The Blogging from A-Z Challenge continues today. Every day throughout April (except Sundays) I’ll be posting a range of ideas and tips for keeping your family entertained at home. It will include arts and crafts, games, learning ideas and imaginative activities for all ages. I thought it would be particularly useful while we’re all self-isolating or socially distancing, though it can be used for any time of year.
Letter “M” is for Music. Music brings people together and helps you to feel more relaxed and less alone. Although gigs and concerts are cancelled for the forseeable, there are still many ways we can enjoy our favourite bands. Here are a few ideas for connecting with the healing power of music.
- Turn the music up loud and have a good old-fashioned sing-along. I’ve been doing lots of this lately and it makes me feel so much better!
- Make your own playlists on Spotify or Amazon Music to lift your spirits. I’ve made two recently: “Feel Good” is full of cheesy 80s pop and other deliriously happy tunes, and “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” is made up of the songs that I find most comforting.
- Consider joining a virtual choir. The Sofa Singers is a free online singing event which aims to ‘bring people together from around the world to spark joy and human connection.’ Lifefullness Live is running a daily sing-a-long weekdays at 5 pm GMT (2 pm ET, 9 am PT). Or if you want to join a larger event, try Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir or Gareth Malone’s Great British Home Chorus which encourage amateur and professional performers to colloborate.
- Some singers and bands have been sharing free performances online. Check out Ronan Keating and Gary Barlow singing Baby Can I Hold You or Chris Martin doing a mini gig from home. There’s also this beautiful rendition of “Bring Him Home” from Les Misérables sung by Alfie Boe, John-Owen Jones, Barricade Boys and more to celebrate the NHS.
- Go Kid Music on Facebook hold live music sessions for kids on Tuesdays at 1:30 pm GMT and Thursdays at 10am GMT.
- Learn to play a musical instrument. Scott Guitarist is offering a free 12 week guitar course on YouTube.
- Watch a musical online! Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber is streaming a different musical every weekend for “The Shows Must Go On” which is available for 48 hours (From Friday 7 pm GMT). There are lots of others available on Youtube.
Over to you!
What’s your favourite upbeat song? Do you sing or play an instrument? Let me know in the comments.
For our One Little Word project, one of the prompts is to create a playlist of ten songs that help you bring your word into your life. It was one of my favorite prompts. Weekends In Maine
That’s a great idea. I love making my own themed playlists.
“The Shows Must Go On” sounds awesome!
An A-Z of Faerie: Merrows
It’s really good, definitely recommend it.