Would you sing more if you knew how good it was for you?

Posted by Norman Bailey on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 Under: Voice Works



Smoking is bad for you and vegetables are good for you!  We take this for granted because we're all aware of the research behind these facts.   What we're less familiar with are the health benefits of a good old singalong.  Would you sing more If you knew how it was going to boost your confidence, put you in a better mood or even help you live longer?   Well, there's research that suggests that it does.   It's not common knowledge at the moment. But one day we will be.  


As thing stand the unhealthiest thing about singing is our attitude to it.  Gone are the days when families and friends would get together for a nice singalong.  Now singers are other people!  People who take to the stage, have tunes you can download or get through to the live finals of the voice.


We all love listening to our favourite artist warble through their back catalogue but is this passive approach the best way to enjoy singing?  Not according to the latest research conducted by Harvard and Yale.  After running tests on a group of choral singer they discovered that the singers had increased life expectancy.  The report concluded that this was because singing promoted both a healthy heart and an enhanced mental state. 


BE HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER

This is what Professor Graham Welch, chair of music education at the University of London, had to say on the matter.

"The 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 the major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting.  Singing has psychological benefits because of it's normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the actions of the endocrine system which is linked to our sense of emotional wellbeing.  Psychological benefits are also evident when people sing together as well as alone because of the increased sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour." 


SINGING - AS GOOD AS CHOCOLATE

That right, enjoy all the benefits of scoffing down a load of chocolate without the calories.   As the Heart research UK website puts it -'It's a great way to keep in shape because you are exercising your heart and lungs.  Not only that your body produces feel-good hormones - endorphins - that rush around your body when you sing.  It's the same as when you eat chocolate.  The good news is you don't gain any calories!' 

Now, I sure you won't throw away your membership to chocoholics Anonymous just yet,  but you might just find yourself cutting back on the creme eggs next easter once you tried a bit of singing.  It's the best way to enjoy  a healthier, happier and more confident you. 


 So remember, when done correctly singing will:  

  • Enhance your mood
  • Boost your immune system
  • Tone your muscles
  • Sharpen you mentally
  • Increase your life expectancy
  • Improve your posture
  • Exercise your heart and lungs
  • Help your breathing

I've witnessed the boom in people turning to singing for the sake of their physical and mental wellbeing.  It's the reason I put together the Love Singing Programme.  I've had mums come to me to help them feel confident when singing to their children and people recovering from illness.  There's been a few tears as they've unlocked deeply held traumas but they've come out feeling renewed.

In : Voice Works 

Next post: Why 'Reading for...
Previous post: How To Sing With...

« Back to posts

Storybookers

Don’t Judge A Library By Its Cover

I’d like to join the friends of Birmingham Central Library in mourning the passing of this highly emotive city landmark.  The building has sat empty since 2013, having been replaced by the Library of Birmingham, which is situated in nearby Centenary Square. Despite all protestations, campaigning and calls for alternative uses for the building the bulldozers have finally come to put the old place out of its misery.

The Birmingham Central Library building has always courted controversy and divided opinion.  The old Library, which dominated Chamberlain Square was opened, by then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, on a sunny Saturday morning in 1974.  Little did anyone know that the strength of feeling against the building would mean it would struggle to reach its 40th birthday.  

Prince Charles famously described it as looking like a place where books go to be incinerated and a former Birmingham director of planning labelled it a ‘concrete monstrosity’.  But there were many, including Turner prize winning artist, Jeremy Deller, who understood its appeal.  And so the battle raged between those who saw it as a blot on the landscape and those who believed its stark British Brutalist architectural style should to be honoured.

It’s worth noting that Birmingham born architect, John Madin, had no intention of building a 'concrete monstrosity’.  His original plans were for the building to be clad in Portland stone or Travertine marble.  But Birmingham City Council were reluctant to foot the bill and the concrete exterior was used instead.

Admittedly the library’s sub-Bauhaus design isn’t even my kind of thing, but I’d grown to like it.  Besides I wasn’t into it for its looks.  It was what lay within that sparked my interest.  Within those grey walls lay books that helped me get the life I truly wanted, rather than the one others thought would suit me best.  It contained a wealth of knowledge I couldn’t get anywhere else.  Without it I would have struggled to find the inspiration I needed to pursue my career in the arts.  

My dreams were kept alive by a Library that became my second home.  Inside I discovered the writings of great philosophers, historians, dramatists and political thinkers.  But it was when I came across the books on art that my life changed.  There were beautiful images of the great master’s finest works.  And I found information about influential past and contemporary art movements.

This was all before the internet, so without these books I would never have been able to find any of this.  I was inspired and soaked up all the knowledge I could. Those days, pouring through volume after marvellous volume, shaped how I viewed the world and how I saw my future.  

As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be an artist.   

Pursuing that particular path is tricky enough nowadays, but back in Birmingham in the 1970s I might as well have said I wanted to be an astronaut. I was two years out of school before I even found out there were art schools in Birmingham.  I’ll share that story with you another time.

Once I did find out about art schools I ditched my job in engineering, enrolled in Bournville School of Art and signed up for the artist’s life. There’s more to that story too and I’ll also share that with you another time.  

Occasionally I’ll walk into a gallery and find myself standing in front of one of the paintings I gazed at with wonder in my youth.  Once I get over the initial rush I smile and thank the Birmingham Central Library for what it gave me all those years ago.


 Out With The Old, In With The New

I paid a visit to the new Library of Birmingham last year.   I like it.  It was more like coming home than visiting a new building.  For a start, it’s attached to another of my old stomping ground, the Birmingham Rep.  When I reached the art department and found some of the books that I was inspired by are now on the new library’s shelves I felt a sense of continuity.  I was filled with hope that some young kid wanting to follow their chosen path would also be inspired.

Attitude to the creative industries is slowly changing.  The last few years as seen it become one of UK’s major growth sectors.  But there’s probably a young person somewhere having a hard time convincing people that they want to follow their dreams.  

 So before I go.  Is there something you need to know?  Are you looking for a nugget of wisdom that will transform your life?  If so, there might be a book on the subject available, for free, at your local library.   So why not pop down and see.

 

aSc��5���

Posted 479 weeks ago

About Me