LET’S GET TOGETHER
In this month’s column, musician James Sills outlines five reasons why singing together supports the three pillars of health
As someone who has brought thousands of people together to sing over the past decade, I am convinced of the powerful effects of communal singing. For me, it’s a simple equation. We know that singing, in itself, is good for us, with a multitude of associated health benefits, such as improving posture, oxygenating the blood, and reducing cortisol. We also know that humans, as a social species, need to connect and feel part of something bigger than themselves.
In a so-called ‘age of loneliness’, where more and more people are feeling disconnected, I think communal singing has a powerful role to play in improving all three pillars of health: physical, mental and social. Here’s why:
1. Connection
When we sing, we’re connecting to our breath, voice, and sense of self. I think of singing as a form of active mindfulness, where we’re able to be fully present and escape the usual distractions of day-to-day life. Singing helps us to create a temporary reality where we can be in the moment and find flow. Plus, when we sing with others, it gives us the opportunity to connect and to collaborate.
2. Collaboration
When we sing as part of a group, it is the ultimate in teamwork. It’s all about adding your voice to the greater whole whilst listening to others at the same time. It’s about supporting each other and working together towards a shared goal. Musician Brian Eno said, ‘When you sing with a group of people, you learn to subsume yourself into the group consciousness, the immersion of the self into the community.’
3. Community
When we sing together, deep social bonds are formed due to the release of oxytocin, the ‘love’ hormone. It’s a powerful drug. It has the capacity to strengthen bonds in existing communities, and create deep connections when strangers sing together. It’s why an Oxford University study in 2015 concluded that singing was the ‘ultimate icebreaker.’ Indeed, many choirs have an active social programme outside rehearsals, giving people the opportunity to make new connections. In my book, Do Sing: Reclaim Your Voice. Find Your Singing Tribe (The Do Book Co, £8.99), choir member Ian says: ‘I’ve met, and formed lasting friendships with, people from so many different walks of life. Nights
Read more about the importance of human connection and belonging in Brené Brown’s book Atlas Of The Heart (Ebury, £25).
in the pub, walks in the countryside, dinner parties, days out, holidays, and visits all across the country – all of these can be traced back to choir.’
4. Catharsis
When we’re singing, it’s an opportunity to express ourselves both individually and collectively. We instinctively sing for joy and sorrow; we sing to comfort, and we sing for strength. Singing is a safe outlet for us to express our emotions. There’s a quote in the 2006 film We Are Together, a documentary about the Children Of Agape Choir, that summarises this beautifully: ‘We South Africans sing before we sleep, when we are happy, when we are sad. It’s a healing thing.’
5. Confidence
When we connect with our voice and connect with other people, we connect with ourselves. There is a sense of validation when you are singing with others – your voice is heard, you feel ‘seen’, and you feel valued. I have seen first-hand how the singing experience can help people improve their confidence. For example, when I’m running a workshop, within a matter of minutes, I often observe a change in body language as people start to relax and stand taller. When people sing regularly and feel that sense of connection, there is often a ripple effect, where the confidence gained from the singing experience extends into all areas of life. When you’re singing, you’re making yourself vulnerable. And, as professor and author Brené Brown says, ‘vulnerability is the cornerstone of confidence.’ Listen to Brian Eno talk more about the power of communal singing at npr.org. Search for ‘Singing: The Key To A Long Life’.