Your Guide on How to Begin Writing Music for Self-Care

"Your Guide on How to Begin Writing Music for Self-Care" guest written by Mia Barnes

You can find tons of value in creating music of any scope and range, even if it isn’t to the caliber of Rush or Alanis Morissette. The beauty of creating lyrics or a melody on any instrument is the best opportunity to express yourself creatively or practice a meditative form of self-care. Feel free to tap into your musical self, even without training, with these ideas. You may find it therapeutic.

Reconnect With Your Inner Musician

You probably picked up at least one instrument as a child, whether it be a piano lesson or band class in school. Results from Canadian music programmes show that early exposure to learning an instrument can support brain development, vocabulary and attention. Dust off whatever you have lying around and refamiliarize yourself with how it felt to be enchanted by it. You should also pull out any sheet music you have or watch a video of your favourite musician to get yourself in the mindset.

Everyone has a touch point that got them to pick up an instrument in the first place. Engage with it by playing a few chords or notes. It can feel calming and nostalgic to reconnect with that part of your childhood or form of creative expression. Don’t overthink it or worry about perfection. If you only focus on creating sounds at this stage, it will feel rewarding no matter what. It will feel relieving to let go of any expectations.

Embrace the Digital Age of Music

You can also create music without an instrument, if that feels more intuitive. Experiment with tons of free programmes and online tutorials. These resources can take you on their own inspiring journey. Apps like BandLab and GarageBand let people make music on a computer, tablet or smartphone, with many free instruments to play.

Push a few buttons, and you can simulate playing synths, or mash a few keys to get the thumps of a drum machine. You can even sample voice lines from your favourite TV shows and movies to layer over other sounds — it’s a playground. Layer them together to create a beat, as many have done during the chillhop and lo-fi revolution.

In 2021, one Canadian chillhop creator spoke about how thoughtful and accessible digital music can be, saying, "When it comes to form, simplicity is a key factor in my method, with an inclination toward gradually introducing each element into the mix, almost like actors in a play. At times they may leave and re-enter, coupled by a new element and supplying some refreshment in texture."

Capture Your Spontaneous Creations

You can make music in even lower-stakes environments if you think of it as journaling. Equate your feelings to a sound, and embrace however it comes out. You can do this in a few ways, like using voice memos on your phone to record you singing an emotion you feel or a sound you hear during a walk.

Seeing the beauty in every moment and environment is one of the best ways to practice presence and incorporate self-care into more pockets of your day. Think of this collection as a snapshot of your life that you permitted yourself to catalogue in a creative way.

Engaging in these activities is like doing your own music therapy, which has many benefits, including:

●     Better sleep.

●     More supportive social connections.

●     Improved mood regulation.

●     Anxiety management.

●     Increased emotional awareness.

Build Your Personal Soundtrack for Self-Care

Using these tips, you’ll start to practice writing music more often and find more places to source inspiration. You’ll have a sizable collection of lyrics, sounds and ideas. Every piece is a representation of your mental health, so when you layer them together to form a song, you’ll be able to hear how you felt.

In 2023, the Canadian Mental Health Association challenged people to create playlists of songs that made them feel as a way to combat the depressive feelings incited by stressful global events. Respondents said it was a wonderful way to process emotions, which you can do yourself by creating a self-care playlist based on your ideas. Every sound is an insight into your growing resilience, creativity and well-being. Then you can use this soundtrack or playlist at any time during your mental health journey.

The Sounds of Lasting Well-Being

Everyone deserves to create without feeling like they have to become a legend. If you want to start making music as a form of self-care, you can start now. A joyful hum, a pluck of a string, or a line of lyrics culminates into a scrapbook of your emotions. Hopefully, these tips will help you find freedom and contentment in art.