A Comparison of Pandemics and the Effects on Music

Since the start of this pandemic, the experience of music has changed from being social and inclusive to that of an independent experience. But how does this differ from the treatment of music in 1918 during the Spanish Flu? During the 1900’s, music was at the center of home and social life. Concerts were the fashion and it was not uncommon to see musical instruments in most homes. We can assume that once the 1918 pandemic started, families took solace in the music played at home and it was a way to bring them together.

In this new age of “personal music,” the experiences are vastly different: we are told to social distance and we are taking music into that seclusion. This is not to say that the precautions being taken to stop the spread are wrong, but we are craving some sense of “normalcy” that we can find in music. Use this opportunity to create new family music traditions, especially with the holidays around the corner. Learn a new dance, explore a different genre or artist, take the airpods off and include the family. As we prep for the winter recital, encourage the family to participate in practicing, in the recording, and the overall experience of the music.