Weekly Column 9/10/21: A Brief Word on Mental Health

Good morning, and welcome once again to my weekly publication wherein I discuss music and life related topics! This week I want to continue off last week’s theme of change, and further discuss the transition back into normal life after such extended time was spent away from making and learning about music in a traditional/conventional sense, and the mental health crisis that remains in the fallout of the pandemic. Then we can look at some ways to help making this musical return a bit easier and I will share some tips I’m implementing in my daily life that may be useful to you. Its been a busy week, so this week we’re gonna stick to the shorter side!

            One thing I’m beginning to realize is there are far more people, musicians and non-musicians alike, that feel this deep sense of what I like to refer to as “Post Covid Anxiety” (PCA for short?). This feeling of inner worry, fear of returning to normal life (somewhat) as we once knew it. And this is clearly evidenced by the spiking rates in depression, anxiety, and substance abuse seen in 2020, with data reporting an estimated 40% of adults expressed feeling negatively altered attitudes of mind. (that’s 2 in 5 adults on average!)

So how am I dealing with this issue this week?

            I’m playing my trouble away with the blues of course! Now, why would I choose to explore and study like the blues? What does it offer? Namely, harmonic clarity and provides clear guidance and direction. I see this as almost metaphorical for the psychological situation I find myself in. At a time when the world seems confused and is nearly impossible to decipher and it’s time to sit down and practice, sometimes whipping out Giant Steps serves only to fog things up further. One of the great advantages of the blues is its clear harmonic direction. The changes are obvious and serve to get your ears back on track when they veer off into left field. The way I see it, a good blues is medicine for the soul and mind, and I’m learning that now quite literally. Next week we’re going to delve into a transcription of a blues and discuss approaches and look at why this line is so great.