Play your flute for your grandmother in the retirement home, but make sure to leave her door open so other residents can hear. Bring your accordion to work on Christmas Eve and serenade your customers and fellow employees with Christmas songs from your home country.

Not a musician? Pick up a kazoo and hum your own unique arrangement of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” for the lady down the hall who needs a laugh to cheer her spirits.

Once you have done this, you will also know what it’s like to have played for the best audience in the world. Be warned that you may love playing so much that you could come down with a merry little strain of “hobby musician carolitis.” Just keep playing and let it run its course. The world could always use more music!

Merry Christmas!