All together now...singing is good for you
Thinking of joining a choir? It’s so much fun...and will improve your emotional and physical health
With more than 40,000 choirs nationwide, the power of song has struck a chord across the UK.
And for the estimated two million participants, being part of a choir is a dose of musical medicine, the health and wellbeing benefits undeniable.
At 330 members strong, the Love Music Community Choir in Edinburgh believes itself to be the largest community choir in the UK. Many of its members have found it to be a vital escape and support network through hard times in their lives, and artistic director Stephen Deazley says the impact can be felt beyond the confines of the rehearsal space.
“It’s not just an amazing experience for the choir,” he said.“that impact is coming back to their families and the people around them.
“It spreads like a super-good virus. “There is something about singing that’s very powerful.
“Certain words shine a light on things you are going through and can open you up, emotionally.
“Every city, every town, on every night of the week, sees communities come together.”
Stephen is one of the founders of Love Music, a charity set up three years prior to the 2013-founded choir, with its vision of providing no-barrier access for communities to highquality musical encounters, inspiring people to engage in their creative journeys.
Financially supported by Edinburgh Council and rehearsing weekly in the Usher Hall, the choir began with a capacity of 180 singers.
Within two days, every slot was filled. Now it’s at 330, with a similar-sized waiting list.
In its first year, a survey conducted on its members found the choir was having a social impact on health and wellbeing, as well as confidence and an increased ability to cope with challenges.
“It’s a powerful engine to access new friendships and communities,” said Stephen. “I think we are becoming very aware of how important community-based activities are.
“We are becoming digitally isolated, so the moments when people get together and share an experience are quite important, and we should be trying to find ways to do that in all walks of life.”
The age range of the choir is from 12 to the 90s, but there is also a junior choir for children aged between eight and 12.
“From the start we wanted to create a junior version,” Stephen said.
“Some of our young people come from very challenging circumstances and we are receiving a lot of feedback about how the choir positively affects them – some feel they sleep better on choir nights, some feel a bigger part of society.”
Whether nine years old or 90, whatever challenges someone is facing can only be aided by being part of an uplifting, group-based activity such as the choir’s.
“It’s about creating a flagship project that people will be able to access over time, trying to find a way to bring people in for one-off experiences.we cannot have enough of it.”
The Love Music Community Choir and Junior Choir’s latest concert, Songbirds & Troubadours, takes place at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, tomorrow, 7pm
The moments when people get together and share an experience are quite powerful