Pictured above: Julio Guerrero, Victor Valley College student

In the past year there has been a sense of isolation. Stay at home orders, working from home and online classes have left many of us stuck at home with little to no physical interactions. The sense of isolation can be felt strongly unlike ever before. Getting lost in music is a healthy way to cope with stress and isolation.

Transitioning from in-person classes that were once filled with students into online classes can make students not only miss the classroom environment but also realize the importance of the physical classrooms and teachings. 

Through all of this, many students have indulged in old and new hobbies to distract from the mental hardships the lockdowns have caused. Many are using music as an escape and finding peace. 

“There are two things that I personally get from lyrics,” said Victor Valley College student, Gaby Martinez. “I can either get motivated to overcome my struggles or I fall into the sadness of the song. Ironically, feeling both sides of my emotions is relieving. I listen to Reggaeton when I’m feeling good and have a range of sad songs ready for when I’m not feeling the best.”

The study of music therapy is one that keeps developing, and the correlation between mental health and music is showing positive results. “Listening to the music helps to stabilize the person and helps them feel like the issues they are going through are universal rather than personal,” said Jesse Dollimont, a music therapist who works for Canadian practice JB Music Therapy in a Discover Magazine article. “As such, listening to sad music can be extremely useful for people struggling in the pandemic because it can help validate their emotional reaction to their situation.”

The effects of music can be soothing and can help ease the feelings associated with loneliness.

“Bright, cheerful music can make people of all ages feel happy, energetic, and alert, and music even has a role in lifting the mood of people with depressive illnesses,” according to Harvard Medical School research.

“Lyrics help me relate to another person’s experience and makes me feel as if I’m not alone,” said Victor Valley College student, Julio Guerrero. “Whether it’s in the negative or in the positive, having a sense of relate-ability really goes a long way, removing a sense of isolation I and others tend to feel from time to time.” 

“I really pay attention to the lyrics,” said Guerrero. “I love visiting genius.com to read the lyrics of the songs I enjoy. My love for music is as strong as ever. At the moment I’m listening to Alternative R&B and that has been a new experience I find myself connecting to.”

Music can have a tremendous impact on us, carrying a message that ranges across a whole spectrum of emotions. Everyone relates to music in their own ways, and having a connection to it can make it easier to relax and take life one day at a time.