Making Music For Ourselves And For Others

Music is a powerful stimulator of the brain. Listening to music, dancing, singing, and playing an instrument are all ways that we can enjoy music, and at the same time enhance our emotional well-being, our physical health, and our social interactions.

In 2020, the effects of COVID-19 are devastating families, communities, the economy. Up to 1/3 of people surveyed report that they are experiencing feelings of unhappiness or depression due to the deaths of family, friends and neighbors, job and financial losses, and concern for the future.

Music can help to counteract the emotional ravages of COVID. Make Music Day (June 21) and Play Music On The Porch Day (the last Saturday in August) are two particular days when we can make a difference in our lives and the lives of those around us. While COVID-19 limits getting together groups of singers and musicians we can still make music for ourselves, our families and our neighbors. Throughout the world entertainers are giving balcony, porch, and virtual concerts every day.

In its June 2020 issue, AARP published an article by Sari Harrar, Lessons in Finding Happiness During Hard Times. It's a thoughtful and enlightening look at emotional resiliency during the pandemic. A side-bar, "Happiness Rx: Play Some Music," discussed some of the issues surrounding music as a therapy. AARP also compiled a play list on Spotify, “Songs of Hope and Happiness.” Some of the selections were listed in the print article. I've reproduced that list, adding a couple of extra songs from the play list that I thought I might have song sheets for. Here are links to a few of those song sheets:

• Beautiful Day, U2 (with thanks to Taunton Ukulele Strummers Club)

• Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Simon and Garfunkel (with thanks to Jim's Songbook)

• Coming Out of the Dark, Gloria Estefan

• Don't Stop Believin', Journey

• Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow), Fleetwood Mac

• Don't Worry Baby, The Beach Boys

• Happy, Pharrell

• Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles (“Abbey Road”)

• I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash

• I Saw The Light, Hank Williams

• I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor (with thanks to Jim's Songbook)

• Let's Work Together, Canned Heat (with thanks to Jim's Songbook)

• Lovely Day, Bill Withers

• Mr. Blue Sky, Electric Light Orchestra (With thanks to Stewart Greenhill Ukulele)

• Over the Rainbow, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

• Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head, B.J. Thomas

• Reach Out I’ll Be There, The Four Tops

• Shelter From the Storm, Bob Dylan

• Somewhere Out There, Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram (TVUC Archive)

• The River of Dreams, Billy Joel

• The Weight, The Band

• Three Little Birds, Bob Marley and the Wailers

• Up On The Roof, The Drifters

• Walking on Sunshine, Katrine & the Waves (With thanks to the San Jose Ukulele Club)

• We Shall Overcome, Pete Seeger (with thanks to Jim's Songbook)

• What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong

• What the World Needs Now (Is Love), Dionne Warwick

This listing just scratches the surface of songs that can help to boost others who might be feeling down. Those affiliated with church choirs and other music makers have access to a rich store of inspiration music as well such as these old hymns, Whispering Hope. and Eternal Father, Strong To Save.

There is an immense amount of music out there. Here are a few of the larger sites that have ukulele song sheets (last updated Feb., 2020).

Additional sites are listed on the Ukulele Websites and Resources page.

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This page last updated on August 8, 2020.