Thank you, Ellen Beaton Richards, for finding this article from the Washington Post called "Singing is good for you. Singing with others may be even better." and sharing it on Facebook! That's a link so you can click and enjoy reading that article.
We know that singing in a choir is good for us. We know it instintively and by experience.
There is a lot of research going on to prove that singing, and especially singing in choirs, is excellent for our health and well-being. It's kind of sad that those in power and with money have to have scientific evidence, proof, of this simple fact, and still might not fund it because it seems like a frill, simply entertainment. The myriad benefits, including therapeutic benefits cannot be ignored.
Here are a couple things that resonated strongly with me from the article:
The “Sing With Us” study, which enrolled Hardy and 192 others, is part of a growing body of research that points to the physical and mental health benefits of singing with others. Sing With Us linked singing in the choir to reduced stress hormones and increased cytokines, proteins that can boost the body’s ability to fight serious illness.
Other studies have found a connection between singing generally with lessened anxiety, stimulated memory for those with dementia, increased lung capacity and an easing of postpartum depression.
A sense of achievement comes from creating notes with the body and by working together over many months to master a work. The text is often inspiring, or beautiful, Thurston says, so despite the day’s travails, choir members leave rehearsals feeling “this is a very positive thing that I can be a part of.”
I love how Thurston mentions "the day's travails". How often have we arrived at choir depleted from a long day at work, or just stressed from family and health issues, and felt all that pressure melt away within minutes of starting to sing? I've often said that choir feels a little like church. We're a community choir, not a church choir, so we don't sing many religious works, but even the popular music we sing is mostly about big important topics, like love and family and community, peace and justice. My concert themes are almost always about how singing together spreads love and peace. Choir is so uplifting!
We get a great deal of satisfaction when we conquer a difficult piece together after months of rehearsals too, like Stanley Thurston's choir. And, even when we can sucessfully sing an easier piece in one rehearsal, our hearts swell with pride and acomplishment. We feel like winners, goal scorers, champions and then we receive applause and even standing ovations at the end of the season!
Besides describing the many benefits of singing, the article points out that you can sing "if you can breathe and make sound". That's it. That's all you need. I have to remember that. So often people say that they can't sing and it makes me crazy.
I feel very strongly that everyone should have the opportunity to sing in a community choir. All kinds of communities should form singing groups. They don't have to be called choirs or have formal sheet music. Singing songs together in community builds community and benefits the individuals and the group in many wonderful ways. From the very youngest to the very oldest of us, we can all benefit from this positive and healthy activity.
