Why join choir?

-Logan Herod

​Have you ever wondered if your child should be involved in a choir? Maybe they are already taking voice lessons and love to sing and you want to give them another opportunity to sing each week, or maybe they are already in piano lessons and you are curious if another instrument could be helpful to them. Whatever the reason, there are many benefits to belonging to a part of a choir, including several tangible health benefits. Below, I have listed my top five reasons that your child should join a choir:

1. First off, it increases your musicality in all other areas. Singing in a choir improves the way you hear music, it draws out your innate musical ability and intensifies your appreciation of harmony. There is a natural learning curve that occurs when you sing regularly in a group that strengthens your ear. Singing in a choir allows you to access both sides of your brain and helps with problem solving skills,  not just with other private lessons, but even in things like math class!
2. It increases personal happiness and benefits mental health. Many scientific studies have shown singing increases levels of endorphins and dopamine in the brain. Just as solo singing has its advantages, group singing releases oxytocin, a chemical that manages anxiety and stress. It even enhances feelings of trust and bonding.  Studies have shown that the mental health benefits of choral singing include enhanced brain function, strengthened feelings of togetherness, and the release of endorphins and oxytocin resulting in reduced stress and increased happiness.
3. Belonging to a choir creates a sense of community. Our modern world is one where people are becoming increasingly isolated. Social media offers a semblance of community but the lack of contact with people in real time and space can intensify feelings of alienation. Being part of a group working towards a shared endeavor, such as Christmas caroling in a nursing home, can fulfill this human need for belonging and union. People feel valued and inevitably make friends with individuals from a diversity of backgrounds, so their horizons are broadened. The amount of genuine friendships they will make will astound them.
4. Your child will have increased confidence. It’s surprising how many people are told that they can’t sing, a myth that can discourage potential singers, but the truth is that anyone is capable of singing beautifully. The experience of performing with a group for the first time as part of a choir can be life-changing. Singing in a community choir gives you permission to make noise as part of group, and choir directors report witnessing new members’ confidence grow at an alarmingly fast rate. This increased confidence can also help when it comes time for winter and spring recitals.
5. It’s a workout! A proper singing session is a wonderful workout for the lungs. The actions of warming up, breathing deeply and opening the diaphragm will oxygenate the blood, creating more white blood cells, which strengthens the whole body. The breathing rate slows and deepens, releasing endorphins and increasing a profound sense of well-being. All this lung action reduces the chance of illness and is excellent for people who suffer from asthma and allergies. Singing also improves your posture and tones your stomach muscles, promoting a strong core for years to come.

And why do I have five reasons listed for joining a choir? Because you need at least five members to form a choir. It’s not too late to sign up for Holiday Choir Classes at Music So Simple! We will rehearse once a week for 45 minutes, and have a final performance of service at a local nursing home.