Music During The pandemic
By Hana Sor
The pandemic has cast a shadow upon us. It has caused stress, anxiety, and pressure during our overwhelming and suffocating daily lives. More and more people have been suffering from mental health issues, and it is understandable. But in the midst of all the chaos that makes up the coronavirus, there was a ray of hope that flickers just above us. And one of them is music therapy, music in general.
In this article, I will be speaking about how music can be used as a coping skill and a key aspect that impacts our lives and helps us during these trying times. Music, as you may know, can be considered therapeutic and can help people that are dealing with mental health or other issues, especially now when we need it most. I myself find music to soothe and ease stress. I interviewed Alicia Bokser, 69, who is a piano and music therapy teacher, as well as my grandmother. I asked her questions about her job and how it is connected to mental health, so you can have an understanding of how music can help people
Q: What is your profession?
A: A piano teacher.
Q: How long have you been teaching piano?
A: Many, many years. I would say 50 years.
Q: What inspired you to become a piano teacher?
A: Since I was 6 or 7, I started to learn the piano. I made games and played with my dolls and my sister who never really learned how to play it..
Q: When did you first join the music industry?
A: I started studying music at 11 years old, at the National Conservatory in Argentia. Then I graduated at 19 and I then studied music therpay.
Q: What does teaching piano and playing piano make you feel?
A: I feel passion for music, I feel passionate about people but mostly young people, children. I strongly believe music makes a difference in education.
Q:. Do you think that music can impact you? If so, why?
A.Music is part of culture, people since remote times have had it. People cannot live without music. Secondly, music has an important role in the development of culture and ideas. People express and identify themselves through music. We need music, it’s the language of emotions.
“It’s the foundation of education, it has intelligence, emotional intelligence.
Q: Why do you think that you can relate to music so well?
A: “I cannot relate, many styles are unknown, but I try to investigate many styles, foundations, scales, patterns, all arts. Music is complete, it has everything that touches my emotions, music is abstract, I cannot touch, but instead you have to keep it in your brain.”
Q: Do you have special connections with your students? If so, then how do those connections and relationships shape you?
A: “Humbly, I think yes. I grow and learn from each student, they share parts of their lives, it helps to bring music that they have inside. I learn with them. Every person is unique, and I have to find out the best way to relate to that child.”
Q: During the pandemic, how do you teach your students?
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