PROSPECTS OF MUSIC AS A FORM OF HEALING IN TIMES OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about rapid changes to all forms of human interaction and mobility from travel, work conditions, learning environments, to social activities. Around the world, individuals and communities had to deal with both health-related fears and stress, prompted by social distancing and isolation. While the health advantages of the quarantine order have been well documented, its emotional strain on people has had far reaching consequences. As a coping mechanism to deal with the stress of quarantine, the internet was suddenly flooded with posts and videos of people turning to music as a form of individual and communal healing. This paper looks at how communities around the world found solace in music as a form of solidarity that united people regardless of age, gender, nationality, creed and political affiliation. The prospects of music in presenting people with a sense of belonging in times of solitude is explored through the various accounts around the world on the healing power of music. Findings further strengthen previous works on the effects of music on a person’s emotional stability and as a means of communal solidarity.