In a TED Talk, cellist and TED Fellow Joshua Roman discusses how music helps him cope with long COVID after the condition nearly took away his ability to play. Roman says he has practiced his cello daily since childhood, but a severe case of long COVID disrupted his capacity to perform. He then explains how he finds a way back to music, describing the process of returning to practice and performance despite lingering effects.
During the talk, Roman performs a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach, using the music as an example of his return to playing. He later presents a new solo composition titled “Immunity,” which he performs during the session. Across the talk, Roman frames music as both a practice and a means of managing his health experience, focusing on his personal journey from near-loss of ability back to active performance. The talk centers on his recovery path and his continued use of composing and playing as part of living with long COVID.
