This article was taken from BUPA Australia’s SHINE magazine.
There's a reason why singing talent shows are so popular on TV.
We take a closer look at the emotional, mental and social benefits of singing
by JESSICA GADD
Glance at today's TV guides and you'll see they're jam-packed with singing-based entertainment - The X-Factor, The Voice and Glee being just three hugely popular examples. It all goes to show that while these days we're less likely to stand around the piano for an old-fashioned Sound of Music-style family sing-along, people do still really enjoy singing ' even if it's only in the shower or the car.No matter how you choose to do it, there's evidence that any singing in your life is a good thing. Though you're probably not consciously aware of it when you're belting out Bohemian Rhapsody into your hair dryer, singing delivers a host of physical and emotional benefits including increased heart rate and improved breathing, lung capacity, posture and mood. And while singing alone is good, singing with others can be even better.
SINGING BUILDS COMMUNITY
To some extent, technology has removed us from singing - you can hear such good singing at the press of a button, so we sing less ourselves," says Professor Jenny Sharples, psychologist and Executive Dean at Victoria University. "But singing ourselves connects us to a different part of our brain. It gives us pleasure. When we're part of a larger group where voices soar together, that's even better. It's a way of improving our wellbeing."Professor Sharples is co-author of a 2011 research project conducted by the Wellness Promotion Unit at Victoria University and funded by VicHealth, which examined 'group singing' and its associated health and wellbeing benefits. Generally, group singing is quite informal, where anyone is welcome and no preparation is required.The report concluded that group singing is a powerful personal and social health promotion activity, with benefits such as increased self-confidence, empowerment, wellbeing and interpersonal skills, and lowered feelings of isolation, depression and anxiety.
"Group singing can help with problems,"
Professor Sharples says. "Our research looked at wellbeing generated by singing, but there is research around how singing can help with difficulties - a classic example is the Choir of Hard Knocks, made up of homeless people."Colin Slater OAM, a former opera singer and the founder of Sing Australia (a nationwide network of singing groups open to everyone) says the power of singing to build community was recognised by the Federal Government. In 2007, they provided funding for Sing Australia to establish singing groups in drought-affected communities. This attempt to help make people feel good by providing emotional support and relief paid off ' Slater says that many farmers from these areas, initially reluctant participants, have become some of the most devoted members of the Sing Australia groups.
SINGING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
Singing also has physical benefits," Slater says. "When you sing, your posture and breathing is different to when you speak. It's like a sport. And just as in playing sport, singing promotes mental and physical fitness; it creates endorphins and it leaves you feeling uplifted and energised."A physical activity involving the lungs and respiratory muscles, singing - and the increased control of breath that's associated with it - is believed to be beneficial for everyone, from expectant mothers (helping them to prepare for labour) to people with asthma, lung disease and respiratory disorders.Asthma sufferer and Sing Australia member Lady Geraldine Currie, aged 85, says that singing has done her the world of good. "All my life I'd sung, and then for one reason or another, I didn't sing for a while," Lady Currie says. "And then I was diagnosed with late-onset asthma. I joined a singing group, and saw immediate benefits. Singing has improved both my lung capacity and my breathing. It's a wonderful social outlet too. I get an enormous amount of pleasure from singing - it makes you feel good."
STRESS BUSTER
The breathing techniques promoted by singing are also useful for counteracting stress. "Have you ever noticed that when you're stressed you hold your breath?" Professor Sharples asks. "Singing helps with stress relief, because it's very good for managing breathing, which helps with anxiety and panic. If you've ever tried to sing and be stressed at the same time, you'll find it's difficult.""Singing and wellbeing is a new area of research, but it will grow," she says. "If you think about it, we sing at funerals and birthdays and all sorts of meaningful social occasions. It's an important part of how we socially connect. When you're singing with others, you're part of something bigger than yourself."
. . . and this article was taken from Heart Research UK’s Website.
Heart Research UK
Singing is good for you
Not only is singing a great way to raise money, research shows that it's also good for your heart.
Professor Graham Welch, Chair of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, has studied developmental and medical aspects of singing for 30 years and he saysthe health benefits of singing are both physical and psychological. “Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting. Singing has psychological benefits because of its normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system which is linked to our sense of emotional well-being. Psychological benefits are also evident when people sing together as well as alone because of the increased sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour."All for One choir, one of our supporters, also advocates the importance of singing to help keep your heart healthy. Choir members sang for their hearts when they performed a flash mob in Princes Quay Shopping Centre in Hull. Regular exercising of the vocal cords can even prolong life, according to research done by leading vocal coach and singer Helen Astrid, from The Helen Astrid Singing Academy in London. "It’s a great way to keep in shape because you are exercising your lungs and heart. Not only that, your body produces ‘feel good’ hormones called endorphins, which rush around your body when you sing. It’s exactly the same when you eat a bar of chocolate. The good news with singing is that you don’t gain any calories!Singing even helps you live longer according to the findings of a joint Harvard and Yale study which showed that choral singing increased the life expectancy of the population of New Haven, Connecticut. The report concluded that this was because singing promoted both a healthy heart and an enhanced mental state. Another study at the University of California has reported higher levels of immune system proteins in the saliva of choristers after performing a complex Beethoven masterwork.Bjorn Vickhoff, who led a study at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden into music and wellbeing, also believes that singing has positive effects on your health. The study showed how musical structure influenced the heart rate of choir members. “Singing is good for your health. Our research indicates that it may even be good for your heart. Further research in this field is much needed, such as the long term effect of choir singing.”
So go on, keep your heart healthy and get singing! Support Sing for your Heart this December.
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