Stay fit and healthy
All singing burns calories and keeps you in peak condition, but when singing as part of a choir you can also reduce stress levels, alleviate breathing problems, enhance your general mood, lower blood pressure, prevent social isolation and sharpen the brain – which should be enough to justify an extra pasty now and again!
The NHS explains…
Music and memory have a powerful connector. Music lights up emotional memories – everyone remembers songs from their past – the first kiss, the song at a wedding, seeing their parents dance and we often use music to remember people at funerals.
Music can have many benefits in the setting of dementia. It can help reduce anxiety and depression, help maintain speech and language. It enhances quality of life and has a positive impact.
6 psychological and physical benefits of choral singing
Mar 23, 2016 | Jordon Smith
Strengthen feeling of togetherness
Research by psychologist Nick Stewart of Bath University indicates that people who participate in a choir enjoy a greater feeling of togetherness and being part of a collective endeavour than others involved in different social activities.
Regulate heart rate
Researchers discovered members of a choir saw their heart rates beat in unison in relation to the speed of their breathing. Heart rates were directly affected by the melody of the music, and the pulses of those tested rose and fell at the same time when they sang in a group.
Reduce stress levels and depression
A number of studies have pointed to the mental health benefits of singing. One study lasting for a year involving participants who had been diagnosed with depression found that some of them no longer met that diagnosis following their involvement with a choir. Other studies have pointed to the impact group singing has on boosting oxytocin levels, which help control stress and anxiety.
Improve symptoms of Parkinson’s and lung disease
Cardiff University researchers uncovered evidence in 2012 that lung cancer patients engaged in choral singing had greater expiratory capacity than people who did not.
Improve the feeling of social wellbeing
Stewart’s study found that participants in choral singing reported a higher rate of social wellbeing on one of the measures than solo singers.
Increase life expectancy?
You may at first be a bit surprised to see we’re claiming this to be a benefit of choral singing. But a joint study by Harvard and Yale Universities published in 2008 did, in fact, find that this was the result of a group of people participating in a choir in a Connecticut town.
Welsh National Opera
Research now shows that it is beneficial for your physical and mental health. Here are some of our favourite reasons why you should get involved choral singing.
It is stimulating for your brain – belting out your favourite tunes can help release feel-good chemicals such as endorphins and relieve stress and anxiety through emotional uplift. Choral singing has also been found to be helpful in improving memory and is used as a fun and therapeutic tool in supporting those living with dementia.
The many physical health benefits include better breathing and posture, engaging the core muscles and encouraging deeper breathing.
A sense of community and belonging is crucial to wellbeing. Singing can help you meet new people and make new friends with whom you meet regularly, and can introduce many new events in your life to look forward to, including concerts, competitions and tours which are often a staple in the choir calendar.
It is a musical activity that everyone can get involved in, no matter your previous experience or ability. Singing together involves listening to one another and working to create a blended sound, where you can sing out without fear of being judged
Perhaps most importantly, singing in a choir is a fantastic way to express your feelings and learn new things about yourself. It can also be a way to connect with your roots, an opportunity to embrace singing in your native language and enhance your appreciation for many different cultures.
From Psychology Today
The Mental-Health Benefits of Singing in a Choir
Updated July 6, 2023 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch
A body of research shows that choir singing promotes wellness.
Choir singers report better relationships, a higher quality of life, and greater wellness than non-singers.
A study of cancer caregivers and patients found choir singing reduced anxiety and boosted the immune system.