COVID-19 Has Changed Our World - Part 2

The second piece on the release (Foreign Area) titled “Beauty in the Unfamiliar” is a short and calm piano piece which is meant to convey the nature of everything being shut down by COVID-19. The piece begins in a very calm manner and then maintains a steady eighth note motion in the accompaniment line. On this steady rhythmic motion begins in the key of B Major, the chords in this piece travel in unexpected directions as a way of highlighting uncertainty and the unexpected. However, the piece returns to B Major occasionally to illustrate stability and confidence moving forward in this challenging time. Eventually the eighth note momentum ceases and the piece concludes with a B Major chord. This ending is meant to help the listener feel at ease. In general, this piece can help the listener relax whenever they are stressed or trying to go to sleep. (See links below.)

After the COVID-19 pandemic initially began, people were not going out to bars, restaurants were reduced to take-out only, and movie theatres were no longer open. Each of these businesses experienced an unfamiliar type of silence due to the coronavirus. Some of these venues have reopened as of recently but they have limited capacities. Some people have chosen to visit these places while others are refraining from entering them.

We’ve learned that nothing is certain nor set in stone in the future. We may all anticipate one thing, but then it turns out different. The COVID-19 pandemic is a huge example of this. At the beginning of this calendar year, nobody expected a pandemic to occur. Now we’re dealing with an infectious disease along with an overwhelming amount of unemployment.

Even though this year is going in a different direction than we all thought it would, it is still possible to enjoy the simple things to which we may not pay much attention. For instance, I personally value the friendly but short conversations that can occur with store employees and other customers whenever I am shopping for groceries. Just this small in person interaction can have a positive impact on my day. Also, considering that these are not the brightest times in our world, watching uplifting videos online can really make a huge impact on your mood. If it makes you smile, then it is likely that it will make someone else smile. In other words, share any positive/uplifting videos that moved you.

In addition, with the extra amount of time that people have on their hands now, individuals can more easily explore hobbies such as cooking or sewing while they have additional time and energy. Similarly, this can also be a time to refocus on any resolutions that you may have established for yourself at the beginning of the year. Many of us have more free time now than ever. Therefore, it is possible to use that time to realign yourself with those initial goals. This is definitely a time of uncertainty in our world right now, but it is absolutely possible to better yourself in the ways you choose.

Our decisions during this pandemic are extremely important. We can make decisions that help us move towards the normal we once lived in, or they can cause this virus to become uncontrollable. My encouragement is that you make good decisions for your personal health and choices that will help in slowing/stopping the spread of COVID-19.

I would like to thank you for reading this article. Your time is extremely valuable. If you appreciate what you’ve read here, then I kindly encourage you to leave a tip through the virtual tip jar below. Even the smallest amount will make a huge difference to creative artists, especially during these times we’re all facing together. Otherwise, I encourage you to support me by streaming my music on Spotify, Apple Music, or any platform of your choice.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3PdFZJw1jcvtCCtcEbY7Et?si=u1sPANUnQOSws6Ny5TCg8g

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/beauty-in-the-unfamiliar/1507678762?i=1507678764