CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fender is offering three months of free online guitar lessons to the first 100,000 people who sign up, to help us all get through the coronavirus crisis.
Music has the power to connect people, the guitar company wrote on Facebook.
In Italy, where more than 47,000 people have contracted COVID-19 and more than 4,000 have died, people shut in their homes are using their balconies for concerts.
“Italians have now been at home for nine days, and, from Bologna to Rome, they have invited their neighbors to engage in what they call a “Flash Mob Sonoro,” or a sound flash mob,” writes the New Yorker. Musical competency is not a requirement, and neither is possessing a traditional instrument. A pot or a wooden spoon can suffice, if only because their sounds will join those of many other people who, from their balconies and windows, are hoping to create a bond through music."
“We’re all going to be spending more time inside,” said the guitar company, “so we might as well make some noise.”
So go ahead. Practice inside. Play on your porch. Spread some joy.
Not feeling musical? Cleveland.com’s Joey Morona has 10 other ideas to improve your life while you’re sheltering in place.
Maybe a sweat session would make you happy. Jazzercise is offering 60 days free on Jazzercise on Demand, with the code 60DAYSFREE. Audible just made hundreds of audio books free.
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
White supremacists may try to spread coronavirus to police and Jews, report says
How NBA, MLB, NHL will restart after pandemic | When will teams go back to work?
President Trump says US will make coronavirus decision at end of 15-day period
Coronavirus argument ends in shooting death, police say
Live updates on coronavirus pandemic: What you need to know in Central NY on Monday, March 23