Have you ever thought this of yourself:
- I have no musical talent
- I'm not very musical / I'm not musically inclined
- I took music lessons and now I hate making music
- I'm tone deaf
- I can't keep a beat
Here's the thing. I want to personally apologize for the way you have been wronged and lied to. Whoever told you that you are tone deaf was rude, incorrect, and had no business discouraging you in such a way. I sincerely apologize on behalf of whoever put you at the back of the choir, or told you to pretend to play your instrument, or focused so much on your technique that they stomped out any joy you had.
“The idea that you have to be prodigious in order to participate in music is a lie.”
And now I want to you to please reconsider. It's going to be difficult and it's going to feel wrong at first, but for the sake of your wellbeing and participating in a fundamentally human tradition, I implore you at least try to break down those psychological barriers and come back to the world of music making.
The idea that you have to be prodigious in order to participate in music is a lie.
Music is fun and it doesn't matter if you're good at it! REPEAT: It. Doesn't. Matter.
Now...here's how you can start.
SING!
In the car, in the shower, while making dinner. Please sing! In the words of Harold Hill from The Music Man, "Singing is just sustained talking" and truer words have never been sung. You have been using your voice your whole life and whether you realize it or not, you are creatively using pitch and rhythm changes everyday to communicate all kinds of emotions and intentions. Something simple you can do is narrating your actions, like "I'm turning left here and then I'm going to the store" and start incorporating little melodies into your day.
Why do this? There is tons and tons of research on the health benefits of singing. It makes you feel better, reduces cortisol levels, improves immune response (yes, you read that right), and improves lung function to name few.
Do you want help getting started or help for your child to participate in music making? A music therapist will be able to make music immediately accessible for everyone regardless of age or ability. There is no skill required to take part in music therapy. Lots of instruments and activities can be done right away and will allow you or your child to get started. You can schedule a free consultation here.
Are you not in Franklin, TN? You can find a local music therapist by going here and searching by state: Certified Music Therapist Search