us are starting to feel the itch of isolation, worry, and quarantine. So here are a few tunes to help take your mind off it all (albeit temporarily.)
Troye Sivan releases, “Take Yourself Home,” a sweet and touching rumination on the search for one’s place in the world. With dreamy vibes and reflecting moments, it can be your phonographic bubble bath.
Drake’s Toosie Slide is not only a new song, but an early designed TikTok hit. The Canadian rapper sought out influencers in advance on the platform to create dance videos to create an instant success before it was even released. By the time of its debut in early April, “Toosie Slide” was already charting. It’s a mellow instrumental riff with a trap beat, but the catchy dance instructions are what will keep people either dancing or simply putting one foot in front of the other after binging on food, alcohol, NetFlix, or all of the above: “Right foot up, left foot slide.”
Don't Worry Be Happy, is a catchy little acapella ditty that has put a spring in the step of listeners for generations. I dare you to listen to this song once and not be whistling along by the end.
Good Life, by One Republic, is as catchy as all their tunes and, also like most of their tunes, should put you in a mood to run a marathon.
Pharrell Williams just knows how to make you feel a little better with his song, Happy. It's almost impossible to not feel just a little better when listening to this. Even if you've run out of toilet paper.
No matter what, keep your chin up. One day at a time is all it takes. Heck even taking it three minutes at a time to enjoy some uplifting music may make your day a little brighter.