Today I was feeling despair over being stuck-at-home. Tired of jigsaw puzzles, reading, sewing masks, cooking and watching Netflix.

Thank goodness I'm hiking tomorrow! But today....

Started playing flute again. Glad I still have a vibrato. Haven't played in three years. Began flute lessons at age eight.

Playing music grounds me and provides emotional expression. Love music in a minor key: it's more expressive and beautifully aching, compared to bright and cheery marches (major key). Played jazz at the University of Michigan.

Got a metronome because I was not sticking to the beat. Jazz solos will do that to you. (That's my excuse.) Seeing a video of me playing, I felt horrified. Other people didn't notice it. Enter the nagging metronome. Feels like a conductor is slashing his baton with every beat.

Taped to the music stand are tips from when I taught flute lessons in college:

1. Egg on tongue.
2. Blow warm air.
3. Big belly.
4. Raise chin to taper notes.
5. Teeth apart.
6. Blow warm air like steaming up glass.

Anyone else playing a musical instrument? How does it help you?