The following is excerpted from the Deseret News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
In a choir, every voice counts. Soprano, alto, bass or tenor, each individual’s voice combined makes a unifying and awe-inspiring sound.
For centuries, people have enjoyed participating in the art of joining voices to create music.
Human collaboration, the very essence of a choir, can have many benefits, especially for mental health.
Studies have found that singing in groups helps give people purpose and connection. It has been proven to reduce anxiety and reduce lonely feelings and depression due to its unifying nature.
“There’s an increasing amount of evidence that singing releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine — the ‘happy’ chemicals that boost your mood and make you feel good about yourself. Scientists believe that’s one of the reasons why people report being on a high during choir sessions and continuing to feel positive, uplifted and motivated afterwards,” per Opera North.
The “Sing With Us” study is just one of many that delve into how singing in groups can improve health.
Researchers enrolled 193 participants who all had a connection with cancer — patients, oncologists and caregivers — to form a choir.
But rather than stress about their worries, they chose to sing and take a break from the struggles that were awaiting them outside of the music hall.
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
