MUSIC BOOMING IN LOCKDOWN
IT’S said music soothes the soul and it seems to be the perfect tonic to being in lockdown due to COVID-19.
Australians are creating a music-making boom with guitar-makers reporting a 300 per cent sales surge while stores are experiencing demand not seen outside the Christmas period.
There has also been a rush on keyboards, pianos and drum kits, with many stores struggling to secure instruments due to manufacturing and shipping delays caused by the virus outbreak.
Simon Hunter, from Barwon Heads, said he worked around stock shortages by renting a stage piano during the first lockdown.
Mr Hunter said his plan was to build on piano lessons he’d taken as a 10-year-old using an app for guidance and practising for 30 minutes a day.
“It was a great decision,” the 44-year-old said.
“When I was a kid, I was playing the theme songs to TV shows but, maybe it’s to do with the lockdown, I’ve been playing much more dark and moody tunes.
“Mad World was a bit advanced but I stuck with it and now I’m starting to learn Skyfall by Adele.”
Mr Hunter encouraged others keen to take up music for the first time to put aside “the fear of messing up or not being very good” and give it a try.
Brisbane’s Revolution Music owner Mark Richter said the rush to make music had come in waves since March, first with keyboards, then guitars, and now electronic drum kits.
“While people have been in lockdown, there’s been a huge spike in interest to try a musical instrument or go back to playing music,” Mr Richter said.
He said there had also been a run on home-recording equipment and mixers.
“You can watch this progression where people get out their keyboard and then want to start recording themselves,” he said.
But the unexpected demand is causing problems too: the closure of Chinese manufacturers hit supplies from many brands and caused nationwide shortages for some instruments from Yamaha, Roland, Fender, and Taylor Guitars.
But retailers say stock is slowly returning.