Cheaper Than Therapy

I'm feeling melancholy tonight, and I'm grateful for music to help me through.

There's a saying among musicians that music is cheaper than therapy. How true! I often approach music in an academic way. I'm a big music theory geek, and jazz guitar is my geeky playground. Sometimes, though, you have to let go of all the knowledge and just play.

Today was one of those days when I just needed to play and let it out. I'm pretty open in my blog, but I won't write about topics that could potentially hurt others. Let's just say that I'm glad I've learned to figure out what things I can control and what I can't. I'll leave it at that.

One thing I can control is the music that flows through my fingers. In a music service last summer, I explained during the children's story that, even though blues songs are often sad, it can actually feel good to sing the blues, because it helps you sing the sadness away. My improvisations, even over the happy songs, sounded a little sad tonight, and that's okay. I was playing what I felt. I'd be lying if I said I played all my sadness away, but playing guitar tonight helped me channel my emotions. I suspect I'll be letting some more out at tomorrow's gig.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but for tonight, my guitar provided some much needed music therapy.