Writing in the Pandemic

There’s Still Sunshine…

I was hired in 2020. It was a few months into the pandemic, and I was focusing my attention on songwriting. The process of songwriting is often therapeutic for me. It was a challenging season, not just because of the Coronavirus but there were other pieces of that season that just made if full of emotions and the need to process. Journaling is a form of writing and it’s often used to process emotions. I believe songwriting does that on an even deeper level. When you combine music and words it touches a unique place in the human soul.

As I was writing for Rhythmic Patterns, I was intentional to put a deeper meaning in each song. These songs should be fun, but they should also point people towards something. We hear a message in song-form, and it becomes part of our identity not just lyrics on a page. I wanted to be part of speaking life into others. Language learning can be so challenging. I want to encourage learners on their journey.

The first song I wrote for Rhythmic Patterns was “Yellow Sunshine” in the color set. There is a line in the song “this is a new day, and I will be glad in it” reminds us that there are better times ahead. The pandemic was a chaotic season for many of us and it was filled with uncertainty and angst. In writing “Yellow Sunshine” it was just a small reminder that there will be color again in life, and it’s going to be bright! In language learning there are levels of understanding the words. For example, as a student learns this song the literal meaning of the word “yellow” refers to the color. However, as learners gain understanding there is more nuance to language than just the literal. Yellow and the idea of sunshine also refers to hope. In whatever season of life that we find ourselves in, I hope that the reminder of “Yellow Sunshine” stays with us. I will choose to view my world like “my future is bright like the yellow in the sun” and you can too.

Now that the pandemic is over there is still a desperate need to remember hope. The lessons and meaning behind each song in the Rhythmic Patterns song sets are timeless. My hope is that teachers and language learners will be able to reach their language goals but also be reminded there is hope. I have been honored to write some of the sets available on our website. For me there is a deeper meaning in songwriting when it’s done with the purpose to share, to encourage, and to empower! Thank you for letting me be part of your journey!